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Film base

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Polyester stock - With rare exceptions, all 35mm release prints from the late 1990s onward have been printed on Polyester stock. Several 16mm prints from the mid 80s onward are printed on Polyester stock. Unlike acetate or nitrate stock, polyester is essentially unbreakable and cannot be torn by human hands. It is also not susceptible to vinegar syndrome and does not warp or shrink (though it is not uncommon for the film to have a slight "bow"). It is believed that a film printed on polyester stock will last several hundred years because the base does not deteriorate. Polyester is easily identifiable because it is slightly thinner than acetate or nitrate, which also means adjustments in focus must be made if acetate and polyester films are spliced together in a single reel (such as a trailer reel). Polyester film cannot be cement spliced - it must be tape spliced or ultrasonic spliced.

  • Triacetate
  • Diacetate
  • Nitrate