How to Tell Gauge of Film
Film gauge is represented by the physical width of the film from one side to the other. Traditionally, movies have been filmed on many different sizes and styles of film. While the standard film gauge is 35mm, we’ve seen film gauge as small as 3mm. And as large as 75mm used in the film industry over the past 100 years. Learning how to tell the gauge of film is something that some aspiring filmmakers take it upon themselves to figure out. But how?
Why is Film Gauge Important?
As a filmmaker, you’ll probably work with mostly 35mm film throughout your career. So why would it be important to learn how to tell the gauge of film? Some actually focus on this so that they can work as film restoration specialists.
Others aim to learn how to tell gauge of film simply. So that they can better understand the history of filmmaking. And all the different changes in equipment that have taken place over the past century.
Film gauge is important as it represents the exact width of the film .But it also plays a role in helping to date the era in which a film may have been produced. Historically, different periods of motion picture history are characterized by different film gauges and bases.
How to Tell Gauge of Film
So, how can you tell the gauge of film? The easiest way is to measure the film from side to side to get the total width. Know that the smallest film gauge is 3mm and the largest that we’ve seen in the industry so far is 75mm.
For comparison, a 3mm film would be about the width of one tenth of an inch. Likewise, and again for comparison, a 35mm standard film gauge would be about an inch and a half (just a little shy of a half, technically 1.377 inches).
Some of the smallest film gauge to actually take hold was the 8mm which was developed by Eastman Kodak in 1932. It would ultimately be referred to as Standard 8mm, Regular 8mm, and Double 8 over the period for which it was used.
Cost-Effective Alternatives
It’s represented a cost-effective alternative to the already existing 16mm film that was in use.
While the film gauge is measured by simply taking measurement of the film from one side to the other to get the width. Different sizes of film would also have different numbers of perforations down the side.
Which would impact the amount of the frame which would be exposed during viewing.