n.the transfer of magnetic properties from one layer of audiotape or videotape to another, resulting in imprintingPorter 1964, 334The degrading effects of print-through on tape are more difficult to prevent. They can be kept within acceptable limits by selecting high-quality tape with a thick 1½-mil base, recording at lower volume levels, and avoiding high temperatures. The cumulative effects of print-through can also be limited by regular inspection and rewinding.Wagner 1969, 126Videotape recordings are likely to prove even more unstable than silver photographic images. Magnetic oxide coatings are subject to flaking, degaussing, and print-through.Nelson 1971, 81The type of tape to be used was also given extensive study. In view of archival storage quality, it was decided to use only 1.5 mil polyester, low-print-through, Scotch Brand 3M #202—or comparable—tape.McWilliams 1979, 87A major problem with the magnetic-tape medium is the phenomenon called print-through. Print-through occurs when one layer of tape transmits some of its magnetic information to an adjacent layer of tape. Print-through is a function of several variables, including tape tension, tape coercivity, tape thickness, and temperature. When 1.5-mil tape is handled at normal tension, print-through will be minimized. High-coercivity tape (metal-particle tape) will also minimize it. Finally, temperature, both in storage and handling, must be kept within limits, or print-through will be significantly increased.Holland 1990, 29–30Tape has developed into a fairly long-term and reliable magnetic storage medium. Fresh tapes routinely last as long as ten years with proper care and storage, without loss of data due to print-through, magnetic fading, or spontaneous magnetic reversion.Stielow 1992, 342, fn. 27The problems in communicating preservation advances to the practitioners and the frequent delays in publishing basic findings are at once intriguing and vexatious. Some examples of “folkloric” wisdom just now emerging for analog recordings include the rapid forwarding of stored audiotapes prior to replay, which in some way reduces print-through, and the temporary restoration for immediate recopying of faded or separating tapes by baking at a constant 130° Fahrenheit in a convection oven.3M 1994, 1There are a few steps you can take to minimize print-through. The most common is to store your tape tails out. Normally, the outer layers of tape from the printing signal will receive more print-through than the inner layers, since the signal must reach the top of the oxide coating to be noticeable.Haynes, Kaid, and Rand 1996, 52The items are played and rewound at least once because of their duplication on reference copies. Specific afflictions caused by the inherent composition of videotape such as print-through, shedding, adhesion, stiction, cinching, stretching, and shrinkage are to be addressed in the next phase by improving the storage conditions.
Notes
The copying produced by print-through results in preprint (also called pre-echo) when the print-through signal precedes the recorded signal or postprint (post-echo) when the print-through signal follows the recorded signal.
