A PROPOSAL INCLUDING PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS FOR A NEW CONCEPT IN AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE FILM PROCESSING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP33-02415A000500120034-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 13, 2001
• Sequence Number: 34
• Content Type: REPORT

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A PROPOSAL
INCLUDING PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS
FOR A NEW CONCEPT
IN
AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE FILM PROCESSING
for the past twenty years shows that there have been some very impressive
system advances both to improve the quality of the product and to keep
pace with other related technological improvements. Considering the
camera platform (whether aircraft or some other vehicle) the camera
fi4m -c; ~~ and the processing technology all as a complete system
cycle, I continue to note one serious and continuous shortcoming. This
is in the film processing methods which have not significantly changed
since the invention of the flexible nitrate film base to replace glass plates.
Essentially, V. present processes are "wet" processes. They require
the mixing of chemicals, complicated machines, skilled personnel and
large quantities of water and power.
opP ra ti nn = v,alved-- +e produeti-en -o?-duplicate s.
The reason, in my opinion, for slow advances in processing tech-
nology is principally that no one has been successful in identifying the
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r specific problem areas and following through to find a solutioxnto these
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problems. This proposal is an attempt to identify the most significant
problems in film processing and offer new concept which could be a
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solution to these problems.
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The Problems:
Presently, aircraft reconnaissance detachments can be deployed
on short notice to cover almost any area of the world. The movement
of such detachment, its support equipment and personnel takes some
time and from a logistics standpoint would appear to be the long time
increment of the whole cycle noted above. However, frequently the
detachment can be in place in a shorter time than it takes to transport,
process, and deliver the film to the consumer, particularly when the
processing site is remote from the forward reconnaissance base. Even
when a processing laboratory is established overseas it becomes a
semi-fixed installation at bestrequiring buildings to be built or modi-
fied, procurement of electric power, a large source of fresh, near pure
i
water and chnically trained personnel to accomplish the pro-
cessing. When trailers are used there is still the problem of water,
chemicals, power and trained personnel. Thus, a statement of the
problem:
1. How can a film processing system be devised whic is highly
mobile (transportableuses little or now water, a fraction of the
normal ower requir~ ents and no highly trained processing personnel
-
2. Can such a roce s sing s ste maintain the volume, quality lve4k
as 1rl A-~f a'permanently fixed overseas processing facility
2
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These are only two questions incorporating manifold problems and
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together would appear to require revolutionary techniques to accomplish,
however, I feel that most of the problems can be solved with "off the
shelf" items and the others by employing recent "state of the art"
25X1A developments,all put together in proper sequence and physical layout.
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v Y io LIJ64 film processing laboratory.
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historically the problem wi 11 remain as it has in the past. The human
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element is too prevalent in today's processing and we still see
ha din anning and equipping an
The personnel problems are still
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serious service-wide for manning a lab with competent personnel and
failures in.e processing techniques mostly as a result of human error
but to some degree a failure of overly complicated processing equipment.
with
detailed preliminary specif ications, and his technicians
worked on the problems item by item. We critiqued some of the solutions
vvJ 4 ads 4c
provided by a&dAwork continued at Eastman in an attempt to meet
all the specifications. At the invitation of I recently visited
Eastman taking along for technical advice. The meeting
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Having identified the problem$to and having provided him
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at Eastman was very encouraging and we a#e ~ccl that the
major problems have now.been solved.
6uIl-
Attached is a draft of a proposal with specifications. Details of
this specification paper have been attacked on an item by item basis
and I am now convinced that the specifications can be me There are
some revolutionary techniques involved, but Kodak developed
materials which are unique for this processor system and I have seen the
system elements operate i An prototype with not only interesting but
photo lab installation at Tan Son Nhut where large quantities of polluted
exciting results.
The advantages of this processing concept are covered generally
in the system description which follows; however, the impact of such a
system on the reconnaissance business (not to mention other uses) is
only limited by the imagination. One prime example is the consideration
for use aboard an aircraft carrier where frequently over half the ship's 1,
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fresh water supply is used by the photo lab;; another is the
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for use in the lab. The system obviously has exceptional merit for
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OSA operations. ~k (W4dL " 1 , 1 Owtt~ 11
water are hauled by a tank truck from the river to settling tanks then
filtered through a mass of frequently replaced filters to a storage tank
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Recommendation:
That the Deputy Director for Science and Technology investigate
this proposal, validate the specifications, and if proven consider
requesting NRO to review the concept and proposal with the idea in
mind of DD/ S&T managing the development
and production of the
prototypes. N~i~ ~(`'~`^^^^ q
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Some attention has been pail. to BIMAT for the processing
of original negatives. This is a diffusion transfer process
in which chemicals carried by one film base are brought in
contact with the exposed but unprocessed negative. This
results in a rapid "dry" development of the negative. Further,
it is possible, under some conditions, to obtain a "usable"
positive from the BIMAT film. Both the camera film and the
BIMAT film are sticky and have a limited life without further
treatment. In fact, they require further treatment before
they can be used for viewing, printing, etc. Some
alleviation of these problems has been accomplished
by covering the BIMAT film (when it is useful as a
positive) with a thin clear sheet which will adhere to
the sticky surface. The life of such cover-sheeted
film is still quite short. The same technique
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cannot be applied to the negative without preventing it from being used
for further reproduction in contact printers. And the life remains short.
Therefore, BIMAT has not attained great popularity since it still
requires additional conventional equipment to extend its life and to permit
reproduction. Nevertheless, attempts have been made to adopt it for
such problems as gun camera films, the Morepix program etc. , where
short lengths of narrow films are involved which do not require a long
life or multiple reproduction, (or where subsequent treatment is
acceptable).
A*eeaay two additional components have been developed which
can be used in conjunction with BIMAT and which, when used in conjunction
with proper equipment, provide all the elements of a complete "dry"
system for the processing and multi-reproduction of long lengths of any
width film up to 9-1/2 inches. These two components are currently
termed DRIMAT and DESIMAT.
DRIMAT is a chemically coated film which exhibits low covering
power, i. e. , there is little or no density developed in those areas in
contact with low density areas of the film bein g processed. (This is
the opposite of BIMAT). This makes it ideal for the production of
printed duplicates since the DRIMAT acts simultaneously as a developing
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agent and as a cover sheet. It could be used equally as well to process
camera films where limited life is acceptable and reproduction is not
required. Since the chemicals remain in the emulsion, deterioration
of the image with time must be expected. We have, however, DRIMAT
processed samples which have been maintained at 79-750 F for five
months without loss of contained information (they do have a distinct
yellowish cast). The product is too new to permit us to state probable
useful life under other temperature and/or humidity conditions.
DESIMAT, the other new component, is a chemically treated
absorbent tape which acts as a blotter to remove the water (and some
salts) from BIMAT processed films. It leave them dry, clean and
without stickiness. Films so treated can be handled in printers, viewers,
etc. , just as are conventionally processed films. Such DESIMAT treated
films are not archival in keeping quality. They can be rendered so by
washing and drying at a later date - several months later under normal
conditions.
The machines required for this BIMAT - DRIMAT - DESIMAT
system are simple, compact machines similar in many respects to a
continuous contact printer. In fact, the DRIMAT can be applied using a
modified printer, thus, combining a printer and processor in one machine.
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Let's look at the advantages of such a system.
1. No local chemical mixing required. The materials can
be prepared at any centralized location where facilities and skills are
available. Transportation of bulky chemicals is eliminated.
2. Required equipment is compact and simple. Machines
operating at 100 fpm or faster occupy less floor space than a conventional
desk. Very little instruction in their use is required. A high degree of
training and/or skill in photo- science e not required.
3. Machines are versatile. One machine can be made to
apply BIMAT, DRIMAT and DESIMAT. In effect, one machine, plus one
printer is a complete processing lab.
4. Maintenance is low. There are few parts to corrode, wear,
or become misaligned.
5. The processes are relatively independent of ambient and
time. Close control of ambient temperature and humidity is not required.
Hence, air-conditioning can be simple. Since the processes go to
completion, time between operations is not critical (beyond a minimum).
6. Water requirements are extremely low. To insure con-
tact of the film and the DESIMAT tape, the film surface is dampened.
This requires about one gallon per 1000 square feet of film. As a.
corollary, no sewers are needed.
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7. Power requirements are low. Conventional equipment
requires considerable power to drive many rollers and to pump
chemicals. Even more is required to heat air for drying the film. These
conditions are eliminated or minimized in this system.
8. Independent of base facilities. Since little water and
power and no sewers are needed, operation can be achieved almost
anywhere by adding a small engine-generator.
9. Air transportable in a ready-to-use condition. All of
the above add up to a layout which can be placed in a trailer or hut
which is easily transported intact in conventional (C-130, C-141) cargo
aircraft.
10. Low spare parts requirements. Since the machines are
simple and use many parts in common, the spare parts support is greatly
simplified.
11. Quality of the original negative is at least as good as
that now produced by the best military field laboratories.
While they by no means offset the advantages, there are a few
disadvantages to the proposed system.
1. Three new materials have been introduced. BIMAT,
DRIMAT and DESIMAT can be likened to the other two films (camera
and duplicating) in the system. In fact, it is not only desirable, but
essential that BIMAT and DRIMAT be kept at a constant low (50? F or
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or lower) temperature from manufacture until just before use. We
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envision this as the transport of a small completely stocked
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