3 PERFORATION - SAME IMAGE QUALITY AT LOWER COSTS

Less cost, more shooting time - with the same image quality

Instead of a traditional 4 perforation movement, which advances the film 4 perforations for each new image, a 3 perforation movement advances the film only 3 perforations, thus eliminating the previously unused space between frames. This results in a 25% savings in film stock and lab costs with no reduction in image quality. In addition, the film in each magazine lasts 33% longer, making film production more efficient.

How 3 Perforation works

Most wide screen 35mm projection formats, including 1.85 and Super 35/2.35, do not use the full 4 perforation height of the 35mm frame. They fit easily between 3 perforations. In fact, the only two formats that use the entire 4 perforation height for picture information are anamorphic photography and material originated specifically for 4:3 full-frame TV transfer.

3 perforation post production: efficiency up, costs down

3 perforation has been used extensively for television series to reduce production costs while still retaining a high quality 35 mm film master, which can be transferred to any future video format if needed. All modern telecines can accommodate film shot at 3 perforations per frame. But in the past theatrical productions have shied away from 3 perforations because of the difficulty of creating a 4 perforation release print from a 3 perforation negative.

With the advent of the Digital Intermediate and the fast rising popularity of the ARRILASER, two closely related developments, many producers are now looking at shooting 3 perforation for a theatrical release.

The Digital Intermediate process makes it possible to scan the complete 3 perforation negative, perform all post-production steps in the digital realm, and then use the ARRILASER to record the images back onto 4 perforation Internegative (IN) or Interpositive (IP) to create standard spherical or anamorphic 4 perforation release prints.

Changes in lab processes have also improved the quality of the optical step necessary to go from a 3 perforation negative to a 4 perforation release print, providing a second alternative.

It doesn't matter which way you go in post - analog or digital:
3 perforation offers the most efficient and economical way to 35mm film production.

3 perforation pays for Digital Intermediate

Cinematographers, who like the flexibility and creative options provided by the Digital Intermediate, have successfully argued that the savings of 3 perforation can offset most or all of the cost of the Digital Intermediate. When going the Digital Intermediate route, there is no reason not to shoot 3 perforation.