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Author Topic: Cross Scratching Jason Wharton Film Handler Posts: 4 From: Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK Registered: Feb 2009 posted 03-14-2009 05:49 PM                     Hi guys, i'm new here and have a quick question for those of you more knowledgeable than myself. Basically, i've had a couple of incidents of cross scratching appear at my cinema and I know of the obvious causes for this and it is more than likely that it was human error when running on or lacing up. My question is though, is there any other way cross scratching can happen? I only ask this as someone once mentioned to me that an intermittent unit on it's way out can cause it, seems bizzare to me but does anyone know if thats the case? I know this is probably a dumb question, I am in the position where I never really recieved any propper formal training and what I know is what i've picked up over the years i've worked in the booth and i'm always looking to improve my knowledge. Anyway, thanks in advance for your help! Jase.  |  IP: Logged Boris Brown Film Handler Posts: 7 From: New York City, NY, US Registered: Dec 2008 posted 03-14-2009 06:51 PM                     Hi! It seems to me that the intermittent unit isn't the cause of the cross scratching. It's most likely that it is the 'incorrect' movement of the film through the projector or platter (if there is one). Good luck!  |  IP: Logged Ken Lackner Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1907 From: Atlanta, GA, USA Registered: Sep 2001 posted 03-14-2009 06:56 PM                     Hi Jason. Welcome. You will find many knowledgeable people here eager to help. Don't feel ashamed to ask; a closed mouth never gets fed, so to speak. That being said, right now we don't have much to go on. Please list what equipment you are using so that we can pinpoint the problem. Platter, projector head, sound head (analog and any digital heads that may exist), failsafe, and anything else that may be in the film path. Furthermore, what do you mean by "cross scratch"? I've not heard this term, but to me it sounds like a horizontal scratch across the image. I don't see how an intermittent could cause that, so that may not be what you are trying to describe. With a little more info, I'm sure someone here will be able to help you get to the bottom of it. Cheers!  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-14-2009 07:11 PM                     Almost every case of cross frame slashes can be traced back to the film be on the flange of a roller or pinched over the flange of a roller by the keeper  |  IP: Logged Ian Parfrey Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1049 From: Imbil Australia 26 deg 27' 42.66" S 152 deg 42' 23.40" E Registered: Feb 2009 posted 03-15-2009 06:18 AM                     ...or film rubbing against the flange of a spool or against the platter decks.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-15-2009 08:11 AM                     Ian said "...or film rubbing against the flange of a spool or against the platter decks. " I aways tend to discount that one as it could only happen due to a misaligned roller that would always happen on every time that deck was used  |  IP: Logged Jason Wharton Film Handler Posts: 4 From: Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK Registered: Feb 2009 posted 03-15-2009 10:43 AM                     Hi again and thanks for all the replies, I'm pretty sure this was human error, and it's happened a couple of times, I just don't wanna point the finger at someone and it actually be the equipment at fault. Platters are christie AW3's, Century SATA heads, kelmar analogue/digital soundhead, strong fp-350 optical failsafe/pulse reader. And by cross scratching I mean multiple horizontal lines accross the frame, in this particular case on the emultion side of the film.  |  IP: Logged Bruce McGee Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1776 From: Asheville, NC USA... Nowhere in Particular. Registered: Aug 1999 posted 03-15-2009 11:51 AM                     We recently had a print with scratches like this. One of my 'operators' misthreaded the AW3 and the film was dragging across the platter itself on take-up. The very edges of some of our decks are a bit rough, and this is where our horizontal scratches came from in my case.  |  IP: Logged Jason Wharton Film Handler Posts: 4 From: Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK Registered: Feb 2009 posted 03-15-2009 12:21 PM                     this is exactly what I think has happened on this occasion, trouble is I can't pin point it to one technician as it happened while I was off.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-15-2009 01:42 PM                        quote: Bruce McGee dragging across the platter itself on take-up. It can happen during buildup or teardown too. If you have a movable roller on the MUT and it is positioned such that the film is dragging on the edge of the platter, scratches across the film will result. This can happen very easily on the Christie AW3.  |  IP: Logged Jason Wharton Film Handler Posts: 4 From: Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK Registered: Feb 2009 posted 03-15-2009 04:34 PM                     Yeah, I was aware of that one ;-) The film was rehearsed before showing to the public and the scratching wasn't there so can only of happened sometime during it's run.  |  IP: Logged Jim Cassedy Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1661 From: San Francisco, CA Registered: Dec 2006 posted 03-16-2009 09:05 AM                     The only time I've seen "hash mark" horizontal scratches on a Christie platter is when the film is rubbing on the edge. STRONG platters can put short diagonal hash marks if the brain is threaded wrong. It happens at my theater when someone is in a hurry. The film rubs against one of the guide rollers around the circumference of the brain and the roller flange puts short horizonal marks on the film ILLUSTRATION- (Using a 70mm Brain) It's easy to do it wrong, especially on the middle or bottom platter if you're in a rush and/or get distracted. I've heard of some people totally removing that roller. I figure it's there for a reason so I just make sure I double check the film path from the platter to pole.  |  IP: Logged Justin Gorka Expert Film Handler Posts: 174 From: High Wycombe, England Registered: Apr 2006 posted 03-17-2009 01:10 PM                     You have a technician who can't lace up properly?  |  IP: Logged

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