A WYCKOFF AND M HANDSCHEGL, ART OF COORNG CINEMATOGRAPHC FILMS, APPLICATION FILED NOy, 20, 1916. 1,303,836. Patented May 13, 1919,

9. Z72%/s. a 42% A242/727 My SN3 /2A223.2%%1. g22. RS ZzZMZzzé A/ 2 s 2 22 say 7' 22.2% UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. ALVIN WYCKOFF AND IMAX HANDSCHIEGE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS TO FAIVIOUS PLAYERS-LASKY CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK. ART OF COLORING CINEMATOGRAPHIC FILMS. 2,303,836. Specification of Letters Patent. . RPatented Niay i3, 1919. Application filed November 20, 1916. Serial No. 132,350. To all chon, it may concern, plied, the outlines being blurred and indis Be it known that we, ALVIN WYCKOFF and tinct, and the colors frequently overlapping 55 Max HANDsCHIEGL, citizens of the United other images in the picture. States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county In view of the foregoing this invention of Los Angeles and State of California, have has for its prime object the rendering of the invented a new and useful Improvement in process of coloring such films more expedi the Art of Coloring Cinematographic Films: tious, less expensive and productive of per 60 and we do hereby declare the following to fect results. be a full, clear, and exact description of the In its broadest aspect, our process em 10 invention, such as will enable others skilled braces the application of coloring matter to in the art to which it appertains to make and selected portions of a film. preferably a nega use the same. - tive, and the subsequent transfer of such col This invention relates to the art of color oring matter to similarly selected portions of ing or tinting cinematographic films and the a positive print by bringing the two together 5 like, and particularly to films which have in contact upon the periphery of a revoluble been exposed, developed and made ready for drum; while at the same time the films are exhibition; and constitutes the process of ap drawn separately over stretching means, and 70 plying soluble coloring matter, such as ani brought into perfect register before coming lin dyes or like substances, to positive films in contact. In this manner two very objec 20 by subjecting them to a pressurable con tionable features heretofore encountered in tact with similar films carrying such color the art are entirely obviated, i. e., first, by ing, matter. bringing the films to register before coming 75 eretofore the coloring or tinting of such in contact upon the drum, the shifting of films has been accomplished in various ways, one film upon the other, which results in 25 chief among which are the stencil and direct smearing the color, is avoided; and second methods. In the first named method a sten by exerting a constant and even longitudinal cil is cut from a negative or fac-simile of the tension upon the films to bring them to reg 80 positive film to be colored, that portion of ister, such pressure is maintained by rolling each view being cut out which corresponds to them in even contact, thereby reducing to a 30 a similar portion on the positive it is desired minimum the possibility of their slipping to color. This stencil is then laid down out of register. upon the positive film and the coloring mat The merits of the invention will be more 85 ter applied over its surface by hand or other fully set forth in the following specifica means, thus coloring those portions of the tion, reference being had to the accompany 35 positive film exposed through the apertures ing drawings in which is illustrated an ap in the stencil. With this method a separate paratus suitable for carrying out the various stencil must be cut for each separate color it steps in the process, and in which: 90 is desired to apply to the positive film. In Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the direct method the coloring matter is ap the apparatus used and the travel of the 40 plied directly to the finished positive film by films therethrough in making the transfer of means of a brush. Both of these methods coloring matter: are slow and expensive. As two films sel Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are views illustrating 95 dom shrink the same after being wet in the fragmentary sections of cinematographic developing process, it is practically impossi films looking toward their sensitized sur 45 ble with the stencil process to color more faces. than a limited number of views at a time The term "negative film’ as will be herein without readjustment of the stencil perfora after used shall be deemed to refer to any 00 tions to register with their corresponding original film, carrying the original or first portions on the positive film. Furthermore, impressions made by exposure in the camera, 50 the above named methods, in addition to be or any fac-simile of said film reproduced ing tedious and expensive, have been pro therefrom by any means, or which carries ductive of unsatisfactory results, in that the views or portions of views identical with .05 coloring matter is generally unevenly ap those of E. original; and the term “posi 2 1,303,836 tive film” shall be considered as referring may be placed together with their gelati to any film adapted to be used for final ex nous surfaces in contact and with the views hibition and which is an inverse fac-simile of on each in perfect register with the other. the said original or negative, reproduced by Referring now more particularly to Fig. any means. The term “face' refers to the 1, of the drawings, let A designate a nega 70 gelatinous or sensitized surfaces of the tive film, which has been treated as above films. described, and B a positive film to be col Referring now to the drawings let Fig. 2 ored. The negative A is placed upon a represent the sensitized surface of a frag suitable reel 11, facing outwardly thereon O mentary section of negative film containing as indicated; thence threaded over a series 75 a series of views which comprises a scene in of adjustably retardable rollers 12 and 13, the picture. Say, for instance, it is desired each equipped with peripheral teeth for en to color the sky portion 10 blue in these gaging the film perforations, under a rub views. A positive, as at Fig. 3, is taken ber pressure roller 14, and around under 80 15 from the said negative, and the sky portions. neath a drum 15, also provided with teeth 10 to be colored are “stopped out” or cov upon its periphery for engaging said per ered over with a coating of material which forations, leaving the apparatus over a is impervious to light; this may be done by roller 16, thence to a drying reel 17. The hand with the aid of a brush or other suit positive film B is placed upon a reel 18 ad 85 20 able implement. The balance of the views jacent a receptacle containing a chemical are left in their normal state of develop solution through which it is run for the ment. A negative, as at Fig. 4, is then purpose of moistening and softening the printed back from this coated positive on gelatinous coating thereon, sufficient to dis which the sky portions 10, which have been solve and absorb coloring matter from the 25 unexposed to light by reason of the coated negative film upon being subjected to a 90 portions 10" of the positive, are undevel pressurable contact therewith, as will be oped, the sensitized materials having been hereinafter explained. . . removed in the developing bath leaving only From reel 18 positive film B is succes the gelatinous matter thereon, which is sively carried over rollers 19, 20, 21 and 22, 30 transparent. It is well known in photog in the direction indicated by the arrows, 95 raphy that the gelatinous coating on a film the film being immersed in the solution 22 becomes more insoluble or harder on those in passing around roller 20, between rollers portions acted upon by light than on those 19 and 21. From roller 22 it is brought into parts where no exposure takes place. This the contact apparatus C over a series of negative is then immersed in a chemical so adjustably retardable rollers 23 and 24, 00 35. lution such as bichromate or the like which similar to rollers 12 and 13, and likewise. fixes and solidifies the exposed or developed provided with peripheral teeth, for engag portions of the views, rendering such por ing the film perforations, under rubber pres tions impervious to liquid, but does not ef sure roller 14, around underneath toothed 105 40 fect the viscous consistency of the unex drum 15, leaving the machine over roller posed or transparent portions 10°. . After 25, from which it may be carried to a dry the fixing bath this negative is first allowed ing reel or to another set of apparatus D, as to dry after which it is immersed in a dye or shown in the drawing, should it be desired any suitable soluble coloring matter, and al to subsequently apply one or more other lowed to remain until a quantity of coloring colors. 45 matter has thoroughly penetrated and ad In passing the two films over drum. 15. hered to the viscous surface of the trans they are carefully placed in register; that is, parent gelatinous portions 10°. It is then like views opposite each other with their allowed to dry after which it is ready for gelatinous surfaces in contact. 50 the transferring process by pressurable con Revolving drum 15 in the direction indi tact with the positive film, as at Fig. 5, for cated by the arrow, by any suitable means, the coloring of the portion 10°. - such as a crank 26 and drive shaft 27, actu The above described process of applying ating a worm and worm wheel secured the coloring matter to the negative film is thereto, draws the films A and B over rollers 55 the most preferable and inexpensive, how 12 and 13, and 23 and 24, respectively, as in 120 ever, equally good results may be obtained dicated by the arrows in Fig.1. When the coloring matter is applied directly It seldom happens that two films shrink to the said negative by hand. the same after being wet in the developing : In this process a negative film is used as process, and therefore it is necessary to stretch either one or the other longitudinally 125 SO a support for the coloring matter for two to bring them into perfect contactual regis reasons;replica of first, that becauseportion itor discloses image on thereon the posi a terfor the transfer of the coloring matter. tive film it is desired to color and can be This is accomplished in drawing the films readily treated as above described, and, sec over retardable toothed rollers 12, 13, 23 65 ond, because a negative and positive film and 24, by revolving the drum 15. Either 30 i803,886 set of rollers being adjusted to exert a pull a different color. To accomplish this several upon the film to stretch it the desired sets of the described apparatus may be set amount. It very often happens that a film, side by side in alinement with each other, such as the positive film B in this case, as illustrated at C and D in Fig. 1, and the stretches upon being wet, in which event several negatives carrying the various col 70 rollers 12 and 13 may be adjusted to stretch ors placed on reels 11, and threaded through the negative film: A, as above described, to the machines as above described. The posi bring it into register therewith. Rollers 12, tive film may be carried continuously from 13, 23 and 24, in addition to stretching the one machine to the other as from C to D, as 0. films to bring them to register, also serve to shown in Fig. 1, and operated as hereinbe 75 exert a tension to produce the proper con fore set forth. . . tactual pressure between them upon the The three primary colors, red, yellow and drum 15, to facilitate in transferring the blue, are the ones most commonly used in coloring matter. the process, as it is with these that the Immediately after coming into contact greatest variety of natural tints may be pro 80 with each other upon the periphery of the duced. For instance, if it is desired to color drum 15, the films A and B are subjected to the shrubbery in the views green, the posi an initial contactual pressure by a soft rub tive film is run through two machines suc ber roller 14; this tends to a more perfect cessively, each carrying a negative film; one 20 contact which is maintained throughout the with a coating of blue coloring matter and 85 osculation of the films upon the drum, and the other a coating of yellow, both upon also serves to squeeze out excessive liquid corresponding portions of their views, and that may remain upon the film. the two colors thus laid one upon the other, In the absorption of coloring matter by producing green. It can be readily seen 25 the positive film from the negative through that in this manner any number of colors 3) () contact therewith, various lengths of time may be applied to the various images in are required, varying from at least one min the views upon a positive film, by subject ute to one and one-half minutes for best re ing it to a contact with several negatives sults; and for this reason drum 15 is adapted carrying the coloring matter. 30 to revolve slowly to allow the films to remain By this process the coloring matter is 95 in contact the required length of time in. evenly applied to the positive film, the out traveling between rollers 14 and 25. lines being clear and distinct, and the whole This momentary, film contact upon the re accomplished with a minimum of time and a volving drum is a very essential feature of epit ... ". . 35 our process; not only as a means of produc his application is companion to an appli 106 ing perfect contact during a continuous and cation S. N. 132,351, filed on even date here uninterrupted movement of the films, there with, entitled machine for and art of color by resulting in a great saving of time, but ing cinematographic films. In said appli also as affording the simplest and most ef cation we claim the printing machine herein 40 ficient means of minutely gradating the described and also the peculiar method of 105 depth or amount of coloring matter trans printing herein described which includes the ferred to the positive print, merely by in feature of registration of the films; reserv creasing or diminishing its speed of rotation ing to the present application claims which to shorten or lengthen the duration of con include the method of preparing the print 45 tact. Furthermore, such a means of contact ing surface. Accordingly the following insures the greatest protection to the moist claims are directed to such a method; but gelatinous surface of the films, and the pos it will be understood that the processes of sibility of its being scuffed or loosened from such claims are not, except as therein specifi its base by rough handling or sharp bending cally provided, limited to being carried on 50 is entirely obviated. in association with the other features of the 5 It may be here stated that should it be printing process that are claimed in said co desired to operate the drums at a constant pending application. We have herein fully speed, such as with motive power or the explained the whole? composite process for like, the duration of contact between the the purpose of making our invention readily 55 films may be altered by making roller 25 and clearly understood and not for purposes 269 adjustably movable around the periphery of of limitation. the drum, so as to shorten or lengthen Having described our process, we claim: the peripheral distance between it (the point ... 1. The process of coloring cinemato of separation) and the point of contact on graphic films, consisting of coating a posi 30 the opposite side. - - - - tive print upon those portions of its views iss This process is adapted to the applica it is desired to color with matter imper tion of one or more colors to a positive film ..yious to light and taking a negative print by subjecting it to a pressurable contact therefrom, immersing such negative print with several negative films, each being a fac in a chemical solution to render impervious 35 simile of the said positive and each carrying to liquid all portions of the views exposed 30 sé 1,303,836 to the light in printing, the subsequent im 2. The process of coloring cinemato mersion of such treated negative print in graphic films comprising uniformly block the coloring matter and the adhesion of such ing out with an opaque medium all those 20 coloring matter to the portions thereof not portions on a positive print which portions rendered impervious thereto and the drying it is desired to color, making a negative of such coloring matter thereon, the immer from such positive, rendering insoluble all sion of the positive print to be colored in a those portions of the negative surface ex solution for the moistening and softening posed to light in making the negative, ap 25 of the gelatinous surface thereon, subjecting plying coloring matter to the portions which 10 the gelatinous surface of such positive print have not been exposed to light, and transfer while moist to a pressurable contact with the ring such applied coloring matter to the film gelatinous surface of the negative print car to be colored. rying coloring matter, the views upon the ALVIN WYCKOFF. positive print, being made to register with MAX HANDSCHEGL. 5 the corresponding views upon the color car Witnesses: rying negative while in contact, substan G. R. DEXTER, i tially as and for the purpose herein set forth. WM. L. CoNNors.