TServo4 wrote:
Platters are pretty much industry standard these days. Films are still shipped on reels and still have changeover cue marks on them (for a number of reasons), but the film gets assembled on one large platter.

There are a number of problems with platter systems when it comes to treating film, though, and because of the stress they put on film, are the reason polyester stocks have become standard (as opposed to older Tri-acetate safety). I prefer and use two projectors, and it is archival practice to do so. You cannot book most repertory prints unless you run reel-to-reel.

One thing which really amazed me was how long and winding the film was stretched all around when it was being shown, at least at my friend's theater. It went from the one platter, through all kinds of wide guides , some of them almost near the floor, before being distributed to the "take-up" platter. I know this is commonplace to you, but as someone whose only projecting experience was his little Bell and Howell home projector with his Castle films, this seemed quite a process!

Didn't mean to take the Dark Sky topic too far off, but it got me thinking about the multiplex booth I used to visit.

Last Edited By: Joe Karlosi Jan 3 08 6:54 PM. Edited 1 times.