TABLE OF CONTENTS To appreciate the role that video production systems can play and, indeed, are playing in the film industry, it is necessary to first examine some of the important parameters of 35 mm film.
Color motion picture film consists of three photosensitive layers sensitized to red, green, and blue light. Exposure and processing produce cyan, magenta, and yellow dye images in these layers that, when projected on a large screen or scanned in a telecine, produce color pictures. Although the 16 mm width was the most common format for distribution of television programs for many years, 35 mm is currently the most used format.
35 mm film is used extensively for the production of prime-time television programs and commercials. Manufacturers continue to improve film for speed, grain, and sharpness. The quality of film images, versatility of production techniques, and worldwide standardization keep 35 mm film an important and valuable tool for the production of images for television broadcast. New versions of both flying-spot type and charge-coupled device film scanners continue to be developed for direct broadcast or transfer of film to video.
Motion pictures, most prime-time TV programs, and TV commercials are originated on color negative film. From these originals, prints can be made for broadcast and distribution in either 35 or 16 mm formats. Duplicate negatives can be made and large numbers of prints prepared for theatrical release. Telecines are capable of scanning either color positives or color negatives. A program...
