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U.S. Navy Film “ What Happens During Film Processing ” Still Photography Darkroom 88664 (1948)

1948 · Short film · 7 min

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Synopsis

Made in 1948 by the De Frenes Company, this U.S. Navy training movie breaks down the steps that must be taken for proper film processing and shows each of the chemicals used and what they do. It opens with a photographer using a Speed Graphic type camera, checking his exposed film for satisfaction after taking a picture (:43). A diagram then points to the image which was thrown by the camera lens that has left an invisible record of itself on the film (:51). This record cannot be used until it is made permanent and visible through the processing procedure. It is too sensitive to light and would be ruined if any light touched it (1:05). The sensitivity of light has to be cancelled out (1:14). A combination of chemicals removes this sensitivity and the film will demonstrate this process in step by step form (1:26). The image on the film is shown as a jet (1:38) and a cartoon demonstration follows of the silver salt particle’s activating to form the latent image (1:46). The first step of the process is to use a chemical to blacken the latent image (1:56). The chemical used is known as a reducer (2:03). Types of reducers include metol, hydroquinone, and pyro (2:08). The reducer is added to water (2:18) though once the negative is thrown in, it does not work as the solution is without alkaline (2:32). An accelerator of sodium carbonate is added (2:46). When both the reducer and the accelerator are combined the process still does not work (3:14) as it is too active and the reducer…

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Details

Running time
7 minutes
Collection
Ephemeral Films

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