US2351019A - Color film - Google Patents

Description

V I June 13, 1944.

A. H. J. DE LASSUS SAINT GENIES COLOR FILM Filed June 10, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2 I mike/9hr A. H. J. DE LASSUS SAINT GENI ES June 13, 1944.

COLOR FILM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 10, 1940 Fig. 2.

mus/7604 Jetornega Patented June 13,1944

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLOR FILM Anne Henri Jacques de Lassus Saint Genies. Versailles, France; vested in the Alien Property Custodian Application June 10, 1940, Serial.No.- 339,812 In France March 81, 1938 8 Claims.

This is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 263,996, filed 24th March 1939 for Color films."

This invention relates to color films having lenticulations destined to allow of the separate recording of the separation monochromes and having a plurality of superposed sensitised layers in which these successive recordings are effected. The invention relates particularly to a novel arrangement or suchfilms and to modes of operation which enable superposed images to be obtained in the said layers, these images being preferably colored by the method of subtractive synthesis.

In accordance with the invention the film comprises a translucent lenticular support on the smooth face of which there are provided, in thecourse of manufacture, for example, a plurality of sensitised emulsions of diflerent kinds which are in every case only capable of recording distinct images by any known method, for example by rendering these layers sensitive to dlfier- 'ent regions of the spectrum. The first of these layers in contact with the support is preferably transparent; after recording in this first layer, with the aid of radiations which do not afiect the succeeding layers, a primary negative image, for example, complete and consisting in the usual manner of a plurality of primary. black and white juxtaposed monochromes, the monochrome images that have been successively recorded are selectively illuminated, by virtue of the optical properties of the lenticulation by corresponding radiations in each of the superposed layers, starting from the outermost layer, i. e. that furthest cording the secondary monochrome images and the operations for their development; this result is obtained by the particular orientation, in respect of each of these images, of the beams recording these monochromes through the lenticulations and the primary images. without sacrifice of registration, the latter having been obtained originally by development of the complete primary image;

2. To separate strictly, in space, the secondary monochromes bydistributing them between the another layer.

adjacent layers of emulsion; this separation is obtained by the sensitisation of these layers for distinct spectral zones;

' 3. To avoid all projection of a secondary monochrome image, developed and possibly colored on This result is due to the application of the means stipulated under 1 and 2 above, in the order from the outermost layer to the innermost layer in contact with the cellulosic support:

removed from the support, and proceeding systematically towards the lowermost layer.

According to one embodiment a lenticular film is obtained bearing black and white primary monochrome images juxtaposed in known manner in the single emulsion layer of any suitable 1. To 'scparata'intime, the operations for re- 4. By securing these three results, to adjust with ease the contrast factor requisite to each monochrome image; A

5. To reduce cost to the minimum compatible with the desired quality of the result, owing to the easy manufacturing of the film and the use ,of as small a number of well-known chemical treatment steps as possible.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 represents in magnified cross-section one type of film which may be used in carrying the invention into effect,

Figure 2 represents in magnified cross-section a further type of film, and

Figure 3 represents in magnified cross-section a modification of the type of film shown in Figure 2.

First example Figure l of the accompanying drawing represents an embodiment of 'a film adapted in manufacture to carry on one of its faces for example threeemulsion layers sensitised to distinct zones of the spectrum comprising visible or invisible radiations, this film being provided with lenticulations on the other face prior to the recording of the complete primary image.

It is assumed that the emulsion of layer l in, immediate contact with the support F is sui- -flciently transparent to allowthe two other layers 2 and 3 to er I. I

Layer I, sensitive only to red rays for example, is first imprinted byitself by means of such be exposed by light traversing lay 2 rays passing through the lenticulations, withv the aid of a suitable optical system in a well established known manner, with a view to being able to develop in this layer I a complete primary image composed for example of reproducing the monochrom of an original.

Since the two other layers 2 and 3 are not sensitiveto the radiation which has just been used, these layers are not affected by the above operations. Prior to any fixation, one of the secondary positive monochromes is then recorded in the layer 3. This monochrome is derived from the primary image with the aid of beams of rays of any desired orientation and corresponding to the zone of thespectrum for which this layer 3 is sensitised; these beamsare directed by the lenticulations onto the selected primary monochrome only.

Thesubsequent procedure may then, for example, be as follows:

It is assumed that there may be used color developers such as are at present known, capable of developing the three layers -each in a predetermined color. If layer 3 is sensitive to blue for example, it is imprinted by blue light, directed for example as indicated by the arrow 4, to traverse the primary monochrome corresponding in the figure of the drawings to the red monochrome r. In this way there is obtained a positive image which is developed in bluish green complementary to the red ofthe image in layer I, in an appropriate color developer. Generally speaking a certain amount of reduced silver remains mixed with the revealed coloring matter.

In the layer 2 sensitive for example to green there is imprinted, by green rays directed as indicated by the arrow 6, the positive monochrome b corresponding for example to blue and destined to come out in the yellow complementary to this blue; this layer 2 is then developed so as to reveal a yellow positive.

Finally, in layer I, withthe aid Of red rays directed as indicated by the arrow 5, an image is recorded in the remaining portion of the halide in this layer, corresponding only to the last monochrome net yet reproduced, and destined to appear in the purple complementary to the green of 9; development is therefore then effected in purple.

It will be understood that this successive development may be very exactly adjusted as to density and as regards contrast factor, as well as in respect of the degree of difiusion in the coloring matter in each layer, this diffusion being sufficient to eliminate all trace of the microscopic line structure of each image, since it is desired preferably to obtain a result by subtractive synthesis.

When all these operations have been carried out the next step is to dissolve the reduced silver present in the secondary images, as well as that to be eliminated from the entire primary silver image, and any unexposed silver halide that may still be present in the different layers is likewise dissolved out.

Second example If the three layers are superposed on the layer containing the primary silver images of the lenticular film, they may only comprise one layer of silver chloride (or silver chloro-bromide) adjacent the other two layers or positioned in between the two other layers of silver bromide. If these three layers are sensitised in respect of absothe three 'black' and white monochrome line negatives b. 9, 1',-

lutely separate zones of the spectrum, and it the chloride layer is the first or second counting from the outside, the outermost layer is first exposed for imprinting thereon one of the secondary monochrome images, by rays corresponding to its sensitisation, these rays traversing the lenticulations of the support and one of the primary monochrome silver images juxtaposed in the layer initially attached to the lenticular support; the second layer contacting therewith is then likewise exposed for the recording therein of another of the secondary monochrome images; the chloride layer is then developed usin a color developer having a low reduction potential and of a nature to develop only the secondary image of this layer. Thereafter, preferably with the aid of color developer, the latent secondary image in the bromide layer contacting therewith is developed. It then merely remains to expose the last bromide layer, which is in contact with that initially carrying the primary images by the rays for which it has been sensitised, in order to re-. cord therein the third secondary monochrome image, and then to develop this latter in colors.

If this third layer isthe chloride layer, the procedure will be to expose and treat selectively the outermost layer, then to expose the other two layers and to treat them selectively as has just 'been described in the preceding instance, by virtue of the fact that they are composed of difierent halides allowing of the employment of developers having different reduction potentials.

Finally, the reduced silver and the halide remaining in all the layers is dissolved nut.

In the two cases under consideration it will be understood that all requisitewashing operations are carried out between the different treat ing steps, as also adequate drying or appropriate wiping of the lenticular face of the fihn to ensure the obtaining of the successive imprinting of the secondary images by means of the various appropriately directed beams.

It then remains to wash and dry the film and to obliterate the lenticulations, for instance by varnishing, these lenticulations havin ceased to be useful for color projection which may be effected in any type of projector without the necessity for special measures or precautions.

It will be understood that it is possible, without departing from thespirit of the invention and while using the technique described in the first example to superpose four emulsion layers instead of merely three. One of these layers may then preferably be rendered sensitive to an invisible region of the light spectrum; Under these conditions the layer I may only contain the complete primary image'and may not be made use of to carry one of the secondary color images.

Referring to Figure 2, in their order, from the support F outwards, the emulsion layers are denoted by I, 2, 3 and 4, as in the case of the examples previously given. Layer l and layers 3 and 4 are silver chloride layers, the first preferably highly transparent, and layer 2 is a silver bromide layer.

Layer l is sensitive to blue only, and is also tinted with yellow coloring matter which absorbs blue rays, the coloring matter used for this purpose being soluble in water in known manner.

If layers 3 and 4 are respectively sensitive, for example to green in the case of layer 3 and to red in'the case of layer 4, layer 2 being, like layer I, sensitive to blue only, it will be understood that it is possible first to record a complete primary image in layer l by blue light, for example by copying a lenticular original bearing, in conventional manner, its three monochrome components'recorded black and white. The elemene tary monochrome components are denoted by b, g.

and r in the drawings.

This first layer I is developed but not flxed.

' residual halide and metallic silver from the varilayer I is" developed'and given its appropriate coloration.

The operations performed thus far require merely that the spectral sensitisation of layer 4 be resistant to the developmentof layer I, and that the corresponding sensitisation of layer 3 be likewise resistant to the chromogenic development of layer'4.

When this point has been reached, ammonia is used to dissolve the chloride present in the layers I, 3 and 4.

All that remains to be done then is to record,

develop and color the last uncopied monochrome component of the layer I, in the bromide layer 2 which is the only one that is still sensitive to blue. After this, the halide and reduced silver present in all the images is dissolved out.

In view of the'fact that the developer used to develop the image in layer I may not, without inconvenient effects on the other layers, contain a halide solvent which favors, in known manner, the contrast between the microscopic images, it will be of advantage to impregnate this first la'yer completely with yellow coloring matter. Indeed the presence of such coloring matter in layer I permits of the recording and developing of very I well separated microscopic images on the surface of this layer.

The lenticular film illustrated in Fig. 3 differs from that of Fig. 2 in that the layer I, instead of being tinted with yellow coloring matter, is separated from the remaining layers by a thin layer of yellow varnish or the like 5 which absorbs blue rays, and which disappears in the course of the first development or the following washing operation. A lenticular film having three or four layers may be similarly provided, to suit the method of exposure adopted. first place, that layer I be a panchromatic bromide layer and separated from the succeeding layers by an opaque varnish which strictly masks the other layers during the exposure of the first. This opaque varnish is composed for example of two coloring substances each of which absorbs one half of the visible spectrum. It is also sufficient that the sensitising agents for this layer I, and this opaque varnish, be soluble in water in known manner."

The procedure may be as follows: after exposure with filter in conventional manner, the

black and white images are ,developed in the first layer, without fixing. The'opaque-varnish disappears in the course of this treatment. The two outermost layers, being'as'described above chloride layers-"sensitised respectively-to red' and green, are exposed in successiomwith theu'se of appropriate radiations, and colored." They are then passed through-ammonia to dissolve out the It is necessary, in the one images.

In a furtherembodiment, the three layers are ment of this layer producing the primary black and white images. 4

These three layers may be bromide or chloride layers, as desired, and the first, attached in contact with the silver layer of this film, is sensitive to blue only and is tinted yellow or separated from the two others by yellow varnish soluble in hyposulphite for example.

The two other layers are again sensitive, respectively, to green and red.

The first step is again, to record and color the outermost layer with the aid of appropriately colored and directed rays, in accordance with the technique hereinbefore described in connection with treatment of the outermost layers; the intermediate layer is then likewise treated, the recorded monochrome component being developed in colors. Finally, the last layer (in contact with the layer originally forming a unit with the supporting film) is similarly treated beneath blue radiations to which it is sensitised, and it is then colored. In conclusion, the yellow varnish, the residual halide, and the reduced silver are dissolved out of the various layers, for example, with the aid of Farmers solution.

In any case, the final step is to efiaee the lenticulations, by the application of heat, or by means of appropriate varnish.

Finally, it will be understood that one or several of the layers may have been prepared in known manner with products capable of producing coloring matter when brought into contact with reduced silver, or may be prepared with dyes capable of being destroyed by contact with reduced silver-and proportionately to the quantity of such reduced silver, in the course of the successive treatment steps to which the secondmy images are subjected. When it is a case of destroyingcoloring matter, the complete primary the breadth of the superposed layers of the emulsion destined to carry the secondary images over to the dimension of the primary images.

The layers thus superposed may then be given the total breadth of the primary images including the sound track, without protecting with the aid of varnish the sound track thus initially recorded, in the form ,ofa positive or negative as the case maybe, in the first layer, provided that the soundtrack be imprinted in one or more of the layerssuperposed in contact therewith, with .a

view to developing the same in such one or more of the three colors as may be made'convenient forthe method of projection used.

After completion of the describedpr'ocedure,

the silver sound track is'dissolved along with'the silver images inall emulsion layers, leaving meretrack directly in one or more of these layers only in the course of the treatment of these secondary layers without the sound track having been initially recorded in the first layer attached to the lenticular support.

Claims directed to the method of preparing the film are presented in my divisional application Serial No. 527,936, filed March 24, 1944, Method of preparing color films.

I claim:

1. Method of obtaining a photograph in color on a lenticular film with'the separation records distributed in at least three layers of emulsions sensitized to different spectral radiations and superposed on the smooth surface of said lenticular film, which comprises. exposing through the lenticultions and developing the film to form in the layer adjacent to the smooth surface of the film a complete temporary, lenticular three color record in black and white of the subject, successively subjecting the film to illuminations of different radiations directed through the lenticulations, each time in such a direction as to illuminate with the proper radiation one only of said black and white separation records to produce in one only of the emulsion layers, while beginning by the layer the most distant from the smooth surface of the film, a latent record of the separation record illuminated, developing and coloring said latent record, repeating for each successive layer the illuminating and developing and coloring operations for the remaining separation records, the treatment of these layers being one at a time starting with that layer in contact with the air, and dissolving out any remaining reduced silver and silver halide from all of the layers.

2. Method of obtaining a copy photograph in color on a lenticular film having at least three sensitized emulsion layers superimposed on the smooth surface of its support, said emulsion layers being sensitive to different spectral radiations, which comprises projecting a photograph on an original film onto the copy film through the lenticulations, using light to which only the layer adjacent the support is sensitive and developing the film to form in said layer a complete, temporary, lenticular three color record in black and white of the original photograph, sue cessively subjecting the film to illuminations'of diiferent radiations directed through the lenticulations, each time in such a direction as to illuminate with the proper radiation one only'of said black andwhite separation records to pro duce in one only of the emulsion layers, while beginning by the layer the most distant from the smooth surface of the film, a latent record of the separation record illuminated, developing and coloring said latent record, repeating for each successive layer the illuminating and developing and coloring operations for the remaining separation records, the treatment of these layers being one at a time starting with that layer in contact with the air, and dissolving-out any remaining reduced silver and silver halide from all of the layers.

3. Method of obtaining a photograph in color on a lenticular film, having at least three sensitized emulsion layers superimposed on its smooth surface, said emulsion layers being sensitive to different spectral radiations, which comprises exposing through the lenticulations and developface of the film, a latent record of the separation record illuminated, developing and coloring said latent record, repeating for each successive layer the illuminating and developing and coloring operations for the remaining separation records, the treatment of, these layers being one at a time starting with that layer in contact with the air,

and for obtaining the last permanent, colored, separation record, treating the corresponding temporary, black and white separation record in the layer adjacent the lenticular support to form the last colored separation record in said layer,

. and dissolving out any remaining reduced silver and silver halide from all of the layers.

4. Method of obtaining a photograph in color on a lenticular film with the separation records distributed in at least three layers of emulsions sensitized to different spectral radiations and superposed on the smooth surface of said lenticular film, which comprises exposing through the lenticulations and developing the film to form in the layer adjacent to the smooth surface of the film a complete temporary, lenticular three color record in black and white of the subject, succes-' sively subjecting the film to illluminations of different radiations directed through the lenticulations, each time in such a direction as to illuminate with the proper radiation one only of said black and white separation records to produce in one only of the emulsion layers, while beginning by the layer the most distant from the smooth surface of the film, a latent record of the separation record illuminated, developing and coloring said latent record, and repeating for eachsuccessive layer the illuminating and developing and coloring operations for the remaining separation records, the treatment of these layersbeing-one at a time starting with that layer in contact with the air, to obtain in the emulsion layers as many secondary records as there are primary records, said secondary records being in color complementary to those to which the primaryrecords' correspond, and dissolving out the reduced silver and residual halide from the sensitized layers.

5. A method of obtaining a photograph in color which comprises providing lenticulations on one surface of a transparent support and on the opposite surface providing a first emulsion layer,

providing a layer constituting a yellow filter on said first emulsion layer, providing on the layer comprising the yellow filter a next layer which is blue-sensitiw and differs chemically from the remaining layers on the support so that it will' not be affected by the chemicals used for the developing and coloring of the layers exterior to it, and which exterior layers are subjected to such treatments in advance of the treatment of said blue-sensitive layer, recording on said first layer a primary image consisting of a plurality of partial images corresponding to the color components of the final reproduction, removing the yellow filter, thereafter successively exposing to the appropriate respective partial images in said first layer, developing in color the remaining la ers, and finally removing the images in said first layer together with any other residual silver or silver halide remaining in the emulsion layers.

6. A method of obtaining a photograph in color which comprises providing lenticulations on one surface of a transparent'support and on the opposite surface providing a plurality of emulsion layers whereof the first which is nearest the support is yellow tinted and whereof the next layer is blue-sensitive and differs chemically from the remaining layers so that it will not be ailfected by the chemicals used for the developing and coloring of the layers exterior to it, and which exterior layers are subjected to such treatments in advance of the treatment of said blue-sensitive layer, recording on said first layer a primary image consisting of a plurality of partial images corresponding to the color components of the final reproduction, removing the yellow tint, thereafter successively exposing to the appropriate respective partial images in said first layer, and developing in color the remaining layers, and finally removing the images in said first layer together with any other residual silver or silver halide remaining in the emulsion layers.

7. A method of producing a photograph in color which comprises applying to the smooth surface of a transparent support, the opposite surface of which is lenticulated, a light sensitive layer, recording on said layer a primary image comprising a plurality of partial images corresponding to the color components of the final record, subsequently applying over said first mentioned layer on said smooth surface a light sensitive layer that is blue-sensitive, applying over said blue-sensitive layer a yellow filter, subsequently applying over said yellow filter layer additional light sensitive layers, successively exposing said additional light sensitive layers to the respective partial images recorded on said first mentioned light sensitive layer, developing said additional layers in color, and finally eliminating the partial images originally recorded without removing the layer containing them, said layers being permanently applied to constitute an integral structure with the support.

. 8. A methodof producing a photograph in color which comprises applying to the smooth surface of a transparent support, the opposite surface of which is lenticulated, a light sensitive layer, recording on said layer a primary image comprising a plurality of partial images corresponding to the color components of the final record, subsequently applying over said first mentioned layer on said smooth surface a plurality of additional light sensitive layers whereof that nearest the support is blue-sensitive and is yellow tinted, successively exposing'said additional light sensitive layers to the respective partial images originally recorded, developing said additional layers incolor, and finally eliminating the partial images originally recorded without removing the 30 layer containing them, said layers being permanently applied to constitute an integral structure with the support.

ANNE HENRI JACQUES n1:

L'ASSUS ST. GEN'IES.

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