Sharper pictures for the dream factory

At one time, movie appearances of dinosaurs, magical creatures and cartoon giants were rather brief, because they have to be transferred from the computer to analog film. A recently developed laser film recorder helps these digital "actors" look better on the big screen.

Computer-generated special effects are a staple of contemporary film production. Digital images introduce complications, however, once it comes to projecting them onto movie screens in high quality. The majority of projectors still work with standard 35 mm film, which means that digital image sequences must be transferred frame by frame onto celluloid film in order to produce true-to-life trolls and warlocks that so impress movie goers. A digital laser film recorder has been developed by scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM in Freiburg in close cooperation with the cine camera manufacturer ARRI. The ARRILASER records digitally produced images in as yet unsurpassed quality onto classic 35 mm film. Manfred Knothe, Ulrich Klocke, Wolfgang Riedel and Helmut Wolf were awarded one of this years Joseph von Fraunhofer prizes for their achievement.
We use a red, green, and a blue solid-state laser, explains Riedel. The extremely sturdy and low maintenance system we have achieved also has a longer service life than the conventional gas lasers used in other film exposure systems. With solid-state lasers we achieve not only a five times shorter exposure time, but the highest quality image - even onto very fine-grained film. At the push of a button, lasers transfer image data onto conventional film, always at the proper intensity and position. The laser beam is guided by a system of lenses, mirrors, modulators and a high-speed rotating redirection prism. The beam parameters and intensity of the laser are continuously monitored by sensors and adjusted by actuators. Brilliant color images are produced at a rate of four million pixels per second. The efficiency of the system is remarkable: A 90 minute cine film can be transferred to 35 mm in just one week with the ARRILASER, compared with the usual seven.
In just two years the laser film exposure system has established itself in the industry. Some 80 systems have already been sold by ARRI worldwide. Whats more, in March 2002 its developers were awarded one of the Scientific and Technical awards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Franz Kraus and Johannes Steurer, representatives of ARRI, and Wolfgang Riedel of the IPM received the Scientific and Engineering Award for their exceptional technical achievement and significant contribution to the advancement of the film industry. The success of the ARRILASER proves how fruitful close cooperation between industry and scientific research can be.
Joseph-von-Fraunhofer Prize - research with a practical orientation
This prize has been awarded by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft every year since 1978, in recognition of outstanding scientific work by members of its staff leading to the solution of application-oriented problems. Over 200 researchers have meanwhile seen their work honored in this way. This year - for the 25th time -, three regular prizes were awarded - each valued at 10,000 euros. An additional prize for special merit is worth 20,000 euros.,For further information:,Wolfgang J. Riedel ,Telefon: [phone] ,Fax: [phone] ,E-mail: [e-mail]
Fraunhofer-Institut fur Physikalische Messtechnik IPM ,Heidenhofstra?e 8 ,D-79110 Freiburg ,http://www.ipm.fraunhofer.de/
Links: ,IPM: Presseinformation ,http://www.ipm.fhg.de/presseordner/pressemit_akt/scitech_award_riedel.html
ARRI: Presseinformation ,http://www.arri.com/prod/digital/laser/press/

Paesi

Germany