Test film: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:22, 11 December 2016

Test films are tools for calibrating, aligning, and checking film projectors and their components. Issues that can be diagnosed and corrected with the guidance of test films include ghosting, focus, framing, and pedestal adjustments. They are sometimes used in conjunction with test equipment.

The term generally refers to films made by technical bodies like SMPTE or by manufacturers like Schneider Optics specifically for test purposes, and are designed to help make sure your projector adheres to a certain set of standards.

In practice, term may also be used more casually to refer to any piece of footage used to test a projector, such as a fresh trailer used to conduct a scratch test.

Common types of test film

SMPTE RP-40 - Visual focus test film for 35mm
SMPTE RP-91 - Visual focus test film for 70mm

SMPTE Buzz Track - Sound test film to set lateral position of film in the soundhead.
DOLBY CAT. NO. 69P - Pink Noise test film
CAT. NO. 69T- Dolby Tone test film

Images

click to enlarge

SMPTE RP 40 35mm test film
Schneider Optics 35mm frame and focus chart
16mm test film (BLS 1682)
35mm Ghosting test film
SMPTE RP 91 5/70 test film
Boston Light and Sound 5/70 test film on screen

Sources of test film

Other Resources

SMPTE Test Materials for Motion Picture and Television catalog, circa 1985

External Links

Tumblr page on test film history
RP31 35mm film installation by artist Lucy Raven involving various test films.

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 <gallery widths=200px heights=200px mode=packed>
 File: Rp 40.jpeg| SMPTE RP 40 35mm test film
-File: Schneider test film.jpeg| Schneider Optics 35mm test film
+File: Schneider test film.jpeg| Schneider Optics 35mm frame and focus chart
 File: 16mm_test_film.jpg| 16mm test film (BLS 1682)
 File: Ghosting.jpg| 35mm Ghosting test film