Nyback was a union projectionist in seattle before opening his own movie theater in 1979, which started him on an international career as a collector and curator. These charts reproduce the date edge codes from kodak and dupont motion picture film. Nitrate films are never paperbased but may be hard to distinguish between acetate and polyester films. Kodak film number to film type cross reference table tom philo photography. Yale university library preservation department identification of film types. Photonegatives identification tips and notch codes chart. But nitrate film also had a problem in that it decomposes and the bigger problem was that it blew up. Note that a nitrate negative may have been copied at some point and the edge printing from the original will. Its combustible the turner classic movie festival in hollywood built a booth to project old films on nitrate stock. Of course, its easiest if the film tells you what it is.
When the notch is at the top right edge of the sheet, the emulsion side faces you. The variety of objects made from cellulose nitrate includes cutlery handles french ivory and ivorylike substitutes, drafting setsquares and drawing templates, toys and dolls, photographic film, eyeglass frames, protective and decorative lacquers, and many other cosmetic, toiletry, and household items ranging from buttons to toilet seats. A survey of photographic negative collections from 19251950. It is highly inflammable and also decomposes to a dangerous condition with age. The inevitable deterioration of nitrate film is accelerated by damp, heat and fluctuating conditions. Pieces of triacetate safety film, modern polyester stock and nitrate nitrocellulose based film are lit for comparison. The acetate negative survey is the best reference ive found on notch codes. The film may be wound on a wooden or plastic bobbin but often there is no bobbin at all. Conserve ogram cellulose nitrate motion picture and still photographic film selfdestruct at an unpredictable rate over time unless stored at a very low temperature and appropriate relative humidity. Polyester film is not usually marked, but it may have estar or cronar edge markings. If there is a v notch code first from the edge of the negative, it is nitrate, and if there is a u notch code first from the edge of the negatives, it is acetate.
Notch codes are small notches cut along one edge of the film border by the manufacturer to help. Pack film is thin, but no notch codesbut was nitrate based through 1951 for kodak. The univalent anionic group no3, derived from nitric acid, or a compound containing this group. Nitrate is difficult to distinguish from other film bases. Identify which films in a collection are made of nitrate so that staff members are alert to which films are the most hazardous. Cellulose acetate film was used as a safe replacement for the unstable and highly flammable cellulose nitrate film. Nov 03, 2011 the laboratory method is to put the piece of film into a tube of trichloroethylene. Acetate film may be identified by safety edge markings or manufacturer notch codes. Kodak sheet films have a notch or a group of notches on one edge of each sheet. Photonegatives identification tips notch codes one step toward determining whether a film negative is cellulose nitrate is to examine the notch codes and the film type wording on the edges of the negative. Motion picture film can be made of various materials and by different processes and both material and process inform storage, handling, and duplication recommendations.
Sheet films can be identified by the notches cut into the upper right corner of the film. It made roll film and motion picture cine film possible. A training film for projectionists included footage of a controlled ignition of a reel of nitrate film, which continued to burn when fully submerged in water. Martin scorsese unspools rare nitrate prints at tcm.
Decision tree for sheet film national park service. Fischer andrew robb art conservation program university of delaware winterthur museum, 1993 background. It enables photographers to identify the emulsion side of the film when loading sheet film holders, and helps processing lab technicians avoid placing. A visual glossary of six stages of nitrate film base. History, science and storage of cellulose acetate film base. Nov 11, 2004 one of the most impressive publishing endeavors in the area of film scholarship in recent years is the mammoth nineyear undertaking which resulted in this 720 page tome, this film is dangerous. Identifying and handling nitrate film december 2008 here is some basic information about how to identify nitrate film, the hazards of handling nitrate film and information about shipping and housing nitrate film. One of the most impressive publishing endeavors in the area of film scholarship in recent years is the mammoth nineyear undertaking which resulted in this 720 page tome, this film is dangerous. Cellulose nitrate film material was the first successful transparent, flexible stock.
Kodak film number to film type cross reference table. A notch code is a set of notches or recesses cut into the edge of a piece of sheet film to provide a way to identify the brand and type of film emulsion. There are three broad types of filmbase photographic materials. Nitrate should be kept cool at a constant 50f with a relative humidity of 4050%. This book is a celebration of early cinema heritage and the people who know about, care, preserve, and love the fifty or so year history of nitrate cinema. Dennis nyback, on nitrate film oregon movies, a to z. Kodak film number to film type cross reference table tom. Jan 15, 2012 the nitrate ones must be stored with good ventilation, not airtight, not hot. To date your film, find the films edge code and select the matching code on the chart. A guide to identifying year of manufacture for kodak motion picture films ti2660 3. Proper nitrate film storage conditions require some expense to achieve. Temperatures over 80f and relative humidity exceeding 60% should be avoided. Introduction to nitrate film national science and media. A star on edge markings always indicates that it is a nitrate base film.
Preservation of negatives at the british columbia archives. Polyester film is not usually marked, but it may bear estar or cronar edge markings. The many fires caused by improper storage of cellulose nitrate prompted the advent. National park service conserve o gram 149 eastman safety kodak 2 identification of filmbase photographic matenals notch codes notch codes are small notches cut along one edge of the film border by the manufacturer to help. Nitrate film burns at a higher temperature than even. Nitrate film general information cellulose nitrate was first used as a base for photographic roll film by george eastman in 1889 and was used for photographic and professional 35mm motion picture film until the 1950s. A survey of photographic negative collections from 1925. The laboratory method is to put the piece of film into a tube of trichloroethylene. Sheet films can be identified by the notches cut into the upper right corner. Apr 10, 2017 whats the issue with nitrate film stock.
The kodak companys website lists techniques to identify kodak nitrate films, by. You can tell the kodak nitrate sheet films by certain notch codes, and many actually say nitrate on them. V notch code first from the edge will identify pre1949 kodak sheet film as nitrate while a u shaped. Some films require special storage considerations while others can be a safety hazard that needs special care and handling. Cellulose nitrate and cellulose acetate film bases are chemically unstable and require special action to minimize the risk of total. The nitrate ones must be stored with good ventilation, not airtight, not hot. This book is a celebration of early cinema heritage and the people who know about, care, preserve, and love the fifty.
It is important to verify the type of film base when processing and storing archival collections. If it was a press shot, it could very well have been filmpack that was duped onto safety base some years later. However, in cases where there was no edge printing or. Nitrate definition of nitrate by the free dictionary. In this particular collection a polyester film called kodak professional copy film 4125 popped up often. Notch codes can also identify sheet film as nitrate. National park service conserve o gram 149 eastman safety kodak 2 identification of film base photographic matenals notch codes notch codes are small notches cut along one edge of the film border by the manufacturer to help. By the 50s, only certain rollfilm stocks and pack films were still nitrate. Throughout our travels we have come across a few archives that were unaware they had cellulose nitrate in their collection or that film based. I have a chart of various notch codes for nitrate film also, but there are. It should be kept cool, at a constant 50f 10c with a relative humidity of 4050%. Tips for determining whether a film negative is cellulose nitrate, including by examining the notch codes and the film type wording on the edges of the negative. Historically there have been three major types of film base in use. Kodak notch codes in the 1970s kodak, coding, kodak film.
Nitrate film may be identified by nitrate edge markings or manufacturer notch codes. Identification of filmbase photographic materials national park. A v notch code first from the edge will identify pre1949 kodak sheet film as nitrate while a u shaped notch first from the edge will indicate the kodak film is acetate. A film base is a transparent substrate which acts as a support medium for the photosensitive emulsion that lies atop it. Kodak repeated symbols every 20 years, so you will need additional data to pinpoint the date. To date your film, find the film s edge code and select the matching code on the chart. So it wouldnt say safety film on it if it was the original for the time period you give. Despite the numerous layers and coatings associated with the emulsion layer, the base generally accounts for the vast majority of the thickness of any given film stock. Not all manufacturers stamped the film, but most included the notch codes, using a series of vshaped cuts to identify nitrate and a combination of u and vshaped cuts for acetate, or safety film. Aging nitrate film turns a yellowish color, which turns more amber and then brownish the older it gets.
Interesting paper on acetate negative deterioration and kodak notch codes. In our collections, the last agfa nitrate sheet film was exposed in 1945. A notch code is a set of notches or recesses cut into the edge of a piece of sheet film to. The use of nitrocellulose film for motion pictures led to the requirement for fireproof projection rooms with wall coverings made of asbestos. Bac kround in the 1920s film manufacturers slowly began the process of replacing the obviously problematic nitrate based negative.
Nitrate becomes acidic as it deteriorates and reacts with water in the air. Starting in the 30s, manufacturers printed or embossed nitrate or safety on to the edges of the film. Pack film is thin, but no notch codes but was nitrate based through 1951 for kodak. Some individuals have sensitivity to nitrates and may suffer from headache, diarrhea, or urticaria after ingesting them. They indicate the film type and help you to identify the emulsion side quickly. For 8mm edge codes used after 1965, see the web site fuji film uses a fourdigit code. Well, first we identified the notch code, a sequence of distinctive notches film manufacturers put on the edge of their film. Revised dating chart for cellulose nitrate film base, 18901950. Martin scorsese unspools rare nitrate prints at tcm festival. What i also found most interesting is that the kodak patent office provided the authors with a master index of kodak notch codes for sheet film, and what types of film each notch code has been assigned through the years. Care, handling, and storage of motion picture film.
There are three broad types of film base photographic materials. Below are the basic characteristics so that one can differentiate nitrate, acetate, and. Interesting paper on acetate negative deterioration and. Storage and handing of processed nitrate film motion. Kodak film number to film type cross reference table tom philo photography kodak film number to film type cross reference table what those numbers or letters along the side of the film mean.
Lower relative humidities than those recommended would retard decomposition of nitrate film and fading of color images even more, but most experts agree that the risk of brittleness with old nitrate film is too great. Kodak repeated symbols every 20 years, so you will need additional data to pinpoint the. It will provide documentation for the specific location of diacetate film types and represented institutions can be contacted for updated information as these negatives are monitored. When the notch is at the top right edge of the sheet, the emulsion side. They give off nitric acid vapors, which are harmful to all emulsions. For 8mm edge codes used after 1965, see the web site. There were negatives we werent sure about and which didnt have notch codes though. Edge printing and notch codes used to identify nitrate left and acetate right negatives. Photonegatives identification tips and notch codes chart archivists tools and tips tips for determining whether a film negative is cellulose nitrate, including by examining the notch codes and the film type wording on the edges of the negative and using this chart to see if it is safety film or nitrate film. Kodak, at least, was quite consistent in edgemarking acetate films safety well past 1960. In honor of the film preservation blogathon, oregon movies, a to z asked dennis nyback to talk about nitrate film.
A notch code is a group of indentations or recesses on the edge of a piece of film to help identify the film type and brand. A notch code is a set of notches or recesses cut into the edge of a piece of sheet film to provide a tactile way to identify the film brand, type, and processing chemistry e. Preservation selfassessment program psap negatives. This entry was posted in collection care, uncategorized and tagged cellulose acetate film, cellulose nitrate film, film viewer, jessica ebert, notch codes, photographs, plch collection, polyester. A guide to identifying year of manufacture for kodak. What i also found most interesting is that the kodak patent office provided the authors with a master index of kodak notch codes for sheet film, and what types of film each notch code has been. Oct 31, 2007 this includes things like humidity, and the nitric acid decomposition products of nitrate negatives. A notch code is a set of notches or recesses cut into the edge of a piece of sheet film. Photonegatives identification tips and notch codes chart archivists. Hazards nitrate can be very dangerous, mainly because it is highly flammable. Oct 14, 2010 pieces of triacetate safety film, modern polyester stock and nitrate nitrocellulose based film are lit for comparison. To obtain information from interviews with those who arewere involved in the research.
Following is a chart, dated may 2001, source unknown. A guide to identifying year of manufacture for kodak motion. The film gives off fumes which accelerate the decomposition process and also affect safety film, so nitrate should be stored separately in its. Since none of the film has notch codes or identification stamps, the processors believed it to be regular sheet film and it is sleeved and housed with the rest of the collection. Methods of identification include edge printing with nitrate or v notch code in upper. The first two examples are blown out once how they burn is shown.