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Film base: Difference between revisions
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Film '''base''' is the material that film emulsion is printed on. It is sometimes referred to as the "support" as it is the supporting material that the emulsion layer is then coated on. You may need to handle prints differently in exhibition settings and in long term storage depending on the material their base is made of | Film '''base''' is the material that film emulsion is printed on. It is sometimes referred to as the "support" as it is the supporting material that the emulsion layer is then coated on. You may need to handle prints differently in exhibition settings and in long term storage depending on the material their base is made of. | ||
*A note about the use of the term "film stock". People often use "film stock" interchangeably with "film base" to refer to the physical material upon which the film is printed as identified by the composition of the "film base" | *A note about the use of the term "film stock" in this article. People often use "film stock" interchangeably with "film base" to refer to the physical material upon which the film is printed as identified by the composition of the "film base". This is a colloquial use of the term. The proper use of [[film stock]] is to refer more specifically to a type of film base manufactured by a certain film lab that is associated with specific properties of the emulsion like color saturation or development speed etc. For example, you might say "this film was printed on black and white Orwo stock" or "Kodak 2383 stock". | ||
==How to tell the difference between the base side and the emulsion side== | |||
The base side of a print will look shinier, the emulsion side more matte and you can often see the raised edges within the frame where the emulsion is thickest. Using a flashlight, move the film back and forth and observe how the light reflects off the surface. It is easier to tell which side is which more on certain prints than others. Black and white prints are often the easiest, very worn prints or newer color prints can be difficult. | |||
==Why is it important to know what film base a print has?== | |||
* '''For Projection:''' Only venues who are properly equipped to project nitrate film should do so. Many projectors require gate tension adjustments between prints of polyester and acetate film stocks as acetate is slightly thicker than polyester. | |||
* '''For Storage:'''Nitrate and acetate films have very specific needs with regard to long term storage. Improper storage can lead to deterioration of the film base. | |||
===Polyester=== | ===Polyester=== | ||