telecine
electronics
Quick Summary
Telecine is equipment or a process used to transfer motion pictures to videotape or convert them into television images. This is a crucial part of television broadcasting, the video rental market, and home movie production.123
There are two main types of telecine projectors:
- Intermittent Projector: Similar to theater projectors, each film frame is held stationary while light flashes through it, converting it into a video signal. The timing of these flashes is synchronized with the television's scanning rate.2
- Continuous Projector: This type uses a scanning spot that moves with the film as it passes continuously through the projector. An optical system called an immobilizer ensures the scanning pattern follows the film frame, allowing for a consistent video signal even as the film moves.3
The film is typically projected at 24 frames per second, and telecine systems adjust this to match television scanning rates (25 or 30 frames per second) to maintain accurate motion and sound pitch.23
Summary created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
3 Britannica Sources
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
