exposure for optical blow-up

[Camila Freitas]

Hi

 

Is it necessary to compensate for exposure when you shoot S16 for an optical blow-up?

 

Thank you

 

Camila Freitas

[David Mullen ASC]

The exposure for the blow-up to a dupe element is a separate thing from the exposure for the original camera negative. Optical printer operators wedge test and determine the right exposure to create a new film element with the right density. Usually they are working with a color-timed, contact-printed 16mm IP so there is only an overall exposure for the reel (not scene-to-scene corrections) when making the 35mm dupe negative in an optical printer.

 

However...

 

A well-exposed, i.e. denser-than-normal, negative helps reduce grain and improve blacks, which makes for a better blow-up. Most people do this by rating the film stocks slower than normal, like by 1/3 or 2/3's of a stop (1/3 of a stop is farily negligible however -- 2/3's of a stop is better.)

[Camila Freitas]

A well-exposed, i.e. denser-than-normal, negative helps reduce grain and improve blacks, which makes for a better blow-up. Most people do this by rating the film stocks slower than normal, like by 1/3 or 2/3's of a stop (1/3 of a stop is farily negligible however -- 2/3's of a stop is better.)

 

Does that also apply to a s16-HD-35 blow-up?

 

What differences do you consider most important between the two routes?

 

Many thanks,

 

Camila

[Stephen Williams]

A well-exposed, i.e. denser-than-normal, negative helps reduce grain and improve blacks, which makes for a better blow-up. Most people do this by rating the film stocks slower than normal, like by 1/3 or 2/3's of a stop (1/3 of a stop is farily negligible however -- 2/3's of a stop is better.)

 

Does that also apply to a s16-HD-35 blow-up?

 

What differences do you consider most important between the two routes?

 

Many thanks,

 

Camila

 

Hi,

 

Slight overexposure is always a good thing, regardless of post route.

 

Stephen

[David Mullen ASC]

Yes, doing D.I.'s I've still found that a slightly denser-than-normal negative is better, although a little less critical than for direct printing and optical work.