Overview: Just some notes on preparing and cleaning film before transferring.

How Should the Film Appear On the Rewinders

When one is standing in front of the rewinders, the film should:

Be mounted on the right rewind post.
The take-up reel (the empty one) should be on the left rewind post (the drive post with the handle)
The sprockets should be on the far side of the film.
The film should be coming off the top of the reel to the top of the take-up reel
The emulsion side (the duller side) of the film should be facing up (we are talking about the black film and not the leader....may need to unwind the film a little to see the actual film)

Basic Rewinder Process

Rewind the film from the “dead” post ot the “active” (on your left).
Clean the film with a lint free cloth with a spot soaked in Solvon.
1. Pinch the cloth around the film as you move the film
2. I pinch the film near the “dead” post for two reasons:
  1. i. The film has a longer period to dry before winding onto the take-up reel
  2. ii. I can brake the “dead” reel easier if I’m near it (needed if you suddenly have to stop)
When the film has been moved and cleaned....
Move the reels from one post to the other keeping the reels in the same orientation
Now thread the film from the bottom of the right reel to the bottom of the take-up reel (the original reel)
1. The film between the reels should be the glossy side up
2. The film on the reels should be the emulsion side up

Situations or Problems:

When cleaning and preparing the film for transferring you can come across a few situations. Here’s a list of them and the solutions:

Upside down and backwards:
- How can you tell. The film will come of the reel with the shiny side (non-emulsion side) facing up.
- Solution:
  - We have the original reel, call it reel A, and the spare take-up reel, call it reel B
  - Mount reel B (spare take-up reel) on the left post
  - Rewind film from the top of the reel A (original reel) to the bottom of the reel B
  - Reel B will now have the dull side (expulsion side) up
  - Remove reel B from the post
    - With the reel oriented such that the sprockets are near you, the film will now be rolling off the right hand side
    - Mount reel B on projector and scan
    - Replace reel B with reel A (the original reel) and rewind the film back onto reel A
Splices Only On One Side
- How can you tell:
  - Examining the film at the splices.
- Problems this can cause:
  - When scanning 8mm film, the film will tend to get stuck in the track and jam causing the film to bunch up and wrinkle!!!
  - For 16mm film this can cause the film to jerk sharply at the top of the film path and this is turn may cause the projector to stop or the film to break or just to jerk during the scan.
- Solution:
  - When winding the film through the rewinder keep and eye out for changes in film where a splice has occurred.
  - Generally the splices are at the end of 50 foot films that have been spliced together
  - You can usually feel the splice when cleaning it
Film On Reel Backwards
- How can you tell:
  - Look at a film frame closely. The top of the frame should be toward the head of the film (or the top of the frame should be toward the leader).
- Problems this can cause:
  - When scanning the film (8mm or 16mm), the film will be scanned upside down and backwards.
- Solution:
  - Rather than winding the film onto the cleaning reel and back onto the original reel before scanning we need to wind the film (while cleaning it) onto a temporary reel.
  - Then mount the temporary reel on the Sniper unit.
  - Scan the film as you normally would.
  - When the film is on the take-up reel, replace the temporary reel wit the original reel and then rewind the film onto the original reel.
  - The film should now be scanned and the original reel should have the film with the head facing out.