Cutting Copies

Cutting copies can be produced from every type of 16mm original film. The factors governing which material is to be used for printing are mainly economic.

Cutting copies of 16mm colour films

With 16mm originals, if the film which you are cutting has been shot in colour it will have been shot on either negative or reversal film. The most widely used 16mm colour negative is Eastmancolor and the most widely used 16mm colour reversal is probably Ektachrome. Both, can be printed in colour or in black and white. Colour cutting copies are obviously more pleasant to work with. For some subjects they are essential. Black and white prints however, are considerably cheaper and are thus widely used. You can, of course, compromise by printing some reels in colour and some in black and white. Colour negative films (like Eastmancolor) can be printed on colour positive stock or on black and white positive stock.

Copies on panchromatic stock

When printing colour camera originals in black and white it is best to ask the laboratory to make the print on panchromatic stock. Pan stocks are sensitive to all the colours of the spectrum and will thus show up any edge fogging which could get lost on other black and white printing stocks. Colour reversal originals (like Ektachrome) can be printed either on colour reversal stocks or on black and white reversal. Again, the advice about Panchromatic stocks for black and white copies holds good You may find that your laboratory charges more to produce a print on pan stock but it is well worth the small additional expense.

Black and white 16mm films

Black and white negative camera originals can be printed on black and white positive stock and black and white reversal camera originals can be printed on black and white reversal stock. Never project camera originals. Handle them with great care at all times. Always wear clean lintless gloves and make sure that the equipment you are using to handle the film is kept scrupulously clean. There is no safe way of projecting an original. If you have to examine it, use a rewind or synchroniser. Remember, if you scratch the original the damage will be there for ever. It will be reproduced on every copy of your film. I personally prefer to leave the camera original in the hands of the laboratory until the cutting copy is ready for neg cutting.

COPYING 16mm COLOUR ORIGINALS

1. Colour negatives
Colour negatives (like Eastmancolor) (A) can be printed on either positive (B) or black and white positive (C). Check the edge numbers before you cut.

2. Reversal colour originals
Reversal colour originals (A) can be printed on either black and white reversal stock (B) or on colour reversal stock (C).