Film Identification

• Unprocessed Film
• Date Code Symbols
• Manufacturer and Film Type
• Nitrate and Acetate Base

Unprocessed Film
The many characteristics of a specific roll of unprocessed film are described most completely on the film label.

The twelve-digit code on the label in Figure 45 (5289-489-02101) identifies the film type (5289), the emulsion batch number (489), the roll number and the part of the roll (02101) from which this strip of KODAK VISION 800T Color Negative Film was cut. When an emulsion batch is put together, it is quite large -- too large to be coated onto only one roll of film base. Therefore, it is necessary to coat more than one roll, and all subsequent rolls are numbered in sequential order. So, in this case, the first three digits identify the roll number of this particular emulsion batch. The last two digits identify the roll part. If one roll is coated onto a 6000-foot master roll, each strip can be cut into many individual parts. As an example, the 6000 feet can be cut into three 2,000-foot rolls--part 1, 2, and 3. The emulsion batch number and roll number also appear on the tape sealing the can.

The film identification code (VCN 718) gives the emulsion type (VCN) and film specification number (718), a code describing width, perforation type and format, winding, and type of core, spool, or magazine.

The perforation type and pitch are identified in two ways: BH-1866 (or Bell & Howell perforation with a pitch of 0.1866 inch), and N4 740 (or negative perforation with a pitch of 0.4740 centimetres).

The film strip reference number identifies the location of a particular strip of film cut from the master roll. This number (1 through 38 for 35 mm and 1 through 83 for 16 mm) appears on a sticker affixed to most cans holding 400 or more feet of film.

Date Code Symbols
A date code, indicating when the film was manufactured, is part of the latent edgeprinting on most Kodak 8 mm, 16 mm, 35 mm, 65 mm and 70 mm films. Films with EASTMAN KEYKODE Numbers use a two-letter alpha-code (see table below). On most films without KEYKODE Numbers, symbols indicate the date of manufacture.

Until 1982, the date code was comprised of two symbols except for the following years: 1916, a circle; 1917, a square; 1918, a triangle; and 1929, a plus sign. For 1928 and 1948, three circles were used to identify the year of manufacture.

Date codes were repeated every twenty years until 1982. For example, the same symbols appear on film manufactured in 1921, 1941, 1961 and 1981. In 1982, a third symbol was added allowing for many more years of unique date coding.

Starting in 2001, date symbols will no longer be used for films without KEYKODE Numbers. The actual date of manufacture will be part of the latent edgeprinting on these films.

Date Code Symbols
1960		1978
1961		1979
1962		1980
1963		1981
1964		1982
1965		1983
1966		1984
1967		1985
1968		1986
1969		1987
1970		1988
1971		1989
1972		1990
1973		1991
1974		1992
1975		1993
1976		1994
1977		1995

Manufacturer and Film Type
The film manufacturer and the type of film are identified by the first two letters in the human-readable key number. This information is also included in the machine-readable KEYKODE Number. The alpha/numeric codes for all films manufacturered with KEYKODE Numbers are listed in the following table.

Nitrate and Acetate Base
All Kodak Motion Picture Film since 1949 has been manufactured on cellulose triacetate and polyester safety bases. Prior to 1949, all 35 mm motion picture film was on cellulose-nitrate film base. Some 70 mm black-and-white negative and color print films were also on cellulose-nitrate film base. Nitrate was and is relatively unstable while triacetate and polyester are very stable. However, you should never store triacetate and nitrate based films together. Acetate base can be chemically attacked by the gases given off by decomposing, unstable nitrate base film. This would shorten the life of any safety film that is stored for extended life expectancy. No Kodak 16 mm (or narrower) film was ever manufactured with nitrate base.