Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v3 - Senior Secondary 3
Film Making
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Film Making
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Subject: Printing Craft Practice
Class: Senior Secondary 3
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 5
Theme: Lithography( Process Camera Work 2)
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prepare for film exposure. identify different films by the ir characteristics. develop a black and white film or line negative film.
Phase 1: Introduction and Engagement (10 minutes)
Teacher Activity: Introduce the topic "Film Making" within the context of pre-press operations in printing. Ask students what they think "film" refers to in printing and its purpose. Relate it to everyday printed materials they encounter (newspapers, book covers, product labels). Briefly state the learning objectives for the lesson.
Student Activity: Participate in a brief discussion, sharing initial ideas on film in printing. Listen attentively and note down the lesson objectives.
Phase 2: Key Concepts Explanation and Discussion (30 minutes)
Teacher Activity: Preparing for Film Exposure: Explain the critical role of a darkroom, detailing requirements (darkness, safelight, cleanliness, temperature). Use visual aids (diagrams of darkroom setup, types of safelights). List and explain the materials and equipment needed (artwork, film, contact frame, light source). Guide students on proper artwork and film handling, emphasizing cleanliness and emulsion side identification.
Identifying Different Films: Explain various film characteristics: speed (ISO), contrast (hard/soft), colour sensitivity (ortho, panchromatic, lith film), resolution/grain, base material, size, and emulsion type. Show actual samples of different films if available, or clear images, asking students to identify distinguishing features. Use examples relevant to Nigerian printing tasks to illustrate when each type of film would be used.
Student Activity: Listen to explanations, take detailed notes, and ask clarifying questions. Examine film samples (if provided) and discuss observable differences. Engage in a Q&A session on darkroom setup and film characteristics.
Phase 3: Practical Demonstration/Simulation of Film Development (40 minutes)
Teacher Activity: Pre-demonstration: Review safety precautions for handling chemicals.
Step-by-step Demonstration: Set up three trays labelled "Developer," "Stop Bath," and "Fixer" (and a fourth for wash). Explain and demonstrate the mixing of chemicals (if feasible, otherwise explain the process).
Crucially: Simulate the entire development process using an exposed (or mock-exposed) piece of film.
Walk students through each step: pre-wetting, developing (emphasize time and agitation), stopping, fixing (mention light-safe point), washing, and drying (squeegee, hanging). Explain the purpose of each chemical and the importance of precise timing and temperature. Emphasize proper film handling (e.g., holding by edges) throughout the process. Use a timer visibly during the demonstration. Encourage questions throughout the demonstration.
Student Activity: Observe the demonstration closely, taking notes on each step and chemical used. Ask questions about the procedure, timing, and safety. Mentally follow the sequence of operations.
Phase 4: Guided Practice and Consolidation (20 minutes)
Teacher Activity: Lead a discussion to recap the key steps of film development. Pose guided practice questions to check understanding of all three performance objectives. Provide immediate feedback and clarify misconceptions.
Student Activity: Answer guided questions individually or in small groups. Discuss answers with peers and the teacher. Correct their notes based on feedback.
Phase 5: Conclusion and Assignment (5 minutes)
Teacher Activity: Summarize the main points of the lesson. Assign independent practice questions as homework. Briefly introduce the next topic if applicable.
Student Activity: Listen to the summary. Copy down homework questions. --- Question 1 (Preparing for Film Exposure): A printing student in Lagos wants to prepare a darkroom for exposing a line negative film. List three essential environmental conditions or safety requirements that must be met before starting the exposure process.
Solution 1: Absolute Darkness: The darkroom must be completely free of any white light leaks to prevent premature exposure or fogging of the light-sensitive film.
Safelight: A red safelight must be installed and functioning correctly, positioned at a safe distance (e.g., 1.2 meters) from the working area, as line negative films are typically orthochromatic (insensitive to red light).
Cleanliness: The darkroom surfaces, particularly the contact frame and film holders, must be meticulously clean and dust-free to avoid artifacts (spots or pinholes) on the exposed film. (
Commentary: This question assesses the understanding of initial setup requirements for film exposure, emphasizing environmental control and safety.)
Question 2 (Identifying Different Films): A graphic designer in Abuja needs to choose a film for two different printing tasks: (a) Reproducing a sharp, black-and-white company logo and text for a business card. (b) Reproducing a continuous-tone photograph of a Nigerian cultural festival for a magazine cover. For each task, recommend a suitable type of film based on its characteristics and justify your choice.
Solution 2: (a)
For the company logo and text: Recommended Film: Lith film (or high-contrast graphic arts film).
Justification: Lith films are specifically designed for line art. They produce extremely high contrast, yielding only dense blacks and clear whites, which is ideal for sharp edges, text, and logos without any mid-tones. They are also typically orthochromatic, allowing for safelight handling. (b)
For the continuous-tone photograph: Recommended Film: Continuous-tone film or a halftone film.
Justification: Continuous-tone films are sensitive to a full range of tonal values (shades of grey) and are suitable for reproducing photographs. If the printing process requires a halftone, a halftone film would be used to convert the continuous tone into a series of dots, mimicking the grey scale. Panchromatic films might be used for their full colour sensitivity if the original photo has colour, though for black and white output, a panchromatic continuous tone film would capture the nuances of shades effectively. (
Commentary: This question tests the ability to differentiate films based on their contrast and colour sensitivity, applying the knowledge to real-world printing scenarios.) Question 3 (Developing a Black and White Film): Outline the correct sequence of chemical processing steps for developing a black and white line negative film, starting from placing the exposed film in the first chemical and ending before drying. For each step, briefly state the purpose of the chemical used.
Solution 3: Pre-wetting (Optional but recommended): Place film in plain water for 30-60 seconds.
Purpose: Softens the emulsion for even chemical absorption and helps prevent streaks.
Developing: Transfer film to the Developer solution.
Purpose: Converts the exposed silver halide crystals into visible metallic silver, forming the latent image.
Stopping: Transfer film to the Stop Bath solution.
Purpose: An acidic solution that neutralizes the alkaline developer, immediately halting the developing action and preventing contamination of the fixer.
Fixing: Transfer film to the Fixer solution.
Purpose: Dissolves and removes all unexposed silver halide crystals from the film, making the image permanent and light-safe.
Washing: Transfer film to running water (or wash tank).
Purpose: Removes all residual processing chemicals (developer, stop, fixer) from the film to ensure archival stability and prevent degradation over time. (A wash aid can be used before the final wash to speed up this process). (
Commentary: This question assesses procedural knowledge, requiring students to recall the correct sequence of operations and the function of each chemical in the development process.) --- Differentiation: Group Work: Divide students into mixed-ability groups for discussion activities. Encourage stronger students to guide weaker ones during tasks like identifying film characteristics or sequencing development steps.
Visual Aids: Utilize a variety of visual aids, including actual film samples, darkroom diagrams, and video demonstrations, to cater to different learning styles (visual, kinesthetic, auditory).
Remediation for Struggling Learners: Simplified Diagrams and Flowcharts: Provide learners with simplified, step-by-step diagrams or flowcharts outlining the film development process and key darkroom setup procedures.
Glossary of Terms: Furnish a glossary of key terms (e.g., emulsion, safelight, orthochromatic, agitation, fixer) with clear, concise definitions in simple language, possibly translated into local dialects for better comprehension if necessary.
Peer Tutoring: Pair struggling learners with high-achieving students for one-on-one explanations and clarification of concepts.
Repetitive Practice: Offer additional, simpler questions or worksheets focusing on identification of film types and the correct sequence of development steps, providing immediate feedback.
Re-demonstration: If possible, offer a small-group re-demonstration of the film development process, allowing them to ask questions in a less intimidating environment.
Extension for High-Achieving Learners: Research Project: Assign a research project on the evolution of pre-press technology, specifically focusing on the transition from film-based processes to digital Computer-to-Plate (CTP) systems. Students can investigate the advantages and disadvantages of CTP compared to traditional film making, considering its impact on the Nigerian printing industry (e.g., efficiency, cost, environmental benefits).
Advanced Darkroom Techniques: If resources permit, introduce concepts of advanced darkroom techniques such as dodging and burning, or explore the process of making halftone films from continuous-tone originals.
Entrepreneurial Study: Task students to conduct a mini-feasibility study for setting up a small pre-press studio in their local community, detailing equipment needs, potential services, and target clientele, considering the role of film making. Film exposure is the process of subjecting a light-sensitive film to light to record an image. Proper preparation is critical for achieving high-quality results.
Darkroom Requirements: Absolute Darkness: The darkroom must be completely light-tight to prevent unwanted exposure (fogging) of the film. Any light leaks must be sealed.
Safelight: A specialized light source that emits light in a spectrum to which the film is largely insensitive. For most black and white (orthochromatic) line films, a red safelight filter (e.g., Kodak Wratten OA or OC) is suitable. Panchromatic films require total darkness. The safelight should be positioned at a safe distance (at least 1.2 meters) from the working area.
Cleanliness: The darkroom must be dust-free. Dust particles can settle on the film or artwork, causing spots or defects during exposure and development. Surfaces should be wiped regularly.
Temperature and Humidity Control: Ideal darkroom temperature is typically around 20-24°C, and humidity should be moderate. Extreme conditions can affect chemical activity and film handling.
Ventilation: Essential for safety, as chemical fumes can be harmful. A good ventilation system is necessary.
Materials and Equipment: Original Artwork/Transparency: The image to be reproduced (e.g., line drawing, text, photographic print) must be clean, sharp, and high-contrast. For contact printing, it should be a transparent positive or negative.
Photographic Film: The unexposed film, chosen based on the type of artwork and desired output (e.g., lith film for line art).
Contact Frame/Vacuum Frame: Used to hold the artwork and film in intimate contact during exposure, ensuring sharpness. A vacuum frame is preferred for larger formats to eliminate air pockets.
Light Source: A controlled light source with consistent intensity and colour temperature (e.g., quartz-halogen lamp, fluorescent tubes, point source lamp). The distance and duration of exposure are critical. Densitometer/Sensitometer (Optional but recommended): A densitometer measures the density (light-blocking ability) of film or paper. A sensitometer is used to test film sensitivity and development parameters.
Scissors/Trimmer: For cutting film to size.
Gloves: To protect hands from chemicals and prevent fingerprints on film.
Artwork Preparation: Cleanliness: The original artwork must be meticulously clean and free from dust, smudges, or scratches. Use a soft brush or compressed air.
Opacity: For line work, the black areas must be opaque and the white areas transparent (if using a transparency) to allow for clear light transmission differences.
Registration Marks: For multi-colour jobs, registration marks (e.g., crosses) should be present on the artwork to ensure accurate alignment of subsequent films/plates.
Proofreading: Ensure all text is correct and free of errors.
Film Handling: Light Sensitivity: Film is light-sensitive. Always handle it in appropriate darkroom conditions (total darkness or under safelight).
Emulsion Side: The light-sensitive layer (emulsion) is usually duller than the shiny base side. It is the side that faces the artwork during exposure. Handling should minimize touching the emulsion.
Storage: Unexposed film should be stored in a cool, dry place, away from light and chemical fumes, and within its expiry date.
Local Printing Businesses: The skills learned in film making are directly applicable in small to medium-scale printing presses found in virtually every city and town in Nigeria. These businesses often use traditional offset lithography, where film negatives/positives are essential for creating printing plates. Students can envision themselves working in such establishments, producing films for flyers, wedding invitations, posters, and product labels for local entrepreneurs.
Publishing Industry: Nigeria has a vibrant publishing industry, producing textbooks, novels, and magazines. Understanding film making is crucial for the pre-press departments of publishing houses, ensuring the accurate reproduction of text, illustrations, and photographs in printed materials. Students can see the direct relevance to the production of educational resources and cultural content consumed nationwide.
Advertising and Design Agencies: Many advertising and graphic design firms, especially those dealing with print media, still interact with the film stage of production. Knowledge of film characteristics helps designers prepare artwork that is optimally suited for film output, ensuring high-quality final printed materials for clients promoting products or services across Nigeria. This links directly to the creative industries and marketing sector. ---