Film recorder
Encyclopedia
A Film Recorder is a graphical output device for transferring digital image
s to photographic film
.
All film recorders typically work in the same manner. The image is fed from a host computer as a raster stream over a digital interface. A film recorder exposes film through various mechanisms; flying spot (early recorders; photographing a high resolution video monitor; electron beam recorder (Sony); a CRT scanning dot (Celco); focused beam of light from an LVT (Light Valve
Technology) recorder; a scanning laser beam (ARRILASER); or recently, full-frame LCD array chips;
For color
image recording on a CRT film recorder, the red, green, and blue channels are separately displayed on the same gray scale CRT, and exposed to the same piece of film through a filter of the appropriate color. (This approach yields better resolution and color quality than one could obtain with a color CRT.) The three filters are usually mounted on a motor-driven wheel. The filter wheel, as well as the camera's shutter
, aperture
, and film motion mechanism are usually controlled by the recorder's electronics and/or the driving software
.
Higher-quality LVT film recorders use a focused beam of light to write the image directly onto a film loaded spinning drum, one pixel at a time. The LVT will record pixel beyond grain. Some machines can burn 120-res or 120 lines per mm. The LVT is basically a reverse drum scanner. The exposed film is developed and printed by regular photographic chemical processing.
are popular because they can be processed by any photo shop. Single-image 4x5 film
and 10x8 is often used for high-quality, large format printing.
Some models have detachable film holder
s to handle multiple formats with the same camera.
to generate master negatives for offset
and other bulk printing
processes. They are also used to produce the master copies of movie
s that use computer animation
or other special effect
s based on digital image processing
.
For preview, archiving, and small-volume reproduction, film recorders have been rendered obsolete by modern printer
s that produce photographic-quality hardcopies directly on plain paper.
Film recorders were also commonly used to produce slides for slide projector
s; but this need is now largely met by video projector
s that project images straight from a computer to a screen.
Film recorders were among the earliest computer graphics
output devices. See, for example: IBM 740
Nowadays, film recorders are primarily used in the motion picture film-out
process for the ever increasing amount of digital intermediate
work being done. Although significant advances in large venue video projection alleviates the need to output to film, there remains a deadlock between the motion picture studios and theater owners over who should pay for the cost of these very costly projection systems. This, combined with the increase in international and independent film production, will keep the demand for film recording steady for at least a decade.
was one such early provider of digital color film recorders.
Polaroid, Management Graphics, Inc, MacDonald-Detwiler and AGFA were other producers of past film recorders.
The last LVT machines produced by Kodak / Durst-Dice stopped production in 2002. There are no LVT film recorders currently being produced.
Arri produces the Arrilaser
line of laser-based motion picture film recorders.
Celco makes a line of CRT based motion picture film recorders.
Lasergraphics is a recent entrant into the cine film recorder market with its twenty year history in the traditional film recorder business.
CCG
, formally Agfa film recorders, has been a steady manufacturer of film recorders based in Germany.
In 2004 CCG introduced Definity, a motion picture film recorder utilizing LCD technology. In 2010 CCG introduced the first full LED LCD film recorder as a new step in film recording.
In 2008 Cinevation AS, in Drammen
, Norway
, started shipping The Cinevator
a real-time digital film recorder. It can record IN, IP and prints
with and with out sound
Arrilaser Film recorder is used for film-out
Digital image
A digital image is a numeric representation of a two-dimensional image. Depending on whether or not the image resolution is fixed, it may be of vector or raster type...
s to photographic film
Photographic film
Photographic film is a sheet of plastic coated with an emulsion containing light-sensitive silver halide salts with variable crystal sizes that determine the sensitivity, contrast and resolution of the film...
.
All film recorders typically work in the same manner. The image is fed from a host computer as a raster stream over a digital interface. A film recorder exposes film through various mechanisms; flying spot (early recorders; photographing a high resolution video monitor; electron beam recorder (Sony); a CRT scanning dot (Celco); focused beam of light from an LVT (Light Valve
Light valve
A light valve is a device for varying the quantity of light, from a source, which reaches a target. Examples of targets are computer screen surfaces, or a wall screen in the case of a light projector....
Technology) recorder; a scanning laser beam (ARRILASER); or recently, full-frame LCD array chips;
For color
Color
Color or colour is the visual perceptual property corresponding in humans to the categories called red, green, blue and others. Color derives from the spectrum of light interacting in the eye with the spectral sensitivities of the light receptors...
image recording on a CRT film recorder, the red, green, and blue channels are separately displayed on the same gray scale CRT, and exposed to the same piece of film through a filter of the appropriate color. (This approach yields better resolution and color quality than one could obtain with a color CRT.) The three filters are usually mounted on a motor-driven wheel. The filter wheel, as well as the camera's shutter
Shutter (photography)
In photography, a shutter is a device that allows light to pass for a determined period of time, for the purpose of exposing photographic film or a light-sensitive electronic sensor to light to capture a permanent image of a scene...
, aperture
Aperture
In optics, an aperture is a hole or an opening through which light travels. More specifically, the aperture of an optical system is the opening that determines the cone angle of a bundle of rays that come to a focus in the image plane. The aperture determines how collimated the admitted rays are,...
, and film motion mechanism are usually controlled by the recorder's electronics and/or the driving software
Device driver
In computing, a device driver or software driver is a computer program allowing higher-level computer programs to interact with a hardware device....
.
Higher-quality LVT film recorders use a focused beam of light to write the image directly onto a film loaded spinning drum, one pixel at a time. The LVT will record pixel beyond grain. Some machines can burn 120-res or 120 lines per mm. The LVT is basically a reverse drum scanner. The exposed film is developed and printed by regular photographic chemical processing.
Formats
Film recorders are available for a variety of film types and formats. The 35mm negative film and transparenciesTransparency (photography)
In photography, a reversal film is a type of photographic film that produces a positive image on a transparent base. Also known as dias or slide. The film is processed to produce transparencies or diapositives instead of negatives and prints...
are popular because they can be processed by any photo shop. Single-image 4x5 film
Film format
A film format is a technical definition of a set of standard characteristics regarding image capture on photographic film, for either stills or movies. It can also apply to projected film, either slides or movies. The primary characteristic of a film format is its size and shape.In the case of...
and 10x8 is often used for high-quality, large format printing.
Some models have detachable film holder
Film holder
A film holder is a device which holds one or more pieces of photographic film, for insertion into a camera or optical scanning device such as a dedicated film scanner or a flatbed scanner with film scanning capabilities...
s to handle multiple formats with the same camera.
Uses
Film recorders are used in digital printingDigital printing
Digital printing refers to methods of printing from a digital based image directly to a variety of media. It usually refers to professional printing where small run jobs from desktop publishing and other digital sources are printed using large format and/or high volume laser or inkjet printers...
to generate master negatives for offset
Lithography
Lithography is a method for printing using a stone or a metal plate with a completely smooth surface...
and other bulk printing
Printing
Printing is a process for reproducing text and image, typically with ink on paper using a printing press. It is often carried out as a large-scale industrial process, and is an essential part of publishing and transaction printing....
processes. They are also used to produce the master copies of movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s that use computer animation
Computer animation
Computer animation is the process used for generating animated images by using computer graphics. The more general term computer generated imagery encompasses both static scenes and dynamic images, while computer animation only refers to moving images....
or other special effect
Special effect
The illusions used in the film, television, theatre, or entertainment industries to simulate the imagined events in a story are traditionally called special effects ....
s based on digital image processing
Digital image processing
Digital image processing is the use of computer algorithms to perform image processing on digital images. As a subcategory or field of digital signal processing, digital image processing has many advantages over analog image processing...
.
For preview, archiving, and small-volume reproduction, film recorders have been rendered obsolete by modern printer
Computer printer
In computing, a printer is a peripheral which produces a text or graphics of documents stored in electronic form, usually on physical print media such as paper or transparencies. Many printers are primarily used as local peripherals, and are attached by a printer cable or, in most new printers, a...
s that produce photographic-quality hardcopies directly on plain paper.
Film recorders were also commonly used to produce slides for slide projector
Slide projector
A slide projector is an opto-mechanical device to view photographic slides. Slide projectors were common in the 1950s to the 1970s as a form of entertainment; family members and friends would gather to view slide shows...
s; but this need is now largely met by video projector
Video projector
A video projector is an image projector that receives a video signal and projects the corresponding image on a projection screen using a lens system. All video projectors use a very bright light to project the image, and most modern ones can correct any curves, blurriness, and other...
s that project images straight from a computer to a screen.
Film recorders were among the earliest computer graphics
Computer graphics
Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware....
output devices. See, for example: IBM 740
IBM 740
The IBM 740 CRT Recorder was announced in 1954 and used with the IBM 701, IBM 704, and IBM 709 computers to draw vector graphics images on 35 mm photographic film . The 740 film recorder contained digital to analog converters and a 7 inch, high precision, electrostatic CRT. The raster size was 1024...
Nowadays, film recorders are primarily used in the motion picture film-out
Film-out
Film-out is the process in the computer graphics, video production and filmmaking disciplines of transferring images or animation from videotape or digital files to a traditional film print...
process for the ever increasing amount of digital intermediate
Digital intermediate
Digital intermediate is a motion picture finishing process which classically involves digitizing a motion picture and manipulating the color and other image characteristics. It often replaces or augments the photochemical timing process and is usually the final creative adjustment to a movie...
work being done. Although significant advances in large venue video projection alleviates the need to output to film, there remains a deadlock between the motion picture studios and theater owners over who should pay for the cost of these very costly projection systems. This, combined with the increase in international and independent film production, will keep the demand for film recording steady for at least a decade.
Key Manufacturers
Traditional film recorder manufacturers have all but vanished from the scene or have evolved their product lines to cater to the motion picture industry. DICOMEDDICOMED
Dicomed was founded in 1968 and in the early 1970s became a leading manufacturer of precision color film recorders such as the D47 and D48.-Use:...
was one such early provider of digital color film recorders.
Polaroid, Management Graphics, Inc, MacDonald-Detwiler and AGFA were other producers of past film recorders.
The last LVT machines produced by Kodak / Durst-Dice stopped production in 2002. There are no LVT film recorders currently being produced.
Arri produces the Arrilaser
Arrilaser
The Arrilaser is a digital film recorder made by Arri which writes digital movie files onto film after compositing and audio mastering on the computer. Files are sent to the device via a fast gigabit Ethernet connection. The Arrilaser uses three solid-state lasers as a light source, and...
line of laser-based motion picture film recorders.
Celco makes a line of CRT based motion picture film recorders.
Lasergraphics is a recent entrant into the cine film recorder market with its twenty year history in the traditional film recorder business.
CCG
CCG
CCG may refer to:* Canadian Coast Guard* Castor Cracking Group* Centre for Computational Geography* Chemical Computing Group, a pharmaceutical software company based in Montreal, Quebec...
, formally Agfa film recorders, has been a steady manufacturer of film recorders based in Germany.
In 2004 CCG introduced Definity, a motion picture film recorder utilizing LCD technology. In 2010 CCG introduced the first full LED LCD film recorder as a new step in film recording.
In 2008 Cinevation AS, in Drammen
Drammen
Drammen is a city in Buskerud County, Norway. The port and river city of Drammen is centrally located in the eastern and most populated part of Norway.-Location:...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, started shipping The Cinevator
Cinevator
Cinevator is a series of real time film recorder/printers produced by the Norwegian company Cinevation. Cinevation AS is based in Drammen, Norway. The Cinevator is currently available in three versions:...
a real-time digital film recorder. It can record IN, IP and prints
35 mm film
35 mm film is the film gauge most commonly used for chemical still photography and motion pictures. The name of the gauge refers to the width of the photographic film, which consists of strips 35 millimeters in width...
with and with out sound
Sound-on-film
Sound-on-film refers to a class of sound film processes where the sound accompanying picture is physically recorded onto photographic film, usually, but not always, the same strip of film carrying the picture. Sound-on-film processes can either record an analog sound track or digital sound track,...
History
- Before VTRs were invented, TV shows were recorded to film, for archive and later broadcast on a KinescopeKinescopeKinescope , shortened to kine , also known as telerecording in Britain, is a recording of a television program made by filming the picture from a video monitor...
. - In 1967 CBS Laboratories had a shortly a Electronic Video RecordingElectronic Video RecordingElectronic Video Recording, or EVR, was a film-based video recording format developed by Hungarian-born engineer Peter Carl Goldmark at CBS Laboratories in the 1960s....
unit. - All types of CRT recorders were and are used for Film recording. Like the 1954 IBM 740IBM 740The IBM 740 CRT Recorder was announced in 1954 and used with the IBM 701, IBM 704, and IBM 709 computers to draw vector graphics images on 35 mm photographic film . The 740 film recorder contained digital to analog converters and a 7 inch, high precision, electrostatic CRT. The raster size was 1024...
CRT Recorder. - Later (1970 and 80s) recording to B&W 16mm film was done with a 3M Film Electron Beam Recorder-EBR.
- Image Transform in Universal City, CaliforniaUniversal City, CaliforniaUniversal City is a community in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles County, California, that encompasses the 415 acre property of Universal Studios...
used specially modified 3M Electron Beam Film Recorders that could be film out color 16mm by using three 16mm frames in a row, one Red, one Green and one Blue. The film was then printed to color 16mm or 35mm film. The video was NTSCNTSCNTSC, named for the National Television System Committee, is the analog television system that is used in most of North America, most of South America , Burma, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and some Pacific island nations and territories .Most countries using the NTSC standard, as...
, PALPALPAL, short for Phase Alternating Line, is an analogue television colour encoding system used in broadcast television systems in many countries. Other common analogue television systems are NTSC and SECAM. This page primarily discusses the PAL colour encoding system...
or SECAMSECAMSECAM, also written SÉCAM , is an analog color television system first used in France....
. Later Image Transform used specially modified VTRs to record 24 frame for their "Image Vision" system. The modified 1 inch type B videotape1 inch type B videotape1 inch type B VTR is a reel-to-reel analog recording video tape format developed by the Bosch Fernseh division of Bosch in Germany in 1976...
VTR would record and play back 24frame video at 10 MHz bandwidth, twice NTSCNTSCNTSC, named for the National Television System Committee, is the analog television system that is used in most of North America, most of South America , Burma, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and some Pacific island nations and territories .Most countries using the NTSC standard, as...
resolution. Modified 24fps 10 MHz Bosch FernsehFernsehThe Fernseh AG television company was registered in Berlin on July 3, 1929 by John Logie Baird, Robert Bosch and other partners with an initial capital of 100,000 Reichsmark....
KCK-40 cameras were used on the set. This was a custom pre HDTV video System. Image Transform had modified other gear for this process. At its peak this system was used to make "Monty Python Live at the Hollywood BowlMonty Python Live at the Hollywood BowlMonty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl is a 1982 concert film in which the Monty Python team perform many of their greatest sketches at the Hollywood Bowl. The show also included filmed inserts which were mostly taken from two Monty Python specials, Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus, which had been...
" in 1982. This was the first major DI digital intermediateDigital intermediateDigital intermediate is a motion picture finishing process which classically involves digitizing a motion picture and manipulating the color and other image characteristics. It often replaces or augments the photochemical timing process and is usually the final creative adjustment to a movie...
post production using a Film recorder for Film out.
Arrilaser Film recorder is used for film-out
Film-out
Film-out is the process in the computer graphics, video production and filmmaking disciplines of transferring images or animation from videotape or digital files to a traditional film print...