Suggested Improvements in the Efficiency of the Color Print Film Process

In view of prevailing economic conditions, the color print film operations in a motion-picture processing laboratory must be made more efficient. This can be achieved through speeding up, as much as possible, the printing and processing operations. The implications of high-speed printing are considered. Higher printer-light intensities, manufacture of larger film batches, greater reel diameters and a stronger film base, such as polyester, are called for. Parallel to this, greater efficiency of the processing steps must be achieved. Steps for the reduction of chemical waste, such as improved and better controlled silver recovery, rejuvenation and recycling of ferricyanide bleach, recycling of color developer, and diminished water consumption are essential. The use of a bleach-fix (blix) system is proposed as a powerful means to considerably shorten the overall time of the color print film process and greatly increase machine efficiency. High-speed silver soundtrack redevelopment has been experimentally explored and the results are presented. The feasibility of the use of silverless pure dye soundtracks is confirmed. The conclusion is reached that optimum processing efficiency in the laboratory can only be reached by the combined efforts of all concerned, users and manufacturers.

Print ISSN

0036-1682

Published

1978-07

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/J10519