Technicolor Process Number I
The first Technicolor process was known as the two-strip color additive process. The film was developed from a negative to a positive, which then produces a black and white image. The color was “added” by colored filters on the double projectors. The two color filters used were green and red.
Above is an example of a black and white negative which when developed becomes a black and white image.
Technicolor originated in Boston. They built a railroad car that acted as a portable lab. The portable lab was built to have the qualities of a stationary lab, the ability to develop negatives and make positive black and white prints. Technicolor used the motion picture The Gulf Between to test out their first process. The lab travelled to Florida from Boston to film the movie. The movie premiered on September 21, 1917 in New York City.8 The film was not a sucess. The double projector used to show the film in color, needed to be operated by a skilled projectionist. The projector created color fringing which was displeasing to the eye and so it was back to the drawing board to create a better way to view movies in color. They wanted to get rid of the color fringing and make standard projection equipment and procedues, so that the public would enjoy watching a colored movie.9