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Topic: Bar code cue readers...

Randy Stankey
Film God

Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-02-2008 11:42 PM

It may read. I don't know for sure. Experimentation would be needed.

Shiny surfaces are usually bad for barcode scanning. It makes it hard for the scanner to tell if the area is light or dark. Splicing tape may be okay because it's optically clear.

It's also important to maintain enough white space before and after the bars so that the scanner knows when to start and stop reading. The "guard bars" before and after the digits tell the scanner when the data starts and ends but the white space tells the scanner how to separate the data from the chaff.

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Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 03-02-2008 11:55 PM

I have printed UPS labels on regular paper and then taped over them on the box and they scanned just fine.

By the way, here is a list of barcode functions that are compatible with the UA barcode system.

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 03-03-2008 01:04 AM

FYI - That list of commands isn't the latest version of the UA Barcode. UA changed some things down the line to make room for SR/digital sound, etc. I will include a list in the pdf file of it's final incarnation. (Yes this is the version with the cues starting at 01 and ending at 35.)

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Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 03-03-2008 01:39 AM

Yeah, my list includes SR and digital.

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 03-03-2008 02:14 AM

#05 and 06 are not show end cues on the final incarnation.

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Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 03-03-2008 02:25 AM

I blame Gary Stanley.

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 03-03-2008 02:28 AM

Makes sense. [Razz]

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Randy Stankey
Film God

Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-03-2008 11:01 AM

quote: Joe Redifer
I have printed UPS labels on regular paper and then taped over them on the box and they scanned just fine.

Laser scanners do a better job of scanning difficult surfaces than many of the photo/image type scanners do. Even then, image scanners are getting better and better every day. My experience with scanning comes from many years ago when I helped test software for a guy who wrote the drivers for some scanners. Technology has undoubtedly improved since then.

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System Notices
Forum Watchdog / Soup Nazi

Posts: 215

Registered: Apr 2004

posted 08-09-2009 01:13 AM

It has been 523 days since the last post.

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Jack Ondracek
Film God

Posts: 2348
From: Port Orchard, WA, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 08-09-2009 01:13 AM

I brought in a print of "Public Enemies" this week. It had those barcode stickers on it, so it would appear someone's still using this system. Aside from never having seen them here before, I was terribly impressed (not!) with what it took to get them off the film. No splicing tape here! It might have been easier to cut the frame out altogether, but I didn't want to do that. Judicious use of fingernails, naptha and Filmguard was required to get everything off, and no... I'm pretty sure someone with a good eye wouldn't consider those frames "undamaged".

These stickers were about 2 perfs high, or so, and about half a frame wide. Who's bright idea was that? [fu]

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 08-09-2009 04:02 AM

And that is why the following text is on the Building 101 page:

quote:
NOTE TO UNITED ARTISTS "LASER BARCODE" AUTOMATION USERS: PLEASE lay a piece of clear splicing tape over the film before you apply those non-removable bar code stickers. It is a professional courtesy to all others who will ultimately run the print you have in your hands. Although we recommend that any automation cues placed on a print should be removed before it is shipped back, if your theater does not do this or is rushed for time, at least the next theater can peel the tape (with cue on top of it) off. UA barcode stickers placed directly on the film do NOT come off otherwise.

Of course those damned "Opticue" people need to be shot too.

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Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 08-09-2009 10:19 AM

I hate those Xetron cues! It takes like twenty of them in a row just to bring up the house lights half way.

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Jesse Skeen
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1517
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 08-09-2009 06:16 PM

And, as I've said before, it ruins the end of the movie if you place them carelessly. I've seen a lot of movies where the hero rides off into the sunset (or whatever), the picture slowly fades to black and the music climaxes, then a few big squares flash on the screen. I'd prefer to just have the lights stay down during the credits, but if you HAVE to bring them up at least do it unobtrusively for those of us who actually want to see the entire movie. Since most booth personnel don't care about this I've just stopped going to theaters that use these (and unless I've been in the booth, I shouldn't be able to tell what type of automation anyone uses.)

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