Direct Laser-Beam Recording of Color Television Signals on Color Print Film

Fundamental limitations of the cathode-ray tube have so far limited the quality of the images that can be obtained in kinescope recordings for videotape-to-16mm-film transfer. An alternative to kinescope recording — laser-beam recording on color reversal film — has not been widely accepted because of the high equipment cost and high on-going costs for film. Now, a new laser-beam recorder has been developed to overcome these disadvantages. Image quality with the new recorder is much superior to kinescope film, and film costs are one-quarter to one-fifth of the cost of color reversal film. The new system uses comparatively inexpensive color print film which, though it has a very low ASA rating, has very fine grain. Components of the system include: three small lasers (helium-neon, helium-cadmium, and argon ion); beamsplitters; acoustooptical modulators; dichroic mirrors; a spinning polygonal mirror for horizontal deflection; a galvanometer for vertical deflection; relay lenses; and a 16mm camera. Because it provides improved resolution and granularity at about the same cost as the kinescope, the new laser-beam recorder using color print film has real practical and economic advantages.

Print ISSN

0036-1682

Published

1977-02

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/J13238