Film Types
Countless film stocks were available in 16mm, from plain orthochromatic to the lenticular Kodacolor.
Kodak Safety Film (1923)
The original 16mm safety film, first released by Kodak in May of 1923. This film was considered “orthochromatic”, which were only sensitive to blue/blue-green light, leading yellow and red tones to appear very dark.
Known as type 5204.
Kodak Safety Film (1928)
Finally available in 16mm by 1928, Kodak’s Panchromatic Safety Film allowed for equal sensitivity to reds, greens, and blues, allowing for a more predictable and true-to-life image.
Known as type 5255.
Kodak Kodacolor Film (1928)
The first available color home-movie film, Kodacolor actually has no color present on the film. The film is shot with a three-color RGB filter over the lens, and while projecting, re-constructing the color image by shining light through ~240 vertical lenses debossed into the film. I am currently working on a software program to allow easy digitization of this film.
References
Mees, C. E. Kenneth. “History of Professional Black-and-White Motion-Picture Film.” Journal of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, vol. 63, no. 4, Oct. 1954, p. 136 https://archive.org/details/sim_smpte-motion-imaging-journal_1954-10_63_4/page/136/