CA1192775A - Motion picture image quality - Google Patents

Abstract

IMPROVEMENT OF MOTION PICTURE IMAGE QUALITY

ABSTRACT

Motion picture film is photographed with standard spherical lenses, exposing in the camera the full 35mm aperture, giving in the 1.66:1 ratio a negative image area effectively 75% larger than that of the standard 1.85:1 flat wide-screen format. The frame on the ground glass is centered on the film centerline. The negative is optically printed onto anamorphic release prints employing the standard 2:1 lateral compression ratio, bypassing the problems of flat wide-screen projection, such as dim and grainy images, shallow depth of focus, and unpredictable framing. The preferred embodiment of the invention will use the 1.66:1 aspect ratio. The centerline of the print has an image offset to the standard ACADEMY*centerline, with the height of the frame on the ground glass printed to the height of the anamorphic frame, and with unused area on the top and on the sides printed with an opaque border. Similar printing can be done using as original material 35mm film photographed with the frame on the ground glass centered on the Academy centerline; 16mm film photographed in the SUPER 16* format; or high-definition videotape.

Description

SPECIFICAT:[ON

(a) Title of the Invention:
~mprovement of Motion Picture Image Quality (b) Name of the Inven-tor:
Larry Blake (d) Background of the Invention:
The improvement of motion picture image quality of this invention is classified in Class 352, subclasses 44,69, and 239; Class 355, subclass 52, and the like.
M. Lente, in UnS~ Patent 3,865,738 issued February 11, 1975, discloses a motion picture film having pictures whose frame lengths are three perforation-pitch lengths. The print films-may be prepared such that the prints may also be four perforation-pitch lengths. The images may also have an anamorphic horizontal reduction in the range of 1.5:1 to 1.25:1.
G. Monteleoni et al, in U.S. Patent 3,396,021, issued August 6, 1968, discloses an anamorphic wide-screen motion picture print made by exposing a negative in a camera without vertical or horizontal distortion, in a frame area of one-half normal height. A positive print is made by enl.arging the vertical dimension of the picture in inverse proportion to the reduction of the negative feed rate without substantial change in wid~h fro~ that o~ the nega~ive, producing a prin~
of normal frame dimensions with an anamorphic wide scene filling the picture area of the print.
In' U.S. Patent 3,046,~32 issued July 31, 1961, W.
~inzenburg increases the luminous flux obtainable from projection equipment by providing a print of greater than standard ~rame size on standard film.
The present invention relates to a method of photographing motion pictures with attention paid to problems of the fla~
wide-screen system and to solutions offered by full-aperture photography and standard anamorphic projection.
The aspec~ ratio of a frame of 35mm film, as established by Edison and Lumiere at the end of the last century, is exactly 1.33:1, and this was the image used during the 25-year reign of silent films.
This standardization was challenged by the introduction of optical sound tracks at the beginning of the sound era.
All of a sudden, three projection apertures were'in wide use:
The old silent aperture, for sound-on-disc release;' the "k~YIETONE* aperture, which simply reduced the width of the silent aperture to lea~e'room for the'sound track, resulting in an awkward, almost-square image;' and the "proportional" aperture, which redllced the'height as well as the width to give the same 1.33:1 aspect ratlo as that of silent films. Because of the uncertainty as to how a film would be p~ojected, there was much compromise involved in the placement o~' lights and microphone booms.
Order was not to be had until the codification, in the early 1930s, of the ACADEIIY* aperture, whose aspect ratio was 1.38:1 ~colloquially referred to as 1.33). For the next 20 years, cinematographers and directors never had to worry about how their films would be proJected.

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Although there was much discussion at the beginning of the sound era regarding the feasibility of wide screens, it is generally agreed that it took competition from a ree 1.33 -- television -- to force motion picture studios into expanding the original 1.33 frame.
Since the introductions of CINERAMA*and CINE~SCOPE*in the early 1950s, almost every conceivable com~)ination of large negatives (vIsT~vIsIoN*and 65mm photography), small negatives (TECHNI5CQ~E*and SUPERSCOPE*) ,and anamorphic photography ~T~C~NIRA~*and ULTRA PANAVISION*) has been used to increase the aspect ratio of motion pictures.
Besides the original CINEMAscopE*anamorp~ic system, the only other survivinO wide-screen format used in principal motion picture pho~ography today is the "flat" (i.e., non-anamorphic) wide-screen system, which was adopted only for its ability to produce wide images from standard 35mm cameras, lenses, and contact-printing techniques. In the United States, films are composed for an aspect ratio of 1.85:1 taken from the center of the s~andard 1.38:1 ACADEl~Y*
frame, and projected with a shor~-focal-length lens and a 1.85:1 aperture plate. The flat wide-screen format uses only 63% of the standard anamorphic frame, while wasting 36% more negative and print stock.
A comparison to the 1.38 ACADEIIY* format reveals the following projection problems of the 1.85:1 flat wide-screen system 1. Apparent grain increase/ due to the ~6/~-smaller image being projected onto a 35%-larger screen. Increased with the grain is the visibility of dirt and scratches.

2. ~immer picture, for the same reasons, requiring the use of high-speed lenses in projection.

3. More critic~l focusing, due to ~he shallow depth of.
foeus of high~speed, short-focal leng~h lenses.

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It has long been observed that the lack of sharpness of flat wide-screen images is due prirnarily to the small image area of the negative. ~ecause of the effects of negative emulslon grain, the full potential of fine-grain positive stocks can be realized only with optical reduction from a larger negative.
The best-known example of this approach is Paramount's vIsTAvIsIoN*process~ whose large negatives were used almost exclusively or print~down to flat wide-screen prints. It was also common practice to shoot, with the full aperture, films to be printed in ~he TEcH~IcoLo~*imbibition process, reducing to the ACADEMY*frame when printing the dye-transfer matrices. ~ven though the negative was only 2?% larger than its print, there was claimed a noticeable gain in definition and decrease in grain.
It is evident that the flat wide-screen system leaves much to be de~ired in the way o~ image quality. In addition, what is finally viewed by the public is often misframed.
The classic example of this is the theater which shows all films at a 2:1 ratio, thus cropping and blowing up the already-small 1.85 frame, while reducin~ the width of anamorphic films. This compromise ratio damages the composition of 1.85 films more, as crucial headroom is severely tightened. Not only is headroom compromised in ~:1 projection of a 1.85 film, but the focusing, grain, and illumination problems are also magnified.
~ loreover, there are problems in the exch~n~e of films between the United States and Europe, since the U.S. uses the 1.85:1 ratio, while Europe uses 1.66:1. Similarly, any American director wishing to shoot in a ratio taller than 1.85:1, i.e., 1.75, 1.66 or the old 1.38, has almost no chance of having the film projected properly on a predictable * T~iDE MARK

~32 ,';~9 basis. Directors and cinematographers must accept the fact that their flat wide-screen films are composed in the apert~re plates of the theaters, and not on the ground gl~sses o their cameras. They can only determine what will be on the center of the frame on the print.
All of the above-rnentioned probléms are minimized in the standard anamorphic system employing complementa~y lenses with a 2:l lateral compression ratio in photography and in projectlon. 1~1hlle anamorphic films are rarely shown at their complete 2.40:l width, crucial height is almost always correct, as there is very little margin for framing error This is because the frameline on an anamorphic print will be'visible before'headroom is misframed to a bothersome degree. Additionally, none of the illumination, grain, and focus problems encountered in flat wide-screen projection have to be considered: a larger image presents more light to longer lenses.
Yet, despite these projection benefits, fewer than 10%
of American feature films are photographed with anamorphic lenses. A major complaint with the anamorphic format is that the 2.~0:l aspect ratio is too~wide, is difficult to compose for, and requires scanning for teIevision reIease.
The other common complaint regarding anamorphic photography concerns the use of long focal lengths for the standard desired photographic angles of view. ~his results in decreased depth of field unles's light levels are increased to allow the scene to be photographed at a smaller f-stop.
Thus, i~ i9 evident that the most desirable'wide-screen format would have to combine the standard lenses and not-so-wide frame of the fl~t system with the image quality and projection benefits of the anamorphic format.

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SUMMARY OF THE IN~.NTION

Motion picture film is photographed with standard spherical lenses, exposing in the camera the full 35mm aperture, giving in the 1.66:1 ratio a negative image area effectively 75V~ larger than that of the standard 1 85:1 flat wide-screen format. The cut negative will be optically printed onto standard anamorphic release prints, bypassing the problems of flat wide-screen projection, such as dim and grainy images, shallow depth of focus, and unpredictahle framing. The preferred embodiment employs the 1.66:1 aspect ratio. The 2 20:1 aspect ratio can also be produced according to the present invention.
This process invention solves problems created and implied by the fla~ wide-screen system. The solution must employ standard equipment in both photography and projection.
This invention proposes that motion pictures not employing anamorphic lenses in photography use the full 35mm aperture, with the frame on the ground glass centered on the film centerline. The width of the projectable image would be 0.980 inch, with heights of 0.590 inch and 0.445 inch for the 1.66:1 and 2.20:1 ratios, respectively.
The cut camera negative is optically printed to an anamorphic print, with the centerline offset 0.0495 inch to the Academy sound standard. The dimensions of the printing aperture would be identical to those of projectable image area framed on the ground glass, with the height of the projectable image on the.negative printed to the standard 0.700 inch height of the anamorphic frame. Area not used on the top and on the sides of the image is printed with an opaque hard matte.
Incl.uded in the objects of this invention are:
To provide improved image structure, due to a larger negative image area.

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To provide a means of bypassing the problems of flat wide-screen projection.
To provide greater depth of focus dur;ng projection.
To eliminate unprer.lictable framing in theaters.
Other objects and advantages of this invention are taught in the following description and claims.

2 s~ j BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DP~WINGS

The description of this invention is to be read,in conjunc~ion with the following drawings:
F~GURE 1 illustrates the plan view of the camera aperture and the projec-table image area used in the'l.85:1 flat wide-screen system.
FIGURE 2 illustrates the plan view of the'camera aperture and the projectable image area used in the standard 2~40:1 anamorphic format.
FIGURE 3 illustrates the plan view of the projectable' image area of a negative used in the present invention for films in the 1.66:1 aspect ratio.
FIGUR~ 4 illustrates the plan view of the'proj'ectable image area of an anamorphic print of the negative' illustrated in FIGUP~ 3.
FIGURE 5 illustrates the'plan view of the projectable' image area of a SUPER'16~mm negative~

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~ocket Mo. B-266-~,IP

GJ.OSSAP~Y

FIGURES 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 1, 1', 1", 1''', 1'''' film 2, 2', 2", 2''', 2'''' - picture image 3, 3', 3" - sound track DF.SCRIPTION OF THE PPEFF.RREl) F,MBOI)I2~.~NT OF TlIE Il`lVl~NTION

The present inventive advance in the process art proposes that moti.on picture films be photographed with spherical lenses, e~posing in the camera the full 35mm aperture, wi~h the frame on the ground glass centered on the film centerline. The cut negative is optically printed onto standard anamorphic prints, with the printing aperture having the same dimensions as the frame on the ground glass, and with the height of said frame printed to the full heigh-t (0.70n inch) of the standard anamorphic frame, with unused information on the top and on the sides of the projectable image printed with an opaque hard matte.
The preferred embodiment will use the 1.66:1 aspect ratio.
Release prints are to be projected with standard ~ anamorphic lenses.
: The various comparative picture image sizes are listed in Table I on the next page, repres`enting 35mm motion i . picture film.

l ~ABL~. I

- Aspect ~olumn 1 ~olumn 2 rolumn 3 Ratio In~rention Flat Negative Invention ''egative Image and Positive Ima~,e IlTIage ~idth Positive Image Image Height 3 inch Image T~ .th = .-7~n inch = .~25 inch IIeight Area Height Area ~idth Area (inch) ~sq. in.) (inch) ~sq. in.)~inch) (sq. in.) A 2.40 - - .350 (~) .2937 .83~ (*~) .5873 3 B 2.20 .445 .4361 o ' ~.
C 1.&5 - - .446 .358n .~ ~ 1 66 .590 .57~2 .497 .41~0 .5~1 .4~7 E 1.33 .590 .4631 .535(****J3815 (*) ~egative area only of IT.S. Patent 3,396,021; 83a inch wid~h ~**) Ihe width used in standa~d 2.4Q;1 anamorphic photography (***~ .785 inch width ~`k***~ . 713 inch ~idth.

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This invention, in the pre~erred embodilllent using the 1.66:1 aspect ratio, increases by 57~/~ the ne~ative irnage are, compared to that of the stanclard 1.85.1 flat wide-screen format (Table I, ~Column 1, ].;ne ~) and Colllrnn 2, line C). ~f one consiclers the larger screen area that a l..S5:1 image has to fill, compared to the present invention's 1.66:1 frame (for a given screen height~, then the effective negative image area :increase would be 75%. And, because the negative would be 42% larger than, and would be reduced to, its anamorph;c print, highest-quality re]ease prints would be obtained, as noted earlier. In addition, the effective print area increase (Table I, ~olumn 2, line C;
Column 3, line D) would be 23~/~. The result of ~he ahove negative and positive image area increases would be a substajntial reduction o:E apparent grain and a significant increase ln sharpness and definition.
In prior art illustrated in FIG. 1, value a is the correct height of a flat wide~screen print in the l.g5:1 ratio.
Value b is the area exposed on the negative. The small image area and the wide margin for framing error inherent in said system is illustrated. FIG. 2 illustrates a standard print made from a negative photographed with an anamorphic lens. It is noted that the projectab]e area used on the print, value a, comprises almost the total area ex?osed on the negative, indicated by value b. Thus the small margin for framin~ error in the standard anamorphic forrnat is indicated. F-LGS. 3-5 inclusive serve to illustrate the proced-ures which the preserlt invention discloses, overcoming the problems in prior art.
In ~IG. 3, the projectable innage area for the 1.66:1 ratio is indicated for negative material in the present invention. The total area exposed on the negative would be greater than the projectahle image area, in accorclance with - 11 -.

~2,'75 standard practice. The specific area exposed on the negative is not lndicated in FIG. 3 because the projectable image area framed on the ground glass would be the only area printed since its dimensions would match those of the printing aperture; thus the release prints will contain orlly the information framed hy the camera operator. FIG. 4 illustra~es how the correct height of the frame in FIG. 3, value a,is transferred to the correct height, value a, of the anamorphic format. It is unlik:ely that an anamorphic print will be misframed, since any error in projection will result in the frarneline being visible.
Focus tolerances would be'improved, because of the greater depth of focus offered by anamorphic projection lenses, which, for a given screen height, are l-~ inch longer than those used in 1.~5:1 flat projection. The increase in depth of focus will minimize not only focus drift through a reel but also the bad effects of film movement in the aperture. In addition, the fact that 1.66:1 anamorphic prints use the center 69% of the width of the'standard anamorphic projection lens means that edge-to-edge sharpness will be improved.
Focus will also be aided because the'almost-square image on prints in the present invention would be heated more' evenly and would have less of a hot-spot problem. The larger print area for the smaller sc-reen will help improve' illumination and will decrease the visihility of dirt and scratches. And, because of the increase in ~rojection aperture height, problems with shifting framelines, due to printer ~isalignment, and with registration, because of a faulty intermittent mechanism, would be reduced 57%.
To many people in the motion-picture i.ndustry, the '1.85:1 flat wide-screen system's main fault is its wasting of 36% of purchased print stock.. By contrast, the anamorphic format uses 0.700 lnch of the 0.748 inch height of a 35mm frame~ while the ]..85:1 fl.at wide-screen fornlat ~Ises only 2 d 75 0.446 inch. Thus, ~540 of the ~1,500 spent for a release print in the 1.85:1 format is not seen on the screen.
It is proposed to apply the present lnvention to the 2.20:1 aspect ratio, to offer an option to directors who wish to use a frame wider than 1.66:1, but would preer not to use long focal-length anamorphic lenses. Inasmuch as very few theaters project the fu11 2.40:1 ratio for arlamorphic films, and instead crop the sides to varying degrees, ~?ith 2:1 representing the average worst-case, the 2.20:1 ratio can be considered the realistic maximum width. Additionally, this ratio would simplify blow-up to 7~mm, since 2.20:1 is the aspect ratio of 70mm projection apertures.
In an embodiment of the present invention, films photographed in the standard 1at system, using the AcADE~iy*
centerline, illustrated in FIG. 1, could be transferred to anamorphic prints as described for the present invention.
This application would receive all of the benefits cIa;med for the present invention with the exception, of course, of increased negative image area.
In a similar embodiment of the present invention, prints from original material photographed in ~he format known as SU~ER 16*~ as illustrated in FIG. 5, could be made according to the specifications of the present invention. ~s a result, the complete 1.66:1 ra~io of thé original material will be seen on the screen, compared to the cropping of the image which results when flat 35mm wide-screen prints from SUP~R 16*negatives are projected with a 1.85:1 aperture plateO
As indicated in Table I; there is no increase in magnification needed for prints in the present invention (~olu~l 3, line D), compared to standard flat wide-screen prints (Column 2, line D).
In a further embodim~nt of the present invention, material phvtographed on an eIectronic medium,e.g., high-definitio~

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-Jideotape, can be transferred to anamorphic prints as described in the present invention.
Photographing a motion picture in the 1.~5:1 wide-~creen system while simultaneously taking into consideration framing for future television release has historically involved many compromises. If it i.s intended to exhihit a contact print from the negative on television, it is common to keep microphones and lights outside of the complete ACADEMY*aperture, which is illustrated as value b in FIG. 1.
This procedure results not only in "loose" composition on television, since the image was framed for correct 1.85:1 headroom, illustrated by value~a, but also in handicaps placed on sound and lighting personnel, as they are unable to get close to the actors for fear of having microphones and lights visible on television, not to mention in misframed projection in many theaters.
Overcoming another limitation of prior art, in a further embodiment of the present invention, motion pictures photographed in the preferred embodiment could be transferred to videotape or 1.33:1 television film prints, deriving -the 1.33:1 aspect ratio in both cases from the center of the 1.66~1 projectable image area, as indicated by value b in FIG. 3.
Thus, said films would have the correct frame height, FIG. 3, value a, in both 1.66:1 theatrical prints and in 1.33:1 television release. This embodiment will facilitate both the exhibition of television motion pictures theatrically, and the exhibition of theatrical motion pictures on televisior~, including release on videotape and videodisc, and networlc and cable broadcast.
Furthermore, the 1.33:1 a~ea extracted from the negative of the preferred ernbodiment ~Table I, Colurnn l, line ~) will have an image area 21% larger than that o the standar-l television "safe action" area (Table ~, ~olurmn 2, line E).

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~92 J '75 In a still further embodiment of the present invention, a negative photographed in the preferred em~odiment could be used as origi.nal material for a motion picture which would be distributed in a wide-screen "high-deinition"
video format.
It is understood that the present invention is primarily concerned with full-aperture 35mm negatives and anamorphic 35mm prints, and can he duplicated using any means, including, but not limited to, standard color reversal intermediate and interpositive/internegative film processes, proposed digital film printers, and the like.
Many modifications in the improvement of motion picture image quality can be made in the light of my teachings.
It is understood that within the scope of the claims, the invention can be practiced otherwise than as described.

Claims (8)

I CLAIM:

1. A process for making motion pictures comprising the steps of:
photographing a scene on 35mm film, the frame on the ground glass centered on the film centerline, said frame encompassing substantially the full area between film perforations;
optically printing said frame onto an anarmorphic print employing standard 2:1 lateral compression ratio, during which printing the centerline of the frame is offset to the standard Academy centerline, with the printing aperture having the same dimensions as the frame on the ground glass, and with the height of said frame printed to the full height of the standard anamorphic frame;
and printing the unused area outside of the resulting frame with an opaque border.

2. In the process set forth in Claim 1 wherein the original picture image is photographed on the Academy sound center-line and said picture image is transferred to 35mm anamorphic prints.

3. In the process set forth in Claim 1 wherein the original picture image is photographed in the 16mm or the Super-16mm format, and said picture image is transferred to 35mm anamorphic prints.

4. In the process set forth in Claim 1 wherein the original picture image is photographed onto an electronic medium, and said picture image is transferred to 35mm anamorphic prints.

5. In the process set forth in Claim 4 wherein the original picture image is photographed on a standard or high-definition video format, and said picture image is transferred to 35mm anamorphic prints.

6. In the process set forth in Claim 1 wherein the original picture image in photographed on 35mm film with the frame on the ground glass centered on the film centerline, said picture image encompassing substantially the full area between film perforations, and the center portion of said frame is transferred to standard videotape or 1.33:1 film prints intended for television release.

7. In the process set forth in Claim. 1 wherein the original picture image is photographed on 35mm film with the frame on the ground glass centered on the film centerline, said picture image encompassing substantially the full area between film perforations, and said picture image is transferred onto an electronic medium.

8. In the process set forth in Claim 7 wherein said picture image is transferred to a high-definition video format.