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Author Topic: How much tape to use to secure the end of a print? Jon Miller Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 973 From: San Diego, CA, USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 04-12-2004 09:11 AM                     Regarding the discussion on the "Technicolor to stop using reel bands" thread...... I'm curious...what could be considered the minumum acceptable length of tape to secure the end of a film before shipping? When I personally break down film-festival prints (typically shipped on cores), I secure the print with a fresh seven or eight inch (about 18 to 20 cm) length of Artist's Tape. Do I feel like I'm wasting tape? Sometimes. Is it worth it? Absolutely! It's only about 50 cents or so (US) per print, but I get the impression that even fifty cents of cheap insurance is too much for some people. I'd be interested in what the consensus is. Thanks!  |  IP: Logged Richard Greco Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1180 From: Plant City, FL Registered: Nov 2003 posted 04-12-2004 09:25 AM                     I only use about an inch when I'm breaking down a print  |  IP: Logged Jeremy Fuentes Mmmm, Dr. Pepper! Posts: 1168 From: Corpus Christi, TX United States Registered: Jan 2004 posted 04-12-2004 09:34 AM                     A few inches is what I use. 3 or 4 seems to be enough, but the person who receives it might not think so. It would be nice to know if the next theater received the print in the same condition as I sent it out. I guess the only way I'll find out if I put enough, is if my theater comes up on the Outing Bad Film Handlers thread.  |  IP: Logged Mark J. Marshall Film God Posts: 3188 From: New Castle, DE, USA Registered: Aug 2002 posted 04-12-2004 10:17 AM                    I use probably nine or ten inches of permacel tape to secure the film.  |  IP: Logged Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 04-12-2004 10:55 AM                        I have been using artist tape forever. What is this permacel tape? Is it a common tape used in other settings? Where do you get it?  |  IP: Logged Mark J. Marshall Film God Posts: 3188 From: New Castle, DE, USA Registered: Aug 2002 posted 04-12-2004 11:02 AM                    Permacel Tape  |  IP: Logged Bruce Hansen Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 847 From: Stone Mountain, GA, USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 04-12-2004 11:18 AM                     If you want to be nice to the next person who receives the print, leave a pull tab. Bend over the last 1/4 inch of tape so that the sticky sides stick to each other. This makes it easier to remove the tape from the film. I like to have the pull tab on the loose end of the film, so that as you pull the tape off the film, it comes off the loose end, then off the "turn" of the film still on the reel. That way you do not have to fight to get the tape off the loose end of the film. I find that 3 to 4 inches of tape is enough.  |  IP: Logged Bill Gabel Film God Posts: 3873 From: Technicolor / Postworks NY, USA Registered: Jan 2002 posted 04-12-2004 12:36 PM                     I use about 3-4 inches of new artist tape. If you use just an inch of tape you are asking for trouble. Its like using a piece of used tape. With those cans bouncing along in hot trucks going back to the depot. The ends are going to come loose to the next theatre. Film Handling Done Wrong  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 04-12-2004 12:36 PM                        The pull tab, while it is polite, just encourages re-use of the tape, which is bad. When opening a print, I remove the tape and toss it. When the film is shipped out, it gets a NEW piece of tape. If the print is going to be shipped, one inch of tape is NOT enough unless you are using prime quality tape, and maybe not even then. If you're using the cheapest tape you can buy, three or four inches is needed.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 04-12-2004 12:37 PM                     The problem is too many people don't give a flip about what happens to the print after it leaves their theater and have no concept of just how much banging around happens once the cans leave their premesis. This is why rolls of film that are not perfectly tightwound from shitty platters (Strong, etc) end up getting edge-damaged and cinch scratched in transit back to the depot. Also super cheap people who only put an inch or two of tape (or worse REUSE the tape) are also causing damage because the tape DOES come loose! Minimum 4 inches, 6 preferred, 8 is excellent. Anyone who uses 2 inches or less should be packed in a shipping can and shipped across the country on an Airborne truck to see how well they hold together. Edit - I always put a pull tab on the tape not only for convenience for the next guy, but also because I see most people when there is not a pull tab simply grab the film and break the tape. While this isn't always necessarily bad, I have received prints before that had tape on tape where the tape "underneath" that wasn't removed came loose. Let's face it, if the next guy doesn't care, he is going to reuse that tape anyway. And by all means the pull tab goes on the end of the film, not one wrap around the reel! When the pull tab is pulled, the tape should pull completely off of the film, not halfway pull off leaving the tape still attached to the tip end.  |  IP: Logged Ken Lackner Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1907 From: Atlanta, GA, USA Registered: Sep 2001 posted 04-12-2004 12:45 PM                     Damn, Brad! A little harsh there, are we? Seriously, I DO care about what happens to the film after it leaves the theater, but I guess I don't have any concept of how badly they are banged around. I have always used an inch or two. Why exactly is it necessary to use four to eight inches? I guess what I'm not understanding here is if you use new tape (which I do), why is it in danger of coming loose if you use less that four inches?  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 04-12-2004 12:47 PM                     I'm not being harsh at all. Either do the job right or get the hell out of the booth. I've seen prints get shipped across the country only to arrive as spaghetti because the tape came loose...good tape, not cheap masking tape either. In talking to the depots, this is a VERY COMMON problem.  |  IP: Logged Jeremy Fuentes Mmmm, Dr. Pepper! Posts: 1168 From: Corpus Christi, TX United States Registered: Jan 2004 posted 04-12-2004 12:50 PM                     I'm guessing Ken has never received a print that the tape came off, or never had any to begin with.  |  IP: Logged Ken Lackner Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1907 From: Atlanta, GA, USA Registered: Sep 2001 posted 04-12-2004 12:53 PM                     That guess is correct!  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 04-12-2004 01:25 PM                     Ok Ken, fair enough. You'll just have to trust us. From now on please use a fresh piece of tape no less than 4 inches long.  |  IP: Logged

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