Ilford barcode edge markings

[ericdan]

what are the barcode-like markings on the edge of Ilford films intended for?

I thought these are for machines that process color negative film.
Are there any machines that processs black and white film and use this code?

 

[AgX]

For an automated printer.
It tells the printing machine 1. that the film is b&W and 2. whether the image is based on metalic silver or dye.

I dislike these codings. I want a pure old-style coding.

 

[ericdan]

I see. So automated printers only work with Ilford B&W film then I guess. As far as i know it’s the only film with this code.
I’ve also never seen such a printer.

 

[MattKing]

I see. So automated printers only work with Ilford B&W film then I guess. As far as i know it’s the only film with this code.
I’ve also never seen such a printer.

The automated printers will work with other films, it is just that some of them were designed hand in hand with Ilford to take advantage of the bar codes.
There used to be commercial labs that processed and printed high volume black and white.

 

[Arctic amateur]

Harman (Ilford UK) has its own lab service. It's probably useful for them. https://www.harmanlab.com/

 

[ericdan]

Thanks Matt. In other words obsolete now.

 

[Agulliver]

Well no....not obsolete... still used by the labs offering B&W D+P service, including Ilford/Harman's own.

 

[AgX]

I doubt Ilford would need those barcode for their printing machine.
But those printing b&w films on their RA-4 printers.