projects the original image, which is rephotographed in a camera through a copylens. Optical printing lets you change the image size. Additionally, you can print base side of theoriginal to the emulsion side of the printing stock, which produces the same image conﬁguration asthe original. This is useful when inserting a copy into an original negative.•
Rotary or Continuous Printing
allows a printing sprocket to transport the ﬁlm at a constant speedacross a printing aperture, through which the exposing light beam passes.•
exposes the ﬁlm frame by frame while stationary in the printing gate.Intermittent movement of a shutter and register pin is used to position, expose, and pull down theﬁlm after each frame of exposure in exactly the same way as a motion picture ﬁlm camera exposesoriginal ﬁlm.Commonly used printers are:•
Rotary Contact Printers
are used for printing rushes, answer prints, show prints, and release prints.•
Intermittent Optical Printers
are used for printing titles, special eects work, and for changing imagesize by blowing up or reducing the image.
Video dailies/rushes are an alternative to traditional ﬁlm dailies, and they’re preferred when the ﬁlm is intendedexclusively for television production or electronic projection. Rather than physically editing the original cameranegative immediately following processing, the ﬁlm is scanned using an electronic imaging device. Telecine ordatacine scanners are designed to suit the needs of the lab facility.
There are advantages and disadvantages to each of these techniques. Basic video dailies/rushes with limitedimage corrections are generally less expensive than ﬁlm print dailies. However, the apparent cost savings of videomust be weighed against the limitations of the video system in evaluating the images on the monitor. It is oftendicult to determine accurate focus and exposure of the negative, for example, and these factors will be veryapparent in the ﬁnal image on a theater screen. Sometimes these problems are not noticeable to the ﬁlmmakeruntil the ﬁlm footage is cut and printed for release.Some theatrical releases request both ﬁlm and video dailies/rushes. The prints are evaluated for scene contentand projection quality while the video recordings are sent to the editors. This method provides materials forexpedient electronic editing while assuring the director and cinematographer that their negative is suitable.
After processing, the print is checked by the dailies/rushes department to report to the production company thecondition of the material, the quality of the images, and, if required, the quality of the action and sound. Problemsthat might necessitate retakes are identiﬁed before the set is broken or moved to a new location.After viewing and completing the laboratory report, the print and a written report are sent to the editor. The crewassesses the report before the print is dispatched. The laboratory stores the negative until it is needed fornegative cutting after the dailies are edited. The negative is also available to the laboratory for use in making rushreprints of selected rolls or takes for the editor.