8mm Forum: Warping

This is topic Warping in forum 8mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on August 02, 2015, 04:50 AM:

I was just reading a post submitted by our good friend Vidar regarding a print he has that has warped.

Some good advice was given to him regarding tight winding and leaving the film tails out for a time.

Then it got me thinking of my own one and only warped print to date which is a spanish 200ft WDHM short.
On this it Simply appears the film has been subjected to too much heat exposure over the years as it is also badly faded.

But then I thought to myself,what does cause this warping effect on film as I really am not sure?

Is it more likely with Acetate prints than it is with Polyester?

Is it heat related as I was assuming it was?

[ August 02, 2015, 05:52 AM: Message edited by: Andrew Woodcock ]

Posted by Paul Suchy (Member # 80) on August 02, 2015, 07:19 AM:

Heat, humidity, and just plain sitting around without being run for long periods of time. I try to give my prints regular exercise by running them and not allowing them to sit. I have never bathed a print in Filmrenew, but I have treated them with it, and if the warping isn't too extreme, they will relax enough to show. I don't know much about which stocks suffer most, but I do know my IB Tech 16mm tends to warp which is not surprising since the stuff is at least 45 years old. I do store most prints tails out because if the film was in one position for a long while, it's a good idea to change it up a bit. I hear metal reels encourage warping and vinegar syndrome, so I try to use plastic reels. I bought a print that came on a slightly rusted reel, and the color and definition seemed to have been leeched out of the print and it looks like one of those early Xerox copies or a bad fax (extremely pale, like the window signs that are all faded out from constant sun exposure). Back winding is a good start, and a touch of film cleaner.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on August 02, 2015, 07:49 AM:

Thanks Paul for your in depth explanation and sharing your knowledge here with us all, most appreciated. [Smile]

Posted by Mark Silvester (Member # 929) on August 02, 2015, 07:56 AM:

Hi all

I too noticed that back in the day when I collected 16mm quite a few IB tech prints had a bit of warp. Also used to notice a bit of the "slack".."baggy" take up. Not with all but with some.

Mark

Posted by Paul Suchy (Member # 80) on August 02, 2015, 08:57 AM:

Thanks for your kind words, Andrew. I don't have much technical knowledge to share, but I can share what I've experienced. You're right about the issues with IB Tech, but when all is well, Technicolor can be glorious.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on August 02, 2015, 11:01 AM:

Some wqrped film often takes up with an egg shape.
This can be avoided by twisting the film before securing to the spool.

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on August 02, 2015, 11:57 AM:

The only film I have seen warped t home was one that I striped myself using laminate stripe and adhesive. Running too slow and with too much adhesive caused the warping. It was acetate, of course, standard 8.

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