Projecting/Transferring
 At
this point you have cleaned and examined your film and made all the
necessary repairs and splices. If you have a movie projector available
there are some things to take into consideration before you use it.
It is very common for some of the old film projectors to damage your
film, even after it has been cleaned. One clue would be if you have
used the projector before and it kept jamming or scratching your film.
It is best to test the projector than to have it ruin your film.
One way to test a movie
projector is to get a small roll of black leader. Run this through the
projector. After it has run through the projector, take a close look
at it under a magnifying glass to look for scratches. If any scratches
appear, don’t use the projector. Also, if an oily residue is present
from the projector, have it cleaned and checked before you proceed.
It’s a good idea to get an extra bulb or two to have on hand. Replace
any belts that look like they may be worn before starting the actual
transfer.
If your projector is not
operating properly and you want to purchase one I don’t recommend going
down to the thrift store or finding one at a yard sale. The chances
of finding one in good workable order that has been maintained properly
are slim to none. I’d suggest doing a little searching for a good one.
If you are comfortable dealing with Ebay auctions that might be a good
way to go. However, only buy a projector from someone who states clearly
that they have used the projector and it is in flawless condition. You
can also buy a reconditioned 8mm movie projector that is guaranteed
to function properly from the list of suppliers provided in this booklet.
Choose a projector that
has variable speeds, which will definitely help to minimize the flicker
that is inherent in a film viewed on a projector.
Projectors and viewers are
available as 8mm, Super 8mm or dual 8. You may be better off getting
an 8mm film projector for 8mm film and a Super8 movie projector for
Super8mm film.
Capture/Transfer
To capture your film and
transfer it to another format you will need a screen. If you don’t have
one or have one that is yellowed or in bad shape, you can use white
poster board or any white paper that has a smooth flat finish. Position
a camcorder on its tripod close to the projector to minimize any distortions.
Experiment with camera position/angle as well as screen material to
get the look you are after. Another factor is lighting. The amount of
light that is in the room will make a big difference in the final result.
I highly recommend using
a small television connected to your camcorder to monitor the process.
The best camera to use is a for the do it yourselfer is a Mini DV camera
with 3 chips. The next best one would be a Mini DV with 1 chip. If you
don’t have either of these, you may have to rely on what you have available.
Remember that the quality
of the film transfer will depend greatly on the quality of the camcorder.
If you don’t have one that is up to the task consider borrowing one
from a neighbor or friend. One with manual controls for shutter speed,
color balance, white balance and exposure will go a long way in helping
you end up with a good quality transfer. Always use manual focus when
you are transferring your films otherwise the autofocus will search
for the correct settings as the scenes change.
|
