COLOR FILM/PRINT DRYER - - STAFF STUDY #10047

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04747A001400010014-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 15, 2001
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: December 22, 1966
• Content Type: STUDY

1r~~q
Approved For Relear~001/b~~'1~{~~G~~A=1~~ 8B04747A00140~0010014-1
22 December 1.966
COLOR FILM/PRINT DRYER -- STAFF STUDY
#10047
a. The Armed Services have increased the us~~ of color in tactical appli-
cations. Camouflage Detection Film (color ma.teri.al) is being used in Vietnam.
The services have purchased equipment to process this original material.
Also, they recently spent $4,000,000 for supplies of acquisition type
color films, reproduction color materials, and color processing chemicals.
b. NPIC prepares color view raphs showing flight-path of every mission
25X1D it handles. Normally more than ~ yiewgr.aphs each of several tracks are
prepared for each mission.
c, The two new automatic color processing machines in NPIC can process
color sheet film on paper at the rate of ~00 8" x 10" sheets of the
equivalent each hour. This equipment doers not include drying:systems.
d. Investigation of commercially .available equipment has shown that there
25X1D are no dryers available that can handle the drying capacity produced by
these two machines.
e Any increase in the use of color sheet materials will require advanced
drying systems to match the high production rate of the automatic process-
ing equipment,
3. DISCUSSION
a. Current Procedure -
(1) Cut sheet color filrrss are presently dried in a drying chamber
or cabinet. The films are usually placed in fiirn hangers in the drying
cabinet and hot air is circulated around the .fiilm, .'T'hese cabinets can.:
handle about 60 sheets per hour This method is time consuming and doer
not dry the film in a quality fashion, that is, the film is not dried so
that there is no evidence of watermarks, abrasions,- scratches, image di;;-
tortion, peeling, curl, fading, color shifts, mottling, etc.
DECLASS REVIEW BY NIMA / DoD
?t
~ r ~;,
{.
Approved For Release 2001/08/13: CIA-RDP78B04747A001.400010Q'14-1
 Approved For Relea00~~~1~'1~~~1 ~:'~~p
(2) Glossy color prints are dried ire much the same way as glossy
black and white prints. During the d~^ying pa~,~L?ess, the emulsion is kept
in contact with a highly polished chromed su:rfa.ce, usually a drum. -The
gelatin of the emulsion forms to the ~;urface c~:F the chromed plate or
drum, leaving the print with a high gloss finish. The drying process
for glossing color prints, using commercial black and white dryers,' is ver
critical. -The temperature and speed of the dryer have to be kept within close
tolerances. The output is limited because the dryers must use a slower
speed for color print materials,
(3) There are no commercial pri~at dryers that can rapidly dry color
prints matte, in a quality manner. Thy: most accepted method uses hot
air drying racks. The prints are placc;d face up on a saran mesh shelf
in the rack, where hot-,air is circulatf:d around them: This process takes
at least 20 minutes and leaves curled and wav
be flattened in a dry mounting process. Duringpthetflatteninghprocess to
there is danger of cracking the emulsion.
(4) Another method of drying prints matte is allowing them to air
dry without applying heat. This method usuall
requires several hours. of drying time, y prevents severe curling but
b. Or_ igin of Concept - They need to ;-
drying techniques is becoming more acute;.tudAsa~henservi~esrarelusing morerand
more color photography for tactical purr~oses, it is feasible that NFIC
could suddenly be tasked with the requiY~ement for selectively reprodiacin
cut sheet prints of this photography, It is important that NPIC be g
prepared to handle cut sheet color materials. A stud
may result in a method and probable dr ~n equipment desi prying tecY-nique
which will satisfy an increased requirement for the reproducpionmofer.olor
sheet materials.
c. Selection of Contractor -? NPIC has solicited nine industrial cor ora-
tions to bid on a Color Film/Print. Dryer Stud Five have submitted p
ro orals, Of the five the ro oral from
t e most t oxoug un erstan ins o t P ,?~~n,,,,,,,~,.._~_ 1 us ra es
d
evelopment objectives
d. Proposed Prcrtrram
F~-uposes an eight-month program to investi-
gate advanced tee piques. or rying photographic color prints and color
sheet films. The most promising drying techniques will be investigated,
and upon NPIC approval, the moss: feasible approaches will be breadboarded.
The breadboards will demonstrate the recommended techniques and result
in design parameters for an advanced color film and paper dryer or dryers.
No prototype hardware will be developed under this program,
Approved For Release 200~k
~ :? ~~ ,
$~~ 3 ~:' ~:tl~''F~'b~'78B04747A001400010014-1
 Approved For Relea~1001/~~$ ,'~1~r~?
,,
B04747A001,4~OQ010014-1
e. Program Phasin -The contractor will submit monthly reports on
expenditures, work performed, and results obtained. After five months,
the contractor will present ;recommended drying techniques, and upon
concurrence of NPIC personnel, breadboard hardware will be constructed
to demonstrate the most promising ~tec:hniques. From these breadboard
demonstrations the contractor will formulate, in the final report,
design parameters for an optimized col~~r sheet material dryer.
f. Coordination - This project has been coordinated with DDS~,T/ORD..
Members of the Community have received advance narrative description
of the project through the Committee on Photographic Exploitation (COPE),
g. Alternatives - An alternative to the study program would be to solicit
bids for hardware development. This method would probably result in acquir-
ing equipment that may not use the most efficient technique in color material
drying, and may not satisfy future production requirements of NPIC.
4. CONCLUSIONS
The new color processing machines in NPIC have increased the cap;~.bility
to produce color sheet prints or transp~~.rencies. Rapid dryers using.
advanced techniques are needed to accommodate the production from two Color
Automat Processors so the NPIC can meet any future requirements. of :increased
color cut sheet reproduction,
ast experience in the ~~.rea of film technology and photo-
processing ec piques well qualifies thE:m to perform the study.
5. RECOMMENDATIONS
It is recemmended th t .oval be r ed
Fi m rant ryer to y,
6. REFERENCES AND ATTACHMENTS
TAB A Catalog Form
TAB B Development Objectives (2)
TAB C Program Phasing
Attachment:
Approved For Release 20~?1%(~~~/a3':~~I~~~~P78B04747A001400010014-1
~. ~s,~ u ~~: -