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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Author
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Topic: Lab splices removal: good or ugly?
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John Pytlak
Film God
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Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 08-01-2003 07:32 AM
Here is the recommendation for lab splices in the Association of Film and Video Laboratories (ACVL) Handbook:
http://www.acvl.org/manual/4c.htm
If the ultrasonic lab splice is on the frameline, and appears to be reliable, it should be left. "Bloop" the analog soundtrack if there is a light area that may cause a "pop". The added thickness of using tape over an existing ultrasonic splice to "reinforce" it can be an issue.
Mid-frame splices should be removed, and the film respliced on the frameline, either with an ultrasonic splice or a clear tape splice. At most, you will lose two frames of continuity. For 35mm splices, a 1.5-inch wide "frameline" tape splicer will put the edges of the tape in the frameline, minimizing visibility of the tape edge, but most still use 1-inch wide tape.
SMPTE Recommended Practice RP111 specifies the dimensions and properties of both cemented and tape splices, including thickness and dimensional alignment requirements.
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Brad Miller
Administrator
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Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99
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posted 08-01-2003 03:07 PM
quote: It is difficult to believe that customers are perceiving the 42 millisecond "gap" in continuity from the missing frame. It seems more likely they are perceiving the audio effect of the splice (are you running in analog or does your digital fallback across the splice?), if any, or the visual anomaly from the splicing tape.
It depends on what is going on. I remove all mid-frame lab splices and redo them with an ultrasonic splicer. Even on a static shot a 1 frame loss IS visible because the registration of the image on the film has a tiny shift. (I should note only myself and one other projectionist sees them pass.) However if you have a shot with any amount of motion at all occuring and you remove a frame, it is very noticeable and everyone can see it. If the lab splice occurs on the first or last frame of a shot, it is completely invisible when removed (even to me).
Personally it doesn't bother me when I see one. It doesn't get any cleaner than an ultrasonic and it's darn near perfect, but it is visible due to the image shift. I'm shocked customers would complain about something like that, as virtually every presentation in the world could be nitpicked in some other more legitimate form (stray exit light on screen, slightly curved masking, a not-quite-perfect aperture, focus a tad off, etc).
I do agree with you though about the "splice lines" from a tape splice being annoying. This is why I have been constantly throwing hints at Neumade (and Splycemar) about making an 8 perf version of their splicer.
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Bill Langfield
Master Film Handler
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Posts: 280
From: Prospect, NSW, Australia
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 08-02-2003 08:44 AM
Years ago, around 1979 when I was still learning the ropes we heard about this new fim that was 'unbreakable', problem was that it could not be cement spliced. When I mentioned the tape splicer, to my co-projectionist (I think he was getting it on with my mother, the manager/licencee - but it turned out he was gay!) he said he'd throw the tape splicer out the window if I ever got one.
Needless to say polyester film happened. But what has annoyed me from the day it came out, WHO-THE-HELL decided the width of the tape? No matter what you do the edges of the tape will be in the image area. (Some places use the 16mm version, and MUCH likely to break apart)
Even with a CLEAN roll of tape it IS going to pick up junk on the edges.
With John's mention of 1 1/2 inch tape, Ive never heard of it, (like CDS sound) I can't believe it's taken this long for it to come up.
I like Brad's idea of hassling Newmade(sp?) of getting splicers made that cover two full frames.
Though at first I thought it might have had something to do with that much tape might make it hard for it to curl around some tight sprocket turns. -But Nah.
I think I'd be able to get one of those approved in a heartbeat, considing all our splicers are those crap Italian things. (The one's with the spring loaded knife REALLY piss me off!)
Bill.
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