System and method for fade and dissolve exposure profile control in a

Abstract

Specially designed non-uniform filters allow for the flexible alteration of the exposure profile during a fade and dissolve process in a motion picture printer. In accordance with one aspect of this invention, there is provided a system for fading and dissolving two original color record scenes together on a light sensitive material, the system comprising: a) a first color record; b) a second color record; c) a motion picture printer comprising a light source, a fader, a non-uniform filter and an exposing slit; and d) a light sensitive material onto which the first and second color records can be illuminated by means of the light source. The non-uniform filter is non-uniform in one direction thereof with respect to its ability to filter light from the light source, and is positioned so as to alter the relative intensity and/or spectral characteristics of light trasmitted to the light sensitive material as the fader is opened and closed during a fade and dissolve printing process. Another aspect of the invention relates to a process for producing a fade and dissolve motion picture image using such a non-uniform filter. Use of non-uniform filters in accordance with the invention to selectively alter the exposure profile enables a film printer to compensate for speed changes in one or more of the sensitive layers of a photosensitive material during a fade and dissolve process.