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Author Topic: Flattening Polyester Mitchell Dvoskin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1869 From: West Milford, NJ, USA Registered: Jan 2001 posted 07-08-2004 03:36 PM                     Does anyone have a suggestion for flattening folded over polyester film. I received a print that was not wound correctly and damaged in shipment, specifically a section had the sprocket area on one side folded over because it was sticking out, and got pressed up against the side of the reel. With the older acetate film, one would just unfold it, and then wind it tightly and the crease would work it's way out. That does not seem to work with polyester, which seems to be once creased, always creased. /Mitchell  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 07-08-2004 03:44 PM                        It may be that the crease was so severe that it actually stretched the polyester at the bend. With triacetate film, a crease that severe would have torn or ripped the film. How long is the creased section? Your idea of trying to fold out the crease and then winding the film is about all you can do. You may find that heating the creased area briefly with a hair dryer or heat gun may help "relax" the crease. But be careful about not overheating the film -- emulsion damage may occur as you approach 180 degrees celsius. Why can't you request a replacement reel?  |  IP: Logged Peter Mork Expert Film Handler Posts: 181 From: Newton, MA, USA Registered: Jun 2002 posted 07-08-2004 04:01 PM                     An iron, set to a low setting, will flatten out any crease nicely. Lay out some newspaper on your bench for a base. You only want to iron the part that's affected, so lay out the film and use just the edge of the iron on the creased part, ironing one section then moving the film and doing another. Experiment with junk film to get your technique right. If done right the film will run perfectly with no visible damage. Even badly crumpled film can be flattened this way and salvaged. Of course, it looks like hell on the screen.  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 07-08-2004 07:58 PM                        If you use the iron technique, try to avoid scratching the image area, iron from the base side, and keep the temperature under 180 degrees Celsius. Again, this is a "last resort", for film that otherwise cannot be run.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 07-08-2004 10:12 PM                     Gee, I thought by now that Kodak would have designed a "Hot" PTR roller just for this sort of fix . Mark  |  IP: Logged Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 07-08-2004 11:13 PM                        I saw some hot PTRs on eBay the other day.  |  IP: Logged Bruce Hansen Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 847 From: Stone Mountain, GA, USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 07-09-2004 11:12 AM                     You can try using your finger nail to make a crease in the other direction, canceling out the creae you now have. This has worked for me, at times.  |  IP: Logged John Anastasio Master Film Handler Posts: 325 From: Trenton, NJ, USA Registered: Sep 2000 posted 07-10-2004 02:34 PM                        Wind it really tight and then leave it in your car on the next hot day!  |  IP: Logged Ethan Harper E-dawggg!!! Posts: 325 From: Plano, TX, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 07-11-2004 02:26 AM                     Ehh, Just play digital, and if all else fails, use WD-40. As you know, WD-40 fixes ALL problems.  |  IP: Logged

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