US2586378A - Combination color photography method - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 19, 1952 w. E. Pol-ll.

COMBINATION COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY METHOD Filed May l0, 1949 CoA/$50077 M y i@ wmp l M; 5ms M @o m F2@ 0 l a PQM wf y n Ma c r 0 2 w f @QW W@ M MW?, W u www M m KZ, f H Mz fw m Z5 /Ow/W s ,.f.. A www Rama H@ Z Patented Feb. 19, 1952 COMBINATION COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY METH Wadsworth E. Pohl, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation,

Hollywood, Calif., a corporation of Maine Application May 10, 1949, Serial No. 92,449

10 Claims.

In certain elds of photography, particularly in special process cinematography, it is sometimes desirable to make combined records of two object iield components which are originally taken on different locations or one of which is of quite different character from the other. This situation is, for example, present when live action is to be combined with cartoon action which latter obviously has to be independently prepared and then combined with the live action tol form the final picture, with the common background being likewise taken separately or with one or the other action component. This special process photography obviously involves various' production problems', and, if it is to be carried out in natural colors, thesev problems tend to become quite complicated.

Various solutions have been proposed. A heretofore preferred technique involves the use of traveling mattes ofthe general type described in my copending application Serial No. 36,117, traveling matte silhouettes being made of the cartoon action and used for combining live and cartoon actions. Another possibility of such combination photography is to make a color nlm of the background and the live action, to project that iilm in full color on the back of a translucent screen, to superimpose on the projection plate or screen the cartoon cutouts, made in full color on opaque material and illuminated from the iront, and then to photograph screen and cartoon in color by conventional methods. A third possibility is to photograph the live action in front of a background screen whereupon the color cartoon material is projected in full color.

For various reasons, neither of these previously proposed techniques is fully satisfactory.- If both or even one component are taken and processed for purposes of a traveling matte process, a comparatively large number of auxiliary lm records is necessary which introduces various problems of registration and printing control. If either component is taken on multilayer material (monopack technique), the ultimate quality of color rendition is likely to suier, one of various reasons being the vnecessarily repeated use'of subtractive dyes With their defective light absorption qualities. If this is controlled with corrective masks, still another set of auxiliary records constituting a source of other imperfections is introduced. Processes employing background projected pictures are inherently inferior because the definition obtainable on color projection screens is much lower than that required for satisfactory reproduction on the final combination record.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to improve both denition and color rendition of composite color photographs, particularly color motion pictures, by means of a technique involving a minimum of steps, auxiliary apparatus and intermediate lm material for the recording of object eld components as well as the combination thereof into a final record. Other objects are to combine two action components of a scene having intertting action portions with satisfactory action registration, color rendition and definition; to provide a technique and apparatus for making motion picture records combining live action and cartoon action which are particularly satisfactory as to registration-definition and color rendition; and to provide a method and apparatus which reduces the cost of making such pictures which conform to the highest standards of quality.

In one of the broader aspects of my invention, these objects are achieved by making essentially simultaneously exposed color separation records or series of records of one of the components of the nal picture, by making either by hand or with now available so-called unsharp mask methods an opaque record or series of records of the other component, whereupon images of the individual color separation pictures, monochromatically processed, for example, as black and white silver diapositives, are projected on which images the opaque record is superimposed, whereupon individual color separation records are made from the opaque record and the image during projection of as many separation records as are required, which may be from two to four.

In another aspect of the invention, the color separation records are initially taken with a motion picture camera of the light dividing type disclosed in Patent No. 2,072,091. These initial records are on three separate strips which are then printed on a single film strip as interlaced series of color aspect records arranged in simultaneously taken groups, although it will be understood that this single strip record with consecu tive color aspect groups can be derived from initially single strip records taken, for example, with the aid of light dividing systems of the type shown in Patent No. 2,189,932. It will be understood that the technique according to the invention can be used for still as well as motion picture photography, although it is especially valuable for the latter.

In a further aspect of the invention, a live action scene and a cartoon scene are combined by making consecutively exposed groups of essentially simultaneously exposed individual color separation records of the live action scene including a background, by making a series of opaquely colored records of the cartoon scene, and by applying with conventional printing methods to a lm strip several interlaced series of monochromatic color aspect records of the live action scenes forming the above-mentioned consecutive groups of simultaneously taken records of the respective aspects, whereupon the monochromatic color aspect records are consecutively projected on a plate or screen upon which are superposed the opaque live action records, one during projection of the separation records of each group; color separation records of each projected live action picture are then taken together with the respective color aspect record of the opaque cartoon picture which remains on the screen during the projection of all separation records of one group. It will be evident that the background can be taken with the live action scene, or that both action scenes, live as well as cartoon, can be taken against a neutral background` and combined with a separately taken background scene by means of techniques which have no bearing on the present invention.

In still another aspect, the invention involves apparatus for making motion pictures which carry records composed of two or more action components, individually recorded photographically or by hand, which apparatus comprises a lm strip carrying interlaced series of monochrome color aspect records in groups of simultaneously recorded transparencies, such as diapositives of one action component of a scene, a series of opaquely colored positive records, such as color cartoons of another action component of the scene, whereby the action components of corresponding record groups and opaque records interi'it each other as to pictorial contents, a screen or plate, a projector for consecutively imaging the diapositives on one side of the screen, an arrangement for superimposing the opaque records on the other side of said screen, provisions for illuminating the opaque records on the screen, a camera for photographing the records on the screen, and a device carrying a set of color filters interposed between the screen with the records and the camera, the projector, the camera and the lters being arranged for movement in synchronism, this apparatus permitting the consecutive taking of composite records of the action component on projected diapositives and corresponding color aspects of the action component of the opaque records.

These and other objects, aspects and features of practical execution will appear in the following description of a typical embodiment illustrating the novel characteristics of my invention, this description referring to a drawing which represents a flow diagram of the technique according to the invention, incorporating diagrammatic representations of the lm elements, record components, object field coinponents, and apparatus therein employed.

The drawing shows at I a live action scene, the cylinder AI diagrammatically representing an actor or dancer, and B being an appropriate background scene. At II the drawing shows a color cartoon with cartoon action representa by a prism Ac, which cartoon action is so drawn that it registers with or interits the live action scene. The cartoon action scene Ac is animated in the usual manner by painting it with opaque pigment on a transparent sheet T. It will be understood that instead the cartoon scene can be cut out along its contour.

In the herein described embodime t, the live action is preferably taken with a light splitting camera of the above mentioned type on three separate iilm strips behind a lens system LI, a light dividing prism P, and filters Fm, Fg. The component beam Rbr records the blue and red color aspects upon superimposed emulsions providing negative records Nb and Nr on the two strips of a bipack system, and the beam Rg records the green color aspect on a third iilm strip providing negatives Ng. It will be understood that the color sensitivities of the respective emulsions and the characteristics of the light splitting surface d of the prism P and of the iilters are so interrelated as to provide well dened and balanced color separation records which are properly registered with regard to the respective perforations.

These separate iilm strips, Nb, Ng, Nr, are then processed in accordance with conventional methods and exposed on a single film strip Pe in such a way that each group Nh, Ng, Nr of simultaneously exposed color separation records is printed on consecutive film frames, the records of the blue, green and red aspects, respectively, forming interlaced series of consecutive motion scenes of the live action. The nlm strip Pe is developed and otherwise processed to provide a strip Pd with groups of black and white silver positives Po, Pg, Pr.

Consecutive frames of this nlm strip Pd are then guided through a lm gate GI and projected, by means of a source of white light II and a projection lens system L2, onto a transparent screen or plate S. On the other side of screen S is then superimposed the above described cartoon action record Ac on sheet T, Ac being opaque and in appropriate colors. Screen and cartoon can be associated in any convenient manner, as indicated in the drawing, by a transparent cover plate C which may be attached to the screen, thus completing an animation cell. As above mentioned, the cartoon action scene may be out out or it may be on a transparent support on which the cartoon action alone is opaque. The cartoon action is illuminated with White light by means of a source I2. Each projected black and white live action record and the superimposed cartoon are photographed with a conventional camera, indicated by film gate G2, film reel D, and taking lens system L3. The camera is equipped or correlated with a sectional iilter Fs having three filter portions b, g, r which selectively transmit blue, green and red light, respectively.

Film gates GI and G2 and lter disk Fs are so coupled that the negative film strip Nlc of camera film gate G2 advances together with film Pd and the filter sections b, g, 1'. Thus, each frame of NZc is exposed to a frame of Pd which represents the color aspect defined by the corresponding lter section. Each cartoon action T remains on the screen S during the exposure of the diapositives Pb, Pg and Pr of a group of simultaneously taken color aspects of the live action. Thus, the correct color aspect selection is provided so far as live action and background are concerned by the proper color aspect sequence of strip Pd, and so far as the cartoon action is concerned by the selective lters b, g, 1'. Accordingly, negative lm strip Nic carries groups of simultaneously exposed combined live and cartoon action records B, G, R. These combined records are then developed and otherwise processed in conventional manner and, if desired, separated into three separate master positive strips each carrying the record series of a single color aspect. The combination records B, G, R are then further utilized in conventional manner, forexample for making color positives according to the imbibition dye transfer process.

It will be understood that instead of printing the color separation negatives on lm strip Nic on a single strip three separate strips with series of consecutive records of respective color aspects could be provided, although it was found preferable to use the above-described technique utilizing a single film strip in a conventional camera in accordance with established cartoon cinema tography.

It will be further evident that instead of using the sectional lter disk Fs any convenient technique of color separation can be used, thus providing color recordation of the cartoon action by means oi standard colored cartoons, whereas the other component, in this instance the live action, is throughout represented only by black and white initially segregated color aspect records. l

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In the art of composite color photography by combined exposure of two object eld components the method which comprises making by essentially simultaneous exposure, and subsequent processing, individual color separation records of one of said components, making an opaquely colored record of the other component, consecutively projecting images of said individual records, superposing said colored record on said images during said consecutive projection, and making by printing through respective filters combined records of the image of each individual color separation record and of the corresponding color aspect of the opaquely colored record.

2. In the art of composite color photography by combined exposure of two object field components the method which comprises photographically preparing by essentially simultaneous exposure, and subsequent processing, individual color separation records of one of said components, manually preparing an opaquely colored picture of the other component which component pictorially ts said rst component, consecutively projecting images of said individual records, superposing said picture on said images during said consecutive projection and with the components pictorially intertting, and making by printing through respective lters combined records of the image of each individual color separation record and of the corresponding color aspect of the colored picture.

3. In the art of composite color photography by combined exposure of two object eld components the method which comprises processing a group of essentially simultaneously exposed monochromatic color separation records of one of said components, making an opaquely colored record of the other component, consecutively projecting said color separation records on a screen, superposing said colored record on said screen during projection of said color aspect records, and making by printing through respective lters combined records of each color separation record and of the corresponding color aspect of the corresponding opaquely colored record.

4.-. In the art of composite color cinematography by combined exposure of two object eld components the method which comprises printing on a lm strip consecutive groups of essentially simultaneously exposed monochromatic color separation records of consecutive scenes of one of said components, making opaquely colored records of correspondingly consecutive scenes of the other component, consecutively projecting images of said color separation records, consecutively superposing said colored records on said images during projection of the corresponding group of color separation records, and making by printing through respective filters combined records of each color separation record and of the corresponding color aspect of the corresponding colored record.

5. In the art of composite color cinematography by combined exposure of two object eld components the method which comprises making, by essentially simultaneous exposure, and subsequent processing, of groups of individual color separation records, several color aspect series of such records of one of said components, making a series of opaquely colored records of the other component, the groups and opaque records of said two series, respectively, being correlated by pictorial content, applying to a film said separation records as interlaced series consecutively forming said groups, consecutively projecting said separation records on a screen, consecutively superposing said opaquely colored records on said screen, each opaque record being superposed during the projection of the corresponding group oi' simultaneously exposed separation records, and making by printing through respective lters combined records of each color separation record and of the corresponding color aspect of the opaquely colored record.

6. In the art of composite color cinematography by combined exposure of a life action scene and a cartoon scene the method which comprises making, by essentially simultaneous exposure, and subsequent processing, of groups of individual color separation records, several co1- or aspect series of such records of said life action scene, making a series of opaquely colored records of the cartoon scene, applying to a lm strip several interlaced series of monochromatic color aspect records of said life action scene consecutively forming said groups, consecutively projecting said life action records on a screen, superposing on said screen during the projection of each group of life action records the cartoon record that corresponds to said group, and making by printing through respective iilters combined reoords of each life action color separation record and of the corresponding color aspect of the cartoon record.

'.7. In the art of composite color cinematography by combined exposure of two object eld components the method which comprises the consecutive taking of a series of groups of color separation records of part of an action scene, the color separation records of each group being substantially simultaneously exposed, processing said records to obtain black and white transparencies, making a series of colored opaque records of another part of said action scene with the action scene parts of corresponding groups of separation records and of opaque records essentially tting each other, consecutively projecting said transparencies on a screen, consecutively superposing said opaque records on said screen, each opaque record being superposed during the projection of the corresponding transparencies, and printing through respective n1- ters, on color sensitive lm, color aspect records of the combined projected and opaque records.

8. In the art of composite color cinematography by combined exposure of two object field components the method which comprises the consecutive exposure of a series of groups of simultaneously exposed and subsequently processed color separation records of part of an action scene against a background, processing said records to obtain black and white transparencies, making a series of opaquely colored cartoon records of another part of said action scene with the action scene parts of corresponding transparencies and cartoon records essentially fitting each other, consecutively projecting said transparencies on a screen, consecutively superposing said cartoon records on said screen, each cartoon record being superposed during projection of corresponding transparencies, and printing through respective lters said color aspect records of the combined projected separation and cartoon records.

9. In the art of composite color cinematography by combined exposure of life and cartoon action components, the method Which comprises photographically exposing groups of color separation records of life action against a background, processing said records as interlaced series of consecutive groups of color aspect transparencies, manually preparing a series of fiat opaquely colored pictures of cartoon action, one cartoon picture for each of said groups with the life and cartoon actions essentially tting each other, consecutively projecting images of said transparencies, superposing said cartoon pictures on said images, each cartoon picture being superposed during projection of the transparencies of the corresponding color aspect group, and taking through respective lters color aspect records of each cartoon picture and the images of the corresponding group.

10. In the art of composite color cinematography by combined exposure of two object field components, the method which comprises photographically exposing a series of groups of simultaneously exposed color separation records of one of said components, processing said records as series of black and white negatives, one series for each color aspect on a separate strip, printing said negatives on a single strip as interlaced series of diapositives of simultaneously exposed groups, making a series of colored opaque records of the other component, each opaque record corresponding to one of said groups, consecutively projecting said diapositives on a screen, consecutively superposing said opaque records on said screen, each opaque record being superposed during projection of its corresponding group, and printing through respective filters color aspect records of each opaque record combined with each projected diapositive of the corresponding group.

WADSWORTH POHL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the `File of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,333,730 Raleigh et al Mar. 16, 1920 2,014,435 Jackman Sept. 17, 1935 2,072,091 Ball et al Mar. 2, 1937 2,074,413 Moreno Mar. 23, 1937 2,127,829 OBrien Aug. 23, 1938 2,174,931 Terry et al Oct. 3, 1939 2,189,932 Ball et al Feb. 13, 1940 2,198,815 Haskin Apr. 30, 1940

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