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Author Topic: Base side/Emulsion side Jason Black Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1723 From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 12-12-2003 06:46 PM                        I'm having a difficult time remembering which is which. Which side normally faces to the screen and which side normally faces to the lamphouse? (when running thru the projector, of course!)  |  IP: Logged Peter Mork Expert Film Handler Posts: 181 From: Newton, MA, USA Registered: Jun 2002 posted 12-12-2003 06:50 PM                     Base towards the screen, emulsion towards the lamp. When you look at the film , the side that reads correctly left & right - that's the emulsion.  |  IP: Logged Liam Utley Film Handler Posts: 42 From: Australia Registered: Oct 2003 posted 12-12-2003 07:01 PM                    If i'm unsure, i scratch the film. If the scratch looks green, i know its emulsion, if its black, i know its the base. ok... bad joke.  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 12-12-2003 07:35 PM                        Yes --- normal 35mm print orientation is emulsion toward the lamp, and base toward the lens. Analog soundtrack is outboard (towards you when you thread/lace the projector), and the image is upside-down in the gate ("heads towards heads"). In the camera, the negative emulsion faces the lens of the camera, so the image formed on the negative reads correctly through the base. A contact print reverses this orientation, so the image on a print reads correctly through the emulsion. Here are links to information about film duplicating systems: http://www.kodak.com/US/plugins/acrobat/en/motion/support/h1/H1_80-85.pdf http://www.acvl.org/manual.htm Please don't scratch the film to determine the emulsion side. Experienced eyes can see the slight difference in gloss between the two sides, and as the humidity gets low, the film will tend to have visible "positive" curl where it forms a U-shaped cup, with the emulsion inside the cup.  |  IP: Logged Liam Utley Film Handler Posts: 42 From: Australia Registered: Oct 2003 posted 12-12-2003 07:45 PM                    Yeah, it was a joke about scratching the film...  |  IP: Logged Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 12-12-2003 08:59 PM                     wet your lips and stuff the a non-critical section of the film in between them. Then remove the film from your lips. The emulsion side is the side that sticks to your lip.  |  IP: Logged Adam Martin I'm not even gonna point out the irony. Posts: 3686 From: Dallas, TX Registered: Nov 2000 posted 12-12-2003 10:05 PM                     You can also breathe on the film and the side that fogs up is the base side. Unless, of course, the print has been rejuvenated, then both sides will fog.  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 12-12-2003 10:25 PM                  You can also reflect light off the film and determine the emulsion side by seeing the image "lines" much like an etching. Scratching and/or licking the film or your chops to see which side is the "sticky" side are the least desirable ways. The licking method is commonly used in the darkroom with raw stock. Adam, care to come over and see my etchings? >>> Phil  |  IP: Logged Thomas Procyk Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1842 From: Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 12-13-2003 02:04 PM                     Lick the film. If your tongue feels like it's sticking and it tastes like a cross betwean old leather and liquid paper, then it's the emulsion side. If your tongue does not stick and it tastes like a poly/cotton blend shirt fresh out of the wash, then it's the base side. Oh, and if you notice that the film gets all "puffy" and "blotchy" where you licked and it won't come off, then that's the emulsion side, too. If you filmguard your prints, it may be harder to tell using this method... =TMP= P.S. Anyone who takes this post seriously is a darn fool. I pity you.  |  IP: Logged Travis Hubrig Expert Film Handler Posts: 175 From: Minot ND, USA Registered: May 2003 posted 12-14-2003 12:59 AM                     I can't get the taste of film-guard out of my mouth...  |  IP: Logged Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 12-14-2003 03:17 AM                     One thing partially related: Sound Track Towards You, Emulsion Side Up. In that manner, the head is on your left, and tails is on your right. If you can remember that, you won't have to worry about installing a preview or a reel upside down. I learned that in the navy-issue MPO school in April of 1967.  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 12-14-2003 08:04 PM                        Phil Hill wrote: quote: You can also reflect light off the film and determine the emulsion side by seeing the image "lines" much like an etching. The raised "relief image" was very easy to see on the old ECP "cold process" films (before ECP-2) and Kodachrome films. It is much more subtle on modern print films.  |  IP: Logged

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