Home>Release Printing Methods

Release Printing Methods Section Prints Splices in Laboratory Prints Special Release Print Stocks Mounting

When the trial print or check print of the production has been approved, release prints can be made. There are a number of factors that should be considered in determining which release printing method will be used. Super 8mm Prints from 16mm and 35mm Materials For some projects, it may be desirable to make Super 8mm release prints from either 16mm or 35mm materials. If the need occurs, prints can be made by reduction printing in a number of ways. The choice of printing procedure depends on a number of factors, including the types of printing and processing facilities available and certain economic considerations. When ordering prints, check with your ACVL lab to determine the procedure that will satisfy your needs. Either optical or magnetic sound tracks are available. If a photographic sound track is desired, an optical sound negative must be transferred from the magnetic sound master. Magnetic release prints are usually recorded directly from a splice-free 16mm magnetic dubbing master to the 8mm magnetic sound track. Release prints can be made for either reel-to-reel projection or mounted in projection cartridges. Not all cartridge projection systems are compatible, so be sure to specify the system you intend to use so that the lab can make prints with the proper sound track advance for that system. topˆ 16mm Prints from 16mm Materials Chart II-A shows the processes for making 16mm release prints from 16mm color materials. Prints can be made from either original reversal or original negative A and B rolls if there are only a small number of release prints to be made. If a large number of release prints are to be made, it is advisable to have an intermediate made from the originals. From color reversal originals, this can be an internegative or reversal master. In the case of color negative originals, the process calls for a color reversal intermediate (CRI)* or a color master positive and a duplicate negative. Using the master positive, additional duplicate negatives can be produced without handling the original film. 16mm black and white negative originals require a master positive and a duplicate negative for release printing (Chart II-C). Black and white internegatives are made from 16mm black and white reversal originals for release printing (Chart II-D). topˆ 35mm and 16mm Prints from 35mm Materials Chart I-A shows the available processes for making 35mm and 16mm color release prints from 35mm negatives. Chart III shows the methods for printing from 35mm black and white negatives to both 35mm and 16mm black and white release prints. When reducing image size by optical printing, it is best to postpone the optical reduction to the last practical stage to obtain the maximum resolution. Chart I-A 35mm and 16mm Color Prints from 35mm Negatives Chart I-B 35mm and 16mm Color Prints from 35mm Negatives Chart II-A 16mm Color Prints from 16mm Camera Originals Chart II-B 16mm Color Prints from 16mm Camera Originals Chart II-C Printing Flow Chart - 16mm Black & White Negative Chart II-D Printing Flow Chart - 16mm Black & White Reversal Original Chart III Printing Flow Chart - 35mm Black & White Negative *The CRI method is no longer used by 35mm motion picture laboratories in the United States. Laboratories in Europe and the Orient still offer 16mm CRI as a duplicating service. If you intend to use this method for producing duplicating negatives be sure to contact your laboratory and inquire if the service is available. topˆ