This is topic Pink Pixi Dust in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Rudy Bergman (Member # 576) on 08-17-2000, 01:45 AM:
what the heck is the pink dust that snows on my projectors and how do i get rid of it!?
i tried cleaning the prints and that works some times but on some prints its just no use... i cleaned big momma's house three times in a row and still the projector was covered with the mysterious substance.
we joke that its the projection fairy... mabey this means we're getting those tools i requested!
Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 08-17-2000, 02:12 AM:
It's polyester dust... A fact of life these days.Get a media cleaner and some Film-Guard, and that dusting is a thing of the past...
Aaron
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 08-17-2000, 02:23 AM:
What kind of film cleaner are you using? Click on the "film cleaning" link at the bottom of the screen for info on FilmGuard. It will absolutely put a stop to your shedding and static.
Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 08-17-2000, 04:50 AM:
Pink debris is usually emulsion. When film is processed, the gelatin emulsion swells like a sponge. It shrinks back in the process machine dryer, but a bit "overhangs" the edges and perforations. The first few runs through a projector scuffs off this overhanging emulsion as dust or hairs. Using an on-line film cleaner removes it. It is magenta (pink) because that is the topmost imaging layer on the film.
If the dusting continues beyond the first few runs, be sure the film isn't being abraded by the projector.
Posted by David Kilderry (Member # 142) on 08-17-2000, 05:14 AM:
Rudy,New projectors and those with "harsh" film gate areas cause more abrasion than "soft" gate machines.
Cinemeccanica and Christie can be harsh if not "burnished" with lots of film or correctly adjusted shoes and pads. No such problems with Kinoton curved gates especially once broken in.
Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 08-17-2000, 09:09 AM:
With most new machines I make a loop of mag dubber fullcoat and coat it with cutting oil and let it run in the projector for 6 hours and that hones down most of the crappy machining
Posted by Mike Jones (Member # 522) on 08-17-2000, 11:01 AM:
ok, here's how to FIX your problem. Reguage your rollers! More likely than not, your rollers are set too close to your sprockets and the film is getting pinched too tight. This is not something you have to live with. Some shedding is normal, lots is not. What i reccomend is taping two layers of film together. And, place that film inbetween the sprockets and rollers. If this film is held tightly, you'll need to back off the rollers. there's probably little bolts you can turn to do this. I like to make my rollers a little looser than this. So i don't have to make this adjustment everyweek. Give this a try and check the tightness of the intermittent pad. (this has caused a problem and was actually the installer's fault) If you have any more questions, just ask, i'll try to answer them.
mike
Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 08-17-2000, 11:24 AM:
If the whole machine is coated it is probably a roughness problem If it was a pad clearance issue it would be also have a residue built up on the offending roller
Also it would be virtually impossible to have all rollers misaligned. Certain machine also have stabality issues with estar stock and 2 thickness clearances
The two thickness rule was solely to provide for overlap cement splices
Now days it is best to set them for the film thickness plus 2 layers of splicing tape this will allow tape spliced or ultrasonic spices to pass through in a controled manner
Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 08-18-2000, 09:08 AM:
As others have noted, the location of the debris may give a clue to the cause. "Pinching" or misaligned pad rollers are a common reason for edge scuffing of the print, resulting in magenta (pink) debris, either dust or fine hairs. But if the margins (SDDS area) and the area between the perforations are really being scuffed and scratched, check if the gate or intermittent shoe surfaces are clean and smooth and without nicks or burrs, and reduce gate/shoe tension as much as possible while still maintaining a steady image.
Kodak has always recommended proper lubrication ("edge waxing") of prints after processing, but this is rarely done by the labs anymore due to environmental restrictions on the solvents used:
http://www.kodak.com/US/en/motion/support/processing/h242/h2402_04.shtml#164364
So proprietary film treatments (like Film-Guard or Tomakote) are often found to be of help when projectors are particularly abrasive.
A few years ago, I wrote an article on "Help for Projector Dusting":
http://www.kodak.com/US/en/motion/newsletters/reel/summer98/pointer.shtml
Posted by Rudy Bergman (Member # 576) on 08-19-2000, 03:12 AM:
PROBLEM SOLVED!
i re-aligned the rollers as suggested above and... no more dust!
by the way... we aint getting no Film Guard. we couldnt even get the manager to spring for masking tape (TRUE!). we had to buy our own and we're the number eight theatre in the nation. we have 26 screens and i get paid $6 flat. cheap? you betcha.
Posted by Mike Jones (Member # 522) on 08-19-2000, 01:52 PM:
Yay! I knew it would work! Usually the simplest solution is the answer! best of luck.mike
Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 08-20-2000, 06:21 AM:
Rudy Bergman said: "PROBLEM SOLVED!
i re-aligned the rollers as suggested above and... no more dust!"
Glad the suggestions in my article were helpful. 
Film is really pretty tough, but a misaligned pad roller or a gate that's not polished and clean can cause problems.
Posted by System Notices (Member # 2357) on 04-07-2008, 04:12 PM:
It has been 2787 days since the last post.
Posted by Gregory Chang (Member # 4486) on 04-07-2008, 04:12 PM:
John,
I know this thread is several years old, but I just tried emailing you and it bounced back: do you have a copy of the article, "Help For Projector Dust?"
If so, could you post the text to the forum or send it to me via email? My address is below if you still have a copy.
Thanks!
Greg
[ 04-07-2008, 04:18 PM: Message edited by: Brad Miller ]
Posted by Jeremy Weigel (Member # 4208) on 04-07-2008, 04:17 PM:
Our dear friend John past away last year. Found it by googling:
Help for Projector Dusting
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 04-07-2008, 04:19 PM:
Gregory, I understand you are new, but do not post again until you have read through the forum rules. You must adhere by them to participate here.
Posted by Ron Funderburg (Member # 4561) on 04-07-2008, 04:34 PM:
Brad it always makes me wonder what was said when you edit the post and then put that post up. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 04-07-2008, 07:40 PM:
He just said "Ron is nosy".
Posted by Ron Funderburg (Member # 4561) on 04-09-2008, 10:57 AM:
Well everyone knows that I mean us old farts are loud and opinionated! Should see us after we have a few to many!