Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Question about reel orientation

This is topic Question about reel orientation in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Chris Brown (Member # 2800) on 12-25-2004, 01:54 AM:

I've always wondered this and figured one of you guys here might have an answer for me. Why is it that with many prints you receive, you open up the can/box and find (for example) reels 1, 3, and 4 heads up, and 2, 5, and 6 tails up? Is there a good reason why reels are wound so randomly like this? Obviously if they are all heads up or all tails up, assembling the print is much easier. But I hate having to go through and rewind reels just to get their orientation right. And yes, I know, it doesnt take much time to rewind a reel, but that's beside the point. Anyone know how this happens?

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 12-25-2004, 01:59 AM:

Is ths wth new prints? If so, probably because they were priinted on a bi-drectional prnter, so that some reels were printed head to tail, and others tail to head.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 12-25-2004, 02:17 AM:

Prints assembled from the odd excursions of bi-directional printers, maybe? Either that, or they're just QC-ing every other reel.

Posted by Chris Brown (Member # 2800) on 12-25-2004, 02:28 PM:

Yes it is with new prints. I'd never heard of a bi-directional printer, but it sounds like that would explain it. Thanks Stephen!

Posted by Chase Hanson (Member # 2779) on 12-26-2004, 02:48 PM:

I have a hypothesis and it follows the same logic as film psuedo names.

If a print has mismatched reels ends, this causes a degree of frustration to persons who might benefit from cans that got "held over at the depot".

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 12-27-2004, 01:51 PM:

With unidirectional and "loop" type printers, release prints are usually printed heads-to-tails. After processing, the reels are oriented heads out. If a print is inspected off-line without rewinding, the orientation of the inspected prints will change.

With a bi-directional panel printer, prints are made both heads-to-tails, or tails-to-heads. So reels will vary in orientation.