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(→‎Common types of test film: Added CAT 151, minor copy edits.)
(→‎Images: Added CinemaScope and 3D test film images. Reordered images by gauge.)
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You may notice some of them are dirty, it's because they've been used many times! As they should be.
You may notice some of them are dirty, it's because they've been used many times! As they should be.
<gallery widths=200px heights=200px mode=packed>
<gallery widths=200px heights=200px mode=packed>
File: 16mm_test_film.jpg| 16mm test film (BLS 1682).
File: Rp 40.jpeg| SMPTE RP 40 35mm test film. Used for evaluating optical alignment, timing, framing and focal registration. Can be used to evaluate jitter and weave.  
File: Rp 40.jpeg| SMPTE RP 40 35mm test film. Used for evaluating optical alignment, timing, framing and focal registration. Can be used to evaluate jitter and weave.  
File: Schneider test film.jpeg| Schneider Optics 35mm frame and focus chart. Used for evaluating optical alignment, timing, framing and focal registration. Great for evaluating contrast performance.
File: Schneider test film.jpeg| Schneider Optics 35mm frame and focus chart. Used for evaluating optical alignment, timing, framing and focal registration. Great for evaluating contrast performance.
File: 16mm_test_film.jpg| 16mm test film (BLS 1682)
File: Ghosting.jpg| 35mm [[Ghosting|Travel Ghost]] test film.
File: Ghosting.jpg| 35mm [[Ghosting|Travel Ghost]] test film
FILE: travel ghost can.jpeg| Can of SMPTE [[Ghosting|Travel Ghost]] test film.
FILE: travel ghost can.jpeg| Can of SMPTE [[Ghosting|Travel Ghost]] test film
File:CinemaScope Test.png|CinemaScope test film used for anamorphic adjustment.
File: Rp91.jpg| SMPTE RP 91 5/70 test film
File:NaturalVision 3DAlignmentTest.png|Test film for aligning the left- and right-eye projectors for Natural Vision dual-strip polarized 3D.
File:70MM test.JPG|Boston Light and Sound 5/70 test film on screen
File:3D test loop.JPG|Alignment test film for over/under 3D.
File: Rp91.jpg| SMPTE RP 91 5/70 test film.
File:70MM test.JPG|Boston Light and Sound 5/70 test film on screen.
</gallery>
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Revision as of 21:09, 22 May 2020

Test films are tools for calibrating, aligning, and checking film projectors and their components. Issues that can be diagnosed and corrected with the guidance of test films include ghosting, focus, framing, and pedestal adjustments. They are sometimes used in conjunction with test equipment.

The term generally refers to films made by technical bodies like SMPTE or by manufacturers like Schneider Optics specifically for test purposes, which are designed to help to calibrate your equipment so that it adheres to a certain set of image or audio standards.

In practice, term may also be used more casually to refer to any piece of footage used to test a projector, such as a fresh trailer used to conduct a scratch test.

Common types of test film

  • SMPTE RP-40 - Visual focus test film for 35mm
  • SMPTE RP-91 - Visual focus test film for 70mm
  • SMPTE Buzz Track - Sound test film to set lateral position of film in the soundhead.
  • Dolby CAT. NO. 69P - Pink Noise test film (contains all frequencies) used for focus and azimuth adjustment of the slit lens
  • Dolby CAT. NO. 69T- Dolby Tone test film
  • Dolby CAT. NO. 151 - Surround test, used for a subjective comparison of the levels for the center and surround channels.

Images

click to enlarge You may notice some of them are dirty, it's because they've been used many times! As they should be.

Sources of test film

Other Resources

External Links

  • RP31 35mm film installation by artist Lucy Raven involving various test films.