RE: [AV Media Matters] 16mm film coating

[Pip.Laurenson@tate.org.uk]

Some looping systems require photoguard hi-lube which is a coating and
lubrication system carried out by AFD in Hollywood. I have found that prints
which have been stored once treated go very stiff after a 2 year period. The
coating is also visible in pale areas when the print is projected. My
feeling is therefore not to coat display prints unless you have to for a
looping system, and even then I would be interested to see whether a purely
lubricated print would work as well. I would not consider coating anything
that was not easily replaceable, it is certainly not good for archival
material.

Pip Laurenson
Sculpture Conservator for Electronic Media and Kinetic Arts
-----Original Message-----
From: Sarah Cook [mailto:sarah.e.cook@sunderland.ac.uk]
Sent: 12 April 2001 16:48
To: AV Media Matters
Subject: Re: [AV Media Matters] 16mm film coating

Dear list
I was recently speaking with an art curator here in England who said in
passing that he often sends artists 16mm films off to a place in Hollywood
to have them coated so that they are made stronger and more durable for the
repeated presentations during the run of a gallery exhibition.
I will try and find out more information about this process, but I wondered
if anyone knew if this coating was archivally sound? commonly used? a good
or bad idea in the long term?
thanks,
Sarah Cook

www.balticmill.com