Movie just isn’t one thing we cowl usually on CineD, however Kodak has introduced a change to their VISION3 Colour Adverse movies value noting. After greater than eight years of improvement in Rochester, the corporate is changing the lengthy used remjet backing with a brand new Anti Halation Undercoat (AHU). It’s the first main structural change to VISION3 in many years.
For context on Kodak’s larger image struggles, see our earlier piece: Kodak Faces the Fade Out – Is This the Remaining Name?
From Remjet to AHU
Remjet has been a part of Kodak shares for almost a century, defending in opposition to halation, scratches, and static. But it surely additionally attracted dust and required additional water and power to take away throughout processing. Kodak’s reply is the brand new AHU design: a everlasting anti static and scratch resistant bottom layer plus a protecting undercoat beneath the emulsion that washes away throughout improvement.
Unprocessed AHU inventory appears to be like totally different, shiny darkish brown as an alternative of remjet’s matte black, however as soon as processed, efficiency is identical. The replace will roll out throughout all VISION3 staples: 500T, 200T, 250D, and 50D, in codecs from Tremendous 8 to 65mm.
Behind the scenes within the movie processing lab at Fotocinema, Rome | Picture supply: Kodak
Kodak VISION3: what filmmakers and labs achieve
For filmmakers, the transition is seamless. The look of VISION3 stays the identical, however outcomes are cleaner, with higher safety in opposition to mud and halation. Labs in the meantime save water and power, since remjet removing is not a part of the bathtub sequence.
Particular person holding digicam movie | Picture credit score: Luriko Yamaguchi Pexels
Movie vs digital
Digital retains climbing with new sensors and codecs, whereas Kodak’s replace is about refining movie for as we speak’s workflows. Efficiency and sensitometry are unchanged, AHU and remjet shares could be blended, and the brand new anti static layer ought to result in cleaner scans.
Display screen seize of Kodak’s “Shot on Movie” Web page
The hassle would possibly seem to be overkill. David Lynch as soon as known as movie “a dinosaur” and instructed that digital was simpler and superior. However usually that very complexity is what delivers a glance individuals nonetheless chase. If you wish to see what’s being made on movie as we speak, Kodak retains a listing right here: Shot on Movie.
For extra on how movie compares with digital proper now, try Movie vs Digital in 2025.
Backside line
Kodak has simplified their movie construction, minimize down on lab complexity, and saved the VISION3 look intact. It’s a small however significant replace, proof that movie remains to be evolving at the same time as digital dominates many of the dialog.
Do you assume motion pictures look higher when they’re shot on movie inventory, or do you like the digital look? Depart your ideas within the feedback under.
