Film recorder
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A film recorder is a graphical output device for transferring digital images to photographic film.
The simplest film recorders typically work by displaying the image on a grayscale cathode ray tube (CRT) placed in front of a photographic camera.
For color images, the red, green, and blue channels are separately displayed on the same grayscale 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 film recorders use lasers to write the image directly onto the film, one pixel at a time. This method is better suited to large-format media such as poster-size prints.
In any case, the exposed film is developed and printed by regular photographic chemical processing. Self-developing (Polaroid) film can be used for immediate feedback.
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[edit] Formats
Film recorders are (or were) available for a variety of film types and formats.The 35mm negative film and transparencies 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 holders to handle multiple formats with the same camera.
[edit] Uses
Film recorders are used in digital printing to generate master negatives for offset and other bulk printing processes. They are also used to produce the master copies of movies that use computer animation or other special effects based on digital image processing.
For preview, archiving, and small-volume reproduction, film recorders have been rendered obsolete by modern printers that produce photographic-quality hardcopies directly on plain paper.
Film recorders were also commonly used to produce slides for slide projectors; but this need is now largely met by video projectors 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.
[edit] 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. 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 the latest entrant into the cine film recorder market with its twenty year history of dominance in the traditional film recorder business. In 2003 Digital Films Systems with Definity introduced the first motion picture film recorder utilizing LCD technology.
Polaroid was a significant producer of film recorders. The top model film recorder that Polaroid produced was the ProPalette 8000 series. Polaroid does not make film recorders any longer.
