How is Film Made at the Kodak Factory?

TL;DR

Film is produced at Kodak through a meticulous process that involves coating a light-sensitive emulsion onto a backing material in complete darkness. Key steps include applying multiple layers of chemicals, chilling, drying, and winding the film. Extensive quality control ensures that the final product meets sensitivity and exposure standards, making it suitable for photography.

Transcript

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Key Insights

• 👱 The film manufacturing process involves complex machinery and precise control of factors such as temperature, viscosity, and air flow.
• 🙂 The coating facility operates in complete darkness to prevent light exposure, which could ruin the film.
• 🥇 Extensive testing and quality control measures are in place to ensure the film's proper sensitivity, exposure levels, and quality.

Questions & Answers

Q: How is the film coating applied to the support material?

The film coating is applied through a continuous, wet process using a laminar flow waterfall. The coating is carefully controlled to prevent mixing between layers.

Q: What measures are taken to ensure the film's quality and sensitivity?

The film undergoes extensive testing, including scanning for defects and analyzing sensitometry to ensure proper exposure levels. Any necessary adjustments are made to the coating process.

Q: How is the film dried after the coating process?

The film goes through a series of drying sections, where cool air is blown over the support material. The drying process is carefully controlled to remove moisture without affecting the gelatin structure.

Q: How are the finished rolls stored and shipped?

The rolls are stored in automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) in light-tight caskets. They are tracked and labeled for easy retrieval and are packaged and shipped for finishing.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The film manufacturing process involves applying a light-sensitive coating to a support material, such as acetate or estar.

• The coating facility operates in complete darkness to prevent light exposure, which could ruin the film.

• The film goes through various stages, including coating, chilling, drying, and winding, with meticulous control of viscosity and temperature.

• The finished rolls are tested for quality, including scanning for defects and performing sensitometry tests.