Special Report

Choose a practical dental title slide film processing systemClyde Roggenkamp"

The basic 35-mm camera equipped with a 90-, 100-. or 105-mm macro lens, which isalready used in many dental offices, has the potential to create good title slide trans-parencies for use in study club presentations, table clinics, and academic lectures.Several photographic film products are now availabie that place this weil regardedmedium of dental education within the capability of the average motivated practitioner,in this overview. Kodaiith. Vericoior SO-279, PoiaBlue. Polachrome HCP, andPolagraph systems are analyzed and compared for time efficiency, cost effectiveness,and quality of slides produced. (Quintessence Int ¡993;24:435-440.)

Introduction

The use of quality audiovisual materials, includingtitle slides, can be the key to an extraordinary profes-sional presentation. Several commercially availablephotographic film products place this well regardedmedium of dental education within the capability ofthe average motivated practitioner. The basic 35-mmcamera equipped with a 90-, 100-, or 105-mm macrolens, already used in many dental offices, can producegood title slide transparencies for use in study clubpresentations, table clinics, and academic lectures.The use of a copy stand, starting at US $80 to $100(with non-eolor-corrected tungsten type photo lamps)through photographic specialty stores or photographicmagazine mail-order companies, is necessary to steadythe camera for the most desirable results (Fig 1), If anelectric typewriter with black carbon film ribbon is

" LtCol.USAF, DC,4th Medieal Group/SGD, Seymour ,IohnsonAFB, NC 27531; Adjtinct Associate Professor, Department ofOperative Dentistry, University of North Carolina. School ofDentistry, No. 3Ü2, CB No, 7450. Chapel Hill, North Carolina27599-7450,

Address correspondence to Dr Roggenkamp ai the University ofNorth Carolina,

This article is a work of the US government and may be reprintedwithout permission. The opinions or assertions eontained hereinare the private views of the author and are not to be construed asofficial or as refteeting the views of the Department of the AirForce or any other departtrent or agency uf the US government.

Fig 1 A copy stand illuminates the subject and steadiesthe camera,

used, the Helvetica 12-point size font is recommendedfor clear titles that are easy to read on a projectionscreen. Good line drawings used as illustrâtiotis may besimilarly photographed. It is also possible to obtain ac-ceptable 35-mm title slides from direct photography ofhigh-resolution computer screens,' In this overview,several currently available films and home processingsystems are compared (Tables 1 and 2),

Kodaiith

Kodaiith is an extremely high-contrast negative blackand white film that enhances contrast by eliminatingmore of the gray intermediate tones than does oidinaryblack and white negative film. Because it is a negativefilm, lighter features of the photographic subject will

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Table 1 Film characteristics

Product ManufacturerISO

(ASA)High

ResolutionReversal

type Colors Development

KodalithVericolorFolaBluePolachrome HCPPol a graph

KodakKodakPolaroidPolaroidPolaroid

88

4-840

400

YesYesYesFairlyFairly

YesYesYesNoNo

BlackAllBlueAllBlack

Developingtank(self)C-4] (commercial)Autoprocessor (self)Autoprocessor (self)Autoprocessor (self)

Table2 Filtn systems rated

ProductContrastquality

Systemcost (US $) Film cost (US $)

Film cost perslide (US $) Ease

Overallrating

KodalithVericolorPolaBluePolachromeHCPPolagraph

$100 ±$20 +$1251=»^$125 ±*$125+^1^

$ 5 - 6/36exp$ 5 - 6/36exp$10-12/L2exp$10-12/12exp$ 9-12/12exp

$0.15$0.15$1,00$1.00$1.00

l-Poor;-F+ = fair; + + + = good;+ + + -1- - excellent.After this initial one-time system outlay, there is no additional cost to substilule other Polaroid lilms.Up to$ 0.25 per slide, if eomnierdalC-41 processingeost is included.

be black and darker features will appear white on thefilm (Fig 2), The film speed of ISO (ASA) 8 is belowthe range of detection of ordinary photographic lightmeters, so experimentation will be necessary to obtainthe proper camera settings and lighting for maximumcontrast.

The initial expense of personal processing of Kodalithfilm, including processing chemicals, developing tank,solution thermometer, mounting frames, dark roomlight, and related paraphernalia, is currently about$100 (Fig 3). Kodalith film can be purchased fromphotographic specialty stores and photographicmagazine mail-order companies in 36-exposure rolls,but also comes in 100-ft bulk packs at a cost of aboutUS $25. If the film is purchased in bulk, the user mustroll individual 20- or 36-exposure cartridges from a 35-mm bulk film loader. The additional cost of about $25for the cartridges and bulk film loader may be cost ef-fective, if several hundred Kodalith title slides will beproduced.

Kodahth can be processed in-house with a standardphotographic developing tank. Kodalith chemical solu-tion parts A and B each have a shelf life of 2 to 6months. Mixing of parts A and B occurs at lOOT

(38''C), and the solution must be cooled to oöT fordeveloping. The resulting mixed developing solutionhas a recommended useful life of only about 4 hours.After it is developed and fixed, the film strip is airdried. Individual exposure frames are then cut andplaced in 35-mm slide mounts.

Various colors of dye or transparent pressure sensi-tive graphic tape (available at most drafting supplystores) can be applied to the mounted slide to high-light details against a dense black background (Fig 4).These should be applied to the glossy surface of tbeslide to avoid making scratch marks in the emulsion.Color gels are available from some photo magazinemail-order companies. These inexpensive, 1.5-inchtranslucent squares of prccolored film can be mountedtogether with the Kodalith film in the frame. The colorwill only show through the text or line drawing detailsto accentuate and enhven desired features on theKodalith slide. Felt-tipped marking pens can also beused to add various colors with acceptable results.Some photographers have even painted vegetablefood coloring on slides with a cotton-tipped applicator.Another option offered by Kodalith is the ability tosuperimpose the white or colored lettering over atiy

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Kodak FilmKODALITH

(Example)

Fig 2 A typicai Kodaiith title slideing on dense black background.

iustrating white letter- Fig 3 Basic system needed for processing Kodaiith titleslides.

Kodak FilmKODALITH

(Colors Applied)

Fig 4 Kodaiith film showing how colors oan be used to en-hance the title slide- In this oase, graphic coior tape wasused,

other slide picture by double exposing with a sltdeduplicator and usitig a camera that allows mitltiplefratrte exposures.

Because Kodaiith photography is technique sensi-tive and time consuming, it is difficult to recommendvery highly for the occasional user, Kodaiith yieldsexcellent results inexpensively, for approximately 13eents per slide from 36-exposure rolls of film or as lowas 5 cents per slide from bulk film when produced insufficient volume.

Vericolor color reversal film (SO-279)

Although not considered a high-contrast film, KodakVericolor shde film is an extremely fine-grained, high-resolution film, on the order of Kodaiith or Polagraph,that reverses the colors similar to color print nega-tives, Vericolor is a laboratory film that can be pur-

chased from photographic specialty stores in 135-36 for-mat cartridges of 36 exposures per roll, but also is avail-able in 100-ft bulk rolls. It is very useful for makinggood title slides on short notice. When copying ordi-nary black printed titles on white paper, this film canproduce transparencies with white letters against a uni-formly colored background. Different backgroundcolors can be created by employing a variety of differ-ent filters as listed on the instruction sheet in each boxof the film. These choices include dark blue, cyan,green, red, orange, yellow, tnagenta, yellow-brown,and dark red. Purple may also be created by using aKodak 61 or 58 green filter,- Use of no color lens fil-ter at all can produce pale yellow lettering on an at-tractive crimson background (Fig 5). A yellow filtercan produce white details against a burgundy back-ground (Fig 6), Orange photographic filters willchange black lettering on a white background to whitelettering on a deep blue background (Figs 7 and 8)similar to PolaBlue (Fig 9),

As with any of the lower-speed, higher-resolutionfilms, experimentation is necessary to fine-tune thebalance of light, camera exposure, and color filters.The exposure sensitivity of SO-279 film is in a cate-gory with Kodahth and PolaBlue, so a copy stand isrequired. Although some individuals may be proficientat developing C-41 film at home with Kodak Flexicolorchemicals, it is usually much simpler to take the ex-posed rolls of SO-279 film to a commercial film de-veloping outlet for C-41 processing. Film developingoutlets must confirm that the film actually requiresC-41 processing before they will accept it, therefore itis prudent to bring along the film instructions and origi-nal film box to prove authenticity. Developing can be

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Kodak FilmVERICOLOR SO-279

(No Filter)

FiQ 5 Vericolcr film indicating its ordinary color reversalwith a crimson background and cream-coiored letteringthat results from standard tungsten lighting when no filtersare used.

Kodak FilmVERiCOLOR SO-279

(Yellow Color Gel Filter Used)

Fig 6 Vericolor fiim background and lettering effects whenphotographed with a plain yeiiow filter gel.

Kodak FilmVERICOLOR SO-279

(Cokin A 002 Orange Filter Used)

Fig 7 Vericolor film illustrating the effects when photo-graphed with a Cokin A002 orange filter.

Kodak FilmVERICOLOR SO-279

(#7 Orange Filter Used)

Fig 8 Vericolor film showing the deep blue baGi<groundresulting from photography with a No, 7 orange filter

completed within an hour, which allows Vericolor titleslide presentations to be made on fairly short notice.The film processing agency must be told to "processonly," or the agency may automatically produce colorprints, not reahzing that the direct color negativesthemselves are to be mounted as color slides. The de-veloped film strip is then taken to the home or officefor cutting so that each exposure can be mounted intoindividual 35-mm slide frames for projection.

The total cost of SO-279 is approximately 25 centsper slide,

PolaBlue high-contrast fUm

The most recently introduced 35-mm instant slide filmis PolaBlue, a fine-grained, high-contrast, text reversal

film that produces white lettering on a deep blue back-ground (Fig 9), simulating the commercially populardiazo technique effect, PolaBlue can be used in any35-mm camera. The diazo system, which it essentiallyreplaces, was not a do-it-yourself procedure becausespeciai equipment and multiple steps were required.Another drawback with ordinary diazo film is that theblue color inevitably fades with time and use, PolaBlue'scolor is quite stable, similar to Ektachrome film,

PolaBlue is a one-step technique that can be proces-sed by the user in just 4 minutes with the PolaroidAutoProeessor unit. Experimentation is necessary toperfect the contrast between the white ietters and bluebackground. Although the exposure sensitivity ofPolaBlue ISO (ASA) 8 is similar to that of Verichromeand Kodalith, experience has shown it to require ap-

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Polaroid FilmPOLABLUE

(Example)

Fig 9 PolaBlue demonstrating the crisp white lettering againsta rich blue background characteristic of this type ot film.

proximately one and a half f stops le^i light exposurefor maximum contrast. A copy stand is required.

The Polaroid starter kit for processing the PolaBluefilm costs about S125, including the manually crankedAutoProcessor. slide motjnter, and 100 slide mounts,when ordered through photographic magazine mail-order advertisements. This system (Fig 10) is a goodinvestment for study clubs, teaching departments, orindividual educators and can be used to process a va-riety of other useful Polaroid films including Polachromeand Polagraph. Polaroid also offers a power Auto-Processor and illuminated slide mounter, which con-tribute to greater efficiency. These additional optionsincrease the starter kit cost to around $300.

Results with this film are uniformly excellent. EachPolaBlue slide averages close to $1.

Polachrome HCP high-contrast film

Polachrome HC is a color positive instant slide filmthat can be used in any 35-mm camera. The advantageis its rapid 1-minute development in the PolaroidAutoProcessor. The exposure sensitivity rating is ISO(ASA) 40. Polachrome HC film is satisfactory as abackup for ordinary color transparency film, but theimage projected on tbe screen may appear slightlyhazy and the color brilliance may be somewbat re-strained compared with those of Ektachrome orKodachrome films, especially in intraoral pictures in-volving pink gingival tones.

A method for making fast title slides on short noticemight be to use this film to photograph the materialdirectly with printed copy on white or colored paperbackground. If colored paper is not available, appro-priate eolor effects may be obtained by using a choice

of colored filters over the lens. Polachrome is a colorpositive film, so black print on the original remainsblack on the title slide, and any background papercolor (or filter-induced color) is similarly reproducedon the finished title slide.

This film reproduces true daylight-balanced colors,so if a copy stand that is not equipped with blue color-corrected (BCA) lights is used, a blue 806 eolor-cor-rection filter must be placed over the camera lens tocorrect the pinkish-orange hue rendered by the tungstentype 3400 K photoflood lamps, or a blue 80A filter isneeded if 3200 K studio lamps are used.•'These filterscost $10 to $20 eaeb. Polachrome HC slides cost ap-proximately $1 each to produce.

Polagraph high-contrast film

This is a high-contrast positive black and white 35-mm in-stant slide film. It is preferred for making transparenciesinvolving line drawings or black letters on white paper.With this film, black features of the subject materialremain black, and white features remain white (Fig 11),

Ordinary camera light meters cannot accommodatethe low ISO of 8 required for KodaUth. Kodak VericolorSO-279, and PolaBlue films. The greater film speed(ISO 400) of Polagraph HC is an advantage, because alight meter can be used to determine the exposure timewithout much, if any, experimentation. Shooting lightersubject material may require opening tbe lens theequivalent of one f stop to override the compensatingeffect of the light meter, which may shade back ap-proximately 18% on extreme whites. The opposite istrue for predominantly dark background subjects, soclosing the lens approximately one f stop may benecessary for proper contrast.

Polagraph HC film is developed in the PolaroidAutoProcessor unit (Fig 10) for 2 minutes. SincePolagraph HC is not a negative film, it cannot directlysubstitute for Kodalith. A negative-like effect, how-ever, can be created by reversing the black to whitelettering on a high-resolution computer monitor andphotographing the screen directly with Polagraph HCfilm (Fig 12). Colored tapes, dyes, or filter gels alsocan be applied directly to the slide to produce coloreddetails against a black background (Fig 13).

The cost per slide for Polagraph HC is approxi-mately $1.

General hints

At least two or three rolls of film are necessary to de-termine the best shutter speed settings, aperture

'.. Nutnbet 6/1993 439

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Fig 10 Basic System needed for processing PoiaBlue,PolaChrome, and Polagraph slides.

Polaroid FilmPOLAGRAPH

(Example)

Fig 11 Polagraph illustrating its normal capability to di-rectly copy black lettering on white paper.

Polaroid FilmPOLAGRAPH

(Text Contrast ReversedOn Computer Monitor)

Fig 12 This reverse effect with Polagraph was achieved byphotographing the text, which had been contrast-reversedon a Macintosh computer monitor.

Polaroid FilmPOLAGRAPH

(Text Contrast ReversedOn Computer Monitor)

Fig 13 The text from Fig 12 was color highlighted to illus-trate one of the variations that can be achieved with thisfilm by using felt-tipped marking pens, coior dyes, graphictapes, or coior filter gels.

values, filter effects, subject illumination, and filmdeveloping techniques.

When original material is being photographed withthe aid of a copy stand, the printed lines must be hori-zontal with the top and bottom edges of the frame.The writing should be as large as possible, but anadequate margin should remain all around. Wordsshould not be run too close to the edge. Placement oftoo many words on any single title slide adds consider-able reading difficulty for viewers seated in the rear ofthe auditorium, A good rule of thumb is that if 2 x2-inch slides can be read without a magnifier, peoplein rear seats can probably read them on the screen.The message should be as simple and clear as possible.If considerable information or background material isvital to the presentation, provide handouts to those in-

terested. The projected titles not only clarify points tothe viewing audience, but also help the speaker to con-trol the order and sequence of the lecture withoutnecessarily reading from prepared outline notes.

AcknowledgmentsSpecial appreciation goes to Dr Michael Cochran at the IndianaUniversity Setiool of Dentistry for prcpublication review of ttiismaterial.

References1, Palmer DS, Low cost computer-generated .15 mm color slides,

Chicago Dent Soc Rev t992;85(l):t8-2O,2, Tribe HE, Seleeting and preparing illustrations for publieation

and presentation. Dent Clin North Am 1S83;27:95-1O7,3, Stecker EH, How to use eolor correction fitters Popular

Photography iy91;Oct:5t,4, Tilly DA, Hagen AR. Preparing graphies for visual presenta-

tion. Dent Clin North Am iyS3;27:75-94, p

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