a quest for opaque material

[BrianShaw]

I wish I could shim like my sister Kate....as the olde song goes.

I odn't know that one; can you hum a few bars?

 

[David Lyga]

David, bless ya, I think you get into as many projects as I do.

Yeah, but I will bet that yours manage to succeed at a higher rate. (You should see my graveyard of parts cameras: I could be arrested for murder!)

I have a heartfelt thank you for all these amazing responses, some of which I feel I might have even overtaxed my right to intrude upon their generosity.

snapguy: I had never thought of googling '35mm leader stock' and now I will.

It just goes to show that, sometimes. obsession can lead to fewer results than slow, careful investigation. I overlooked the obvious. Again, thanks to all. - David Lyga

 

[RalphLambrecht]

where does one get rubilith?I went to Michaels and they looked at me like caddle at a new fence post

 

[John Koehrer]

Graphic supply house. Or Amazon(maybe)?

 

[MattKing]

where does one get rubilith?I went to Michaels and they looked at me like caddle at a new fence post

Dick Blick's Artist supplies: http://www.dickblick.com/products/ulano-rubylith-masking-film/

 

[Truzi]

snapguy: I had never thought of googling '35mm leader stock' and now I will.

It just goes to show that, sometimes. obsession can lead to fewer results than slow, careful investigation. I overlooked the obvious. Again, thanks to all. - David Lyga

In this case, obsession can leader to fewer results

Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[David Lyga]

Not good, Truzi. - David Lyga

 

[RalphLambrecht]

some film ,fully exposed and developcan get a density up to 4.0 or above.that is virtually opaqueand satisfies your other criteria too;in fact,itmight be identicaltoyourleader material,

 

[yulia_s_rey]

Just a quick thought, what about gaffer's tape?

 

[SMBooth]

Buy a old Kiev 88 and take out the metal shutter .

 

[David Lyga]

yurisrey: I do not think that Gaffer's tape is fully opaque. My test is to shine a flashlight next to one side and observe the other side in a darkened room. If you can see the light from the flashlight it is not opaque. - David Lyga

 

[E. von Hoegh]

The problem is not finding opaque materials, but choosing from what's available.

From: http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&ke...vptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_25rt4lknic_b
To:
http://www.keithcompany.com/heat-treat-foils-and-tool-wraps.html

 

[yulia_s_rey]

yurisrey: I do not think that Gaffer's tape is fully opaque. My test is to shine a flashlight next to one side and observe the other side in a darkened room. If you can see the light from the flashlight it is not opaque. - David Lyga

I just did the test you indicated and I was surprised, somehow in film school we were always told it's "lightproof" and now I see that it isn't. It kind of blew my mind as gaffer's tape in the industry is considered to have magical properties and able to just about do anything from preventing light leaks in matte boxes to holding up Princess Lea's boobs.
Black foil is what you need, otherwise known as black wrap, I think it was mentioned on this thread previously, but I didn't see a link to a supplier, check out SLD in Manhattan:

http://www.sldlighting.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=38&cat=Black+Foil

15" x 50' for less than $30.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

David, you might take a look at this site:

http://www.rosco.com/filters/cinegel.cfm?CategoryID=33#C3840

I found filter materials that have very low transmission levels such as:

4%: Cinegel #2008: VS Indigo

3%: Cinegel #2009: VS Violet

2%: Cinelux #59: Indigo

If that's not opaque enough you could query them for a recommendation or they may even make up something to do the job, once they know your specs.

There seems to be some fundamental confusion at work here. A material is either opaque or not - no degrees of opacity; "opaque" means "impenetrable to light" .

 

[E. von Hoegh]

E. I'll grant you that but I intended it in the broad sense of the definition.

Full Definition of OPACITY:
the quality or state of a body that makes it impervious to the rays of light;
broadly : the relative capacity of matter to obstruct the transmission of radiant energy.

And if you broaden the definition sufficiently, the word means absolutely nothing.

We're using it here in a technical sense, and that is very specific. Manufacturers use this definition, too, in their packaging for items like film.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opacity_(optics)

 

[Maris]

When I want bits of thin but absolutely opaque pieces of metal I cut up beer cans (have a few on hand) with scissors. This thin aluminium is useful for drilling pinholes into, shim stock, or masking neg carriers. And if I run out of it further samples are readily available.

 

[David Lyga]

both yurisrey and von Hoegh: True, opaque is opaque and that's that. Loose definitions where one foregoes the very etymology of the word have unfortunately crept into the English language (or, more accurately, the American culture). But, frustratingly, opaque's etymology evinces simply 'darkened or shaded', (still allowing light to leak through!!!) However, its current definition mandates an 'impenetrability' of light.

Just because it LOOKS black does not mean that it is opaque. Looking at a material reflecting light is a lot different than looking through that material with a light bulb on the other side. THAT is the real test.

Maris, your solution is worth thinking about. Aluminum cans are able to be cut with standard scissors and the metal is stable and sufficiently rigid. - David Lyga

 

[paladin1420]

Not sure if this is what you're looking for, but I've been shooting instant film recently and each new cartridge comes with a black slide sheet the size of the film. Impossible film comes with a slide that is heavy cardboard, and the Fuji Instax comes with a pretty sturdy plastic dark slide. I assume that either is opaque. The Fuji seems a bit tougher and might be easier to cut or bend.