Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Problem with focus on couple of reels of Grinch

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Posted by Cory Johnson (Member # 103) on 11-20-2000, 11:16 PM:

Anyone else have a really bad focus problem with Grinch, particularily reel 3 and 5? Thought it was intentionally at first, but after watching it tonight, the focus is aweful. As soon as it hits the next reel, its good again. Anyone else?

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 11-21-2000, 12:43 AM:

Did this start last week when the print was brand new? Are you running platter or changeovers? Are you winding emulsion in or out? Did those two reels come "tails up" and the rest "heads up" or vice versa? What projector are you running?

Any info you can pass along will help.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 11-21-2000, 06:34 AM:

I agree with Brad's questions. Winding orientation can impart a temporary "core set" to the film, which can affect focus. Drying differences between reels may affect the film curl, which also affects focus --- again, these effects are temporary, and will go away as the film is projected several times. If the focus shift persists more than a few days, there may be an issue with your projector gate or lens.

From your description, I assume the image itself can be sharply focused (i.e., the optimum focus just shifts between reels). An image that is totally out of focus on the film may indicate a printer problem, or may have been in the original photography.

------------------
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 Cory Johnson (Member # 103) on 11-21-2000, 07:35 AM:

Pro 35. Platter. Emulsion out I believe. New print. Has been there ever since we got the film. Definetely not getting better. Extremely noticable. Reel 1, 2, 4 and 6 are perfect focus. Reels 3 and 5 hit and the pictures is very out of focus. Seems to bad reels. Thought it was "intentional at first" but after watching it, it is definetely the reels. I didn't put the film together, but if I remember correctly what I was told by the person who put it together, reels 1-5 were tails out, 6 was heads out. Projector seems fine-everything else has a great focus. Just happens when these two reels are going through. Watching the reel change is like someone took the focus knob and cranked it.

Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 11-21-2000, 07:46 AM:

One quick question: if a print has been cut up and wound poorly for years emulsion in, how long should it take for the warp to smooth out after I restore the print to its original emulsion out state? I am referring to Eastman acetate, and Agfa acetate stocks. Thanks.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 11-21-2000, 09:28 AM:

Cory: Do the two bad reels seem to have a different "curl" than the others? If so, there may have been a significant drying difference. If the problem persists, request replacement reels.

Bruce: Core set "memory" should be fairly short, especially with triacetate prints. Even with polyester film, core-set will be less within a matter of days after proper winding.

If older triacetate films have permanent "warp", they may have some shrinkage due to loss of residual solvent and plasticizer, or may be exhibiting the onset of "vinegar syndrome". Best way to slow shrinkage and vinegar syndrome is cool and dry storage. Carefully rewind or show the films periodically to "vent" any buildup of vapors, and relieve tension within the roll. Store rolls in vented or "breathing" containers, to let vapors escape. If stored in sealed containers, use Molecular Sieves to adsorb acids and vapors.

For processed prints, optimum conditions to handle and show prints is 50-60 percent relative humidity. At 50% RH, the film should lie nearly flat, with just a bit of positive "curl":
http://www.kodak.com/country/US/en/motion/support/technical/hand.shtml
http://www.kodak.com/country/US/en/motion/support/h1/base.shtml#characteristics
http://www.kodak.com/country/US/en/motion/programs/student/handbook/physical4.shtml
http://www.kodak.com/country/US/en/motion/support/sleuth/curl.shtml
http://www.kodak.com/country/US/en/motion/newsletters/reel/september99/pointers.shtml

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 11-21-2000, 10:04 AM:

Cory,

The Grinch prints were made by Deluxe Hollywood. Typically you will find one or two reels out of a print from that lab "tails out", not mostly tails out. A quick way to find out is to pull the leaders out of the cans. If the tails of those two reels have white artist's tape over the title, those reels arrived to you tails out. If the tape is on the head leader only, it arrived heads out. If the tape is on the head and tail leader, that reel arrived tails out.

By the way, is it me or does Universal order that their negatives be dragged through the desert before the first print is struck? Negative dirt and cinch mark scratches seem to plague everything from Universal. The colors on their films are also bland and have a "washed out" appearance. The Grinch should've been a magnificent looking film, but it is not.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 11-21-2000, 11:11 AM:

The Pro 35 has a straight gate with a small cylindrical curve to it. If the lamp is to hot it is noted for haveing focus flutter problems on high silver prints.
If those reels are very dense then that will contribute to it

Posted by Dennis Atkinson (Member # 345) on 11-21-2000, 12:03 PM:

The Grinch would have been better in IB Tech!

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 11-21-2000, 04:31 PM:

No problems here with Grinch focus. All reels arrived heads-up. I agree with Brad that it often has a washed-out look, esp in the "Whoville" scenes.

Posted by John Eickhof (Member # 323) on 11-21-2000, 10:20 PM:

Check the side guides in the film trap and the amount if wear on the film trap door shoes, often, the balco side guides will develop grooves cut by the film, these can cause the film to slip from one groove to the next at a splice, causing the focus problem. The other thing to check is the small square block at the top of the trap that holds against the film edge, it too will get cuts, just remove the retaining screw and rotate
the block 90 degrees and re-install, or of it has been rotated, reverse it. A lst check is to adjust the primary tension on the film trap door assy, this is a small screw just above the lever that opens the trap door.
Adjust iot with film on the screen and be carefull to not get it too tight! Film damage can result! Good luck!