Some Notes on the Duplication of 16-mm Integral Tripack Color Films

In the early days of Edison's work with motion pictures it seems that he, too, would indulge in that kind of daydreaming which begins “Wouldn't it be wonderful if —.” There is ample evidence that the sentence ended with the words, “— we might have both color and sound in educational motion pictures.” Edison's daydreaming is a reality today, if we choose to use the materials and processes already available. — Kodachrome can be considered a successful process. Although its photographic speed is slower than black-and-white films, it is almost as convenient to use in the ordinary 16-mm camera. Like all color processes, it has its limitations which, if ignored, may lead to unnecessary disappointment. For most uses, these limitations can be avoided. — It must be recognized that there is no “perfect” color process. The usual requirements for a satisfactory color process include: (1) A suitable gray scale (2) Comparable color scales for the components (3) Accurate reproduction of color (4) Good differentiation of color — Unfortunately each of these requirements conflicts with at least one of the others. Ordinarily (1) and (4) are favored over (3); the result of this compromise is satisfactory for most purposes. — In medical work where accurate reproduction of color is often desired for diagnostic and similar purposes, some of the very common biological stains are not reproduced accurately in integral tripack color films. In such cases and in other specialized cases where the absorption spectra of the photographed material are “unfortunately” located, color accuracy must knowingly and intentionally be sacrificed for color differentiation. — Some data on films and filters not previously published are included. Much of this has been in use commercially for several years and has been helpful in solving in a practical way the everyday problems of color duplicating that arise in commercial laboratory work. Mention is made of some of the fundamental color standardization accomplished and its relationship to commercial duplicating in the independent laboratory.

Print ISSN

0097-5834

Published

1945-08

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/J12850