Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Rough edges, and ripped gloves

This is topic Rough edges, and ripped gloves in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 05-26-2000, 09:55 AM:

As you know, I am inspecting a load of prints that I aquired recently. Also, I am inpecting by hand with a pair of rewinds. The one on the right is a power winder.

I have noticed that sometimes the edges of the film are very smooth, and sometimes they're not. Could this be caused by dull blades when the film is slit? Or is it something else?

I was working on a reel last night that constantly ripped holes in the fingers of my editing glove. The edges look smooth, but who knows...

I try to hold the film as lightly as possible. I still feel everything going by my gloves, and sometimes I think I felt something, so I back up, stop, and check an area where I can find nothing wrong!

Back in my days with 16mm, I would sometimes get a film that would rip my gloves to shreads, and others that were glassy smooth.

How fast is the film going past the slitters, on average?

Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 05-26-2000, 10:25 AM:

I'm guessing of course, but if the roughness is at regular intervals, I'd suspect the film was wound onto a damaged reel. It could also be a bad roller on a make-up table or platter. The way film could be damaged during make-up, use and break-down is endless.

I did see once where a roller on a make-up table was frozen, but the operator used it anyway. The friction heated the film edge up and made the edge look distorted, but not actually sharp.

I'd doubt very much that the film was slit poorly when new, especially with several different reels.

If the splicer was adjusted wrong, you could see that easily. I find that when a person does not remove the tape ends from the splicer, (we use a Nuemade) the build-up of tape pushes the blade into the film. That leaves a little square "bite" at a splice.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 05-26-2000, 10:41 AM:

Poor slitting or perforating quality would quickly show up as a dirt problem in Kodak's on-line testing or at the film labs. So I doubt the rough edges are due to poor slitting. But the slit edges on polyester prints tend to be "smoother" than those on older triacetate prints, because of differences in the way the film base "fractures".

I agree with John Walsh that the damage likely occurred after the film was processed, due to mishandling or being scuffed by equipment.

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com

Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 05-26-2000, 05:26 PM:

I am using a Marble splicer, and I always have to trim the edges of the splice with small scissors that I keep for this purpose beside the splicer.

Thanks to both of you for your input.

When I notice this happening, I find that the entire reel will be doing it. The next reel often doesent do anything. I thought it was one manufacturer at first (a company that begins with F..) But then I noticed it happening to Eastman, Agfa-Geavert, and 3M, too.

Believe me, I know how reel edge damage looks. I trim that, too.

But, how fast does film get slit? Is it anything similar to X-ray film, because if it is, I have seen the local Agfa plant. It is amazing to watch the film making equipment in action.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 05-26-2000, 05:41 PM:

Film manufacturer whose name begins with an "F"? Why, that would be "Ferrania," of course!

Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 05-26-2000, 07:31 PM:

Damn. I forgot about Ferrania.

The 4 Fuji prints is a row that were razor edged have rarely been run, but have been in storage for 15 years. Possible edge deterioration? The color and contrast is beautiful on all of them.

They are not all from the same lab, either, in case anybody was wondering.