8mm Forum: one or two stripes?

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Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on June 21, 2012, 12:53 PM:

I believe I read a series of posts about this years ago, but I haven't heard about it in the longest time.

As we all (mostly) know, super 8 sound was marketed with both one stripe (just mono potential) and the more customary two stripes (main stripe and balance stripe) ...

... but from what I have heard, it is far more beneficial to have super 8 with the two stripe process, even with a mono soundtrack as, from what I understand, a super 8 print with just a main stripe and no balance stripe, may go through the film gate in an awkward manner and therefore not allow for a decent projection?

Your thoughts, folks?

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on June 21, 2012, 01:09 PM:

I've heard that part of the reason for the balance stripe (besides flatness in the gate) is smooth loading on a film reel.

Basically having the film be thicker on the striped edge than the non-striped means the pileup of film will actually have a "curvature" away from the striped side and will lean on the reel flange on that side instead of resting between both of them. Each succeeding layer will also be at a steeper and steeper angle from level on the reel. The longer the film, the worse this becomes.

I don't think they really expected the balance stripe to be used for stereo, after all at that time most theatrical films were mono anyway. Stereo was kind of a happy side effect.

Posted by Ricky Daniels (Member # 95) on June 21, 2012, 01:30 PM:

...more importantly dual stripe keeps the film flatter at the picture head (gate) and results in better side to side focus than a single edge stripe.

Best,
Rick

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on June 21, 2012, 01:36 PM:

quote:
...more importantly dual stripe keeps the film flatter at the picture head (gate) and results in better side to side focus than a single edge stripe.

I don't know a lot about Super 8 but this is what I've always thought was the purpose of the balance stripe.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on June 21, 2012, 01:40 PM:

This may be an old wives tale, but I've heard that the limit of a single striper is something like 200 feet.

If that's really the case then flatness through the gate isn't the only reason because the length of the film wouldn't be an issue there.

Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on June 21, 2012, 02:11 PM:

The balande stripe is very important on 'SCOPE prints where
sharp focus is paramount.

Posted by Rob Young. (Member # 131) on June 22, 2012, 04:04 AM:

Absolutely, Hugh, do you remember when Walton Films started to produce scope prints...so frustrating because they generally produced very sharp prints, but would try and save money by not applying a balance stripe...result...you couldn't get the damn picture sharp all the way across! Grr [Mad]

Although they did change this practice toward the end, but so many of those otherwise really nice prints suffer because of this.

Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on June 22, 2012, 04:25 AM:

Very true Rob, I think it was something like a few pennies it saved
them.Although users of the Elmo and Fumeo projectors,and possibly some more,have a small screw under the lens that allows
focus to be adjusted across the frame that can help in
alleviating this problem.

Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on June 22, 2012, 08:45 AM:

My copy of "Kook's Tour" from Niles Film Products came with no balance stripe. I bought a 2nd copy of it off Ebay that actually had it. Hmmmmm! Both run fine, but the copy with the balance stripe definitely runs smoother. Too bad the color on both of them has a rather cranberry timbre (but we won't go there).

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