Wet-transfer film gate explained
A wet-transfer film gate, or wet gate for short, is a film gate that is submerged in liquid, used for film restoration and archival scanning. Submerging the film in the gate in a liquid with a suitably matched refractive index reduces the effects of scratches on the film, by reducing the refractive effects which divert light that passes through the scratched part of the film. The liquid also acts to lift other forms of defects from the film.[1] Perchloroethylene, a hazardous substance with multiple health and safety risks, is commonly used as the liquid medium in wet gate systems,[2] requiring substantial precautions to be taken to ensure the safety of operators and to prevent pollution.[3]
Wet gate transfer is often preceded by other forms of film cleaning, such as the use of ultrasonic film cleaners.
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: ARRI Presents Wet Gate for 16mm Scanning. ARRI. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140607000655/http://www.arri.com/news/arri-presents-wet-gate-for-16mm-scanning/. June 7, 2014. 2014-06-02.
- Web site: Wetgate Scanning by Imagica. Douglas Bankston. American Society of Cinematographers. 2014-06-02.
- Web site: Use of Perchloroethylene in Motion Picture Wet-Gate Printing. March 2003. Rochester. Kodak. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201213030451/https://125px.com/docs/unsorted/kodak/J701ENG.pdf. 13 December 2020. 13 December 2020. Perchloroethylene, or simply ‘perc’, is regulated extensively by existing health, safety, and environmental laws. While using perc as a chemical processing aid, workers must be protected against the vapors caused by fugitive losses from the process. Likewise, existing regional and local (e.g., southern California) air pollution regulations may impose further restrictions on usage and emission controls. At the end of its useful life, waste perc is subjected to a strict waste management regime that may include many regulatory restrictions associated with recycling activities. Furthermore, national and local ‘right-to-know’ laws may require facilities that use perc to disclose information to the public regarding the usage and subsequent management of the chemical..
