Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Can this edge number be identified?

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Posted by Michael Barry (Member # 237) on 05-31-2001, 09:52 PM:

Our print of 'State and Main' is edgenumbered simply as 'Kodak 30' with the date '1999' after it. The standard now seems to be 2383 with a date of at least 2000, or 2001.

I have noticed that many of our advertisements are on this stock too, and a handful of features - mostly from European labs - are also on this stock.

What I'm wondering is: what kind of film is this, and is it really from 2 years ago? Why would there be print stock still being used from way back then?

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 06-01-2001, 02:02 AM:

I'm going to take a shot at this just because I'm feeling a bit saucy!

Could it be that the edge numbers you are seeing are print-through from the negative? Usually Kodak's edge numgers are colored magenta. If it's print-through it'll be another color.

I don't know what "Kodak 30" is but could it be the markings from one of the negative films that were used in the prior filming/processing steps of the movie?
Thus, you could see a date of "1999" because it can take a year or even more to make the movie. That'll put you back to the year 2000 easily. Then it takes a while for any product to make it through the manufacturing/shipping/storage chain. That' could add a few months, at least. If it happened that the filming/processing happened near the end of a year the date could seem a year behind even though the film is relatively new. Top this off with the fact that they might have been cheap and bought "old" film to save $$. It's not a far cry to see edge markings from two years ago even if the movie is new.

So how close did I get? Do I get a cookie?

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 06-01-2001, 07:39 AM:

Kodak's improved edge identification for VISION Color Print Film has been phased in over a period of time. It allows tracking the film to the exact times and equipment used to make it. Since Kodak makes print film at several plants around the world, not all started using the new edgeprint ID at the same time.

It is indeed likely the film used to make your print was manufactured in 1999. The inventory and shipping "pipeline" can be up to a year, especially for shorter roll lengths that are not the high volume "fast runners". Kodak uses refrigerated storage and shipping, so the film characteristics do not change significantly even when the film is well over a year old.

Once the lab takes delivery of the film, it may not be used immediately. Again, the film is very stable and can be stored for quite a while before it is used. A smaller European lab may not use the film as quickly as a high volume lab, where the film is often used as fast as it can be delivered from the Kodak warehouse.

With the conversion to Kodak VISION Color Print Film, most labs eliminated the "rem-jet removal" step in the ECP-2 process that was required for older print films like 2386, 5386 or 5384. So it is highly unlikely that your prints are on these older films.

The "30" on the edgeprint referred to the strip number. Normally 38 strips of 35mm film are slit from the 54-inch wide roll:
http://www.kodak.com/country/US/en/motion/support/h1/sizes.shtml

------------------
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 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Posted by Jerry Chase (Member # 660) on 06-01-2001, 09:30 AM:

"The "30" on the edgeprint referred to the strip number. Normally 38 strips of 35mm film are slit from the 54-inch wide roll"

Ever fantasize about a 1350mm motion picture?

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 06-01-2001, 10:10 AM:

Jerry asked: "Ever fantasize about a 1350mm motion picture?"

I'll settle for more production on 65mm camera negative, with lots of 70mm prints.