Masking: Difference between revisions

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==Purpose==

Masking serves several purposes in exhibition settings. When projecting film, the [[aperture plates|aperture plate]] casts a blurry shadow because it is not on the same focal plane as the film, and masking is used to crop off this shadow and giving the illusion of a sharp edge. It also hides structural elements of the screen and mechanical elements of the masking system itself. Masking also absorbs lights around the visible image area projected on screen, making the image stand out and appear brighter.''"Where the black border is used there is not only less distraction for the eye, but the effect of added light brilliancy is had without its actuality."''<ref>F.H Richardson ''Motion picture handbook;

~~a guide for managers and operators of motion picture theatres''(New York: The Moving Picture World, 1916)178.</ref>~~

''Where the black border is used there is not only less distraction for the eye, but the effect of added light brilliancy is had without its actuality.''

— F. H. Richardson

<ref>F.H Richardson. ''Motion Picture Handbook: a guide for managers and operators of motion picture theatres'', 3rd ed. (New York: Chalmers Publishing Company,1916), 178.</ref>

</blockquote>

Masking serves several purposes in exhibition settings. When projecting film, the [[aperture plates|aperture plate]] casts a blurry shadow because it is not on the same focal plane as the film, and masking is used to crop off this shadow and giving the illusion of a sharp edge. It also hides structural elements of the screen and mechanical elements of the masking system itself. Masking also absorbs lights around the visible image area projected on screen, making the image stand out and appear brighter.

==History==

[[File:Powers Sound Aperture.JPG|A 1.37 aperture plate on a Powers Cameragraph No. 6.|right|thumb|300px]]

[[File:Masking - round corners.jpg|Silent era masking with rounded corners, ~~from~~ F. H. Richardson's Handbook of ~~Projection~~, 3rd ed., 1916.|right|thumb|300px]]

[[File:Masking - round corners.jpg|Silent era masking with rounded corners, F.H Richardson ''Motion Picture Handbook: a guide for managers and operators of motion picture theatres'', 3rd ed., 1916.|right|thumb|300px]]

In the silent era, projectors had a fixed aperture and screens had fixed masking. Apertures typically had rounded corners, which were often reflected in the masking. In the early years, a border was either painted directly onto the screen with matte black paint or constructed out of matte black fabric. However, at theaters that employed a stereopticon that projected a taller image than the 35mm picture, the film presentation could not be properly masked.

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===Fixed Width Screens===

Although ~~it is more rare~~ some theaters have fixed-width screens in which ~~case~~ the ~~visible screen size with the masking all the way open would be 1.85:1~~ and ~~the top and bottom masking would close down~~ for wider aspect ratios ~~like 2.39:1 or 2.2:1~~. This is common in theaters built before the widescreen era that retained their original screen footprint (rather than installing a wider ~~screener~~ in front of the original ~~front~~ of ~~house)~~.

Although less common than fixed height screens, some theaters have fixed-width screens on which the picture area becomes taller for narrower aspect ratios and shortens for wider aspect ratios. This is common in theaters built before the widescreen era that retained their original screen footprint (rather than installing a wider screen in front of the original proscenium, for example). It is also common in theaters in which the width of the auditorium is the limiting factor, such as single screens that have been twinned.

===Current Practice===

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 ==Purpose==
-Masking serves several purposes in exhibition settings. When projecting film, the [[aperture plates|aperture plate]] casts a blurry shadow because it is not on the same focal plane as the film, and masking is used to crop off this shadow and giving the illusion of a sharp edge. It also hides structural elements of the screen and mechanical elements of the masking system itself. Masking also absorbs lights around the visible image area projected on screen, making the image stand out and appear brighter.''"Where the black border is used there is not only less distraction for the eye, but the effect of added light brilliancy is had without its actuality."''<ref>F.H Richardson ''Motion picture handbook;
-a guide for managers and operators of motion picture theatres''(New York: The Moving Picture World, 1916)178.</ref>
+<blockquote>
+''Where the black border is used there is not only less distraction for the eye, but the effect of added light brilliancy is had without its actuality.''
+— F. H. Richardson
+<ref>F.H Richardson. ''Motion Picture Handbook: a guide for managers and operators of motion picture theatres'', 3rd ed. (New York: Chalmers Publishing Company,1916), 178.</ref>
+</blockquote>
+Masking serves several purposes in exhibition settings. When projecting film, the [[aperture plates|aperture plate]] casts a blurry shadow because it is not on the same focal plane as the film, and masking is used to crop off this shadow and giving the illusion of a sharp edge. It also hides structural elements of the screen and mechanical elements of the masking system itself. Masking also absorbs lights around the visible image area projected on screen, making the image stand out and appear brighter.
 ==History==
 [[File:Powers Sound Aperture.JPG|A 1.37 aperture plate on a Powers Cameragraph No. 6.|right|thumb|300px]]
-[[File:Masking - round corners.jpg|Silent era masking with rounded corners, from F. H. Richardson's Handbook of Projection, 3rd ed., 1916.|right|thumb|300px]]
+[[File:Masking - round corners.jpg|Silent era masking with rounded corners, F.H Richardson ''Motion Picture Handbook: a guide for managers and operators of motion picture theatres'', 3rd ed., 1916.|right|thumb|300px]]
 In the silent era, projectors had a fixed aperture and screens had fixed masking. Apertures typically had rounded corners, which were often reflected in the masking. In the early years, a border was either painted directly onto the screen with matte black paint or constructed out of matte black fabric. However, at theaters that employed a stereopticon that projected a taller image than the 35mm picture, the film presentation could not be properly masked.
@@ Line 20: / Line 26: @@
 ===Fixed Width Screens===
-Although it is more rare some theaters have fixed-width screens in which case the visible screen size with the masking all the way open would be 1.85:1 and the top and bottom masking would close down for wider aspect ratios like 2.39:1 or 2.2:1. This is common in theaters built before the widescreen era that retained their original screen footprint (rather than installing a wider screener in front of the original front of house).
+Although less common than fixed height screens, some theaters have fixed-width screens on which the picture area becomes taller for narrower aspect ratios and shortens for wider aspect ratios. This is common in theaters built before the widescreen era that retained their original screen footprint (rather than installing a wider screen in front of the original proscenium, for example). It is also common in theaters in which the width of the auditorium is the limiting factor, such as single screens that have been twinned.
 ===Current Practice===