Importance

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Abstract

A photographic optical system for substantially eliminating non-contact interference fringes in a photographic film comprises: (a) a source of polarized electromagnetic radiation, the radiation being characterized by a wavelength and an incident polarization angle; and (b) a photographic film capable of optical communication with the source and serving to transmit or reflect a portion of the radiation, the film comprising a silver halide emulsion layer on a birefringent support, the support being characterized by a thickness, an emulsion layer interface, an air interface, and birefringence that is dependent on the wavelength of the radiation; wherein the radiation wavelength and incident polarization angle and the support thickness and birefringence are selected such that radiation which penetrates the film and reflects from the air interface exits the support at the emulsion layer interface polarized at an angle substantially perpendicular to the incident polarization angle; whereby the photographic film may be imaged by the source of polarized electromagnetic radiation substantially without formation of non-contact interference fringes. In a process for eliminating non-contact interference fringes, a film that includes a support having a selected thickness and birefringence is exposed by polarized light characterized by a wavelength and an incident polarization angle. Photographic development processing of the exposed film produces an image substantially without fringes.

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First Claim