How to Care for 16mm Film

16mm film needs to be handled with a lot of care. This article gives you a few pointers on how to care for the 16mm film.

16mm film and video strip

Gadgets, nowadays, have gone digital. Most of the photographs and movies today are shot in digital format. Such a person would be shocked to see when one uses traditional 16mm film. Though many consider the 16mm film to be outdated, there are many film artists and auteurs who still swear by it. The quality and the feel of the 16mm film cannot be replaced with the digital format. Using 16mm film has its share of hassles. Taking care of this film in itself is a huge task and very laborious one at that. Digital video tapes are thought of as items that do not last long when compared to some of the technology available today. However, 16mm film beats digital video tapes as well. The following article gives you some pointers on how to care for the 16mm film.

How does light affect the 16mm film

Light exposure is a very serious issue with the 16mm film. It might be the still photo strip or the film strip. However, since thirty five years, 16mm films have been used for only movies. The sensitiveness to light can be decided by the numeric speed o the film. If the film moves at a very fast rate, it needs very little light. However, the slower the speed, the more light it needs. There is a number on the 16mm film strip which indicates the speed and helps you determine the amount of light needed. However, the ability to handle exposure to light is very less with all 16mm film strips. Care should be taken to ensure it is not exposed to light. If you want to take good care of the strip, you had better use diffuse lights or cool lights. While changing the 16mm film outdoors, you better search for some shade.

16mm film and temperature

Another important point to consider while taking care of the 16mm film strip would be the temperature. The temperature at which you store the strip is very important. The ideal temperature would be around fifty five degrees Fahrenheit. The best way to take care of the strip would be to keep it in a very dry place in the refrigerator. However, the freezer would be a bad idea as it would lead to condensation of the strip.

Take care while loading the strip

Loading the 16mm film strip is a tricky procedure. Anybody who wants to take care of the 16mm film strip must know this process carefully. The procedure would depend on the kind of camera one uses. The starting frame has to be even. This is achieved by simply cutting some of the film off. The film should be spooled properly and locked perfectly. Read the instructions that teach you how to care for the 16mm strip and ensure all the instructions have been followed without fail.

16mm film is pretty expensive. Make sure you do not waste any of it and use the entire stock with a lot of care. Follow these tips to take good care of your 16mm film.

Sources:
http://www.paulivester.com/films/films.htm
http://www.brighthub.com/multimedia/video/articles/49248.aspx