In Techniscope II, the film was only A rolled with two frames waste on
each side of the cut, which was made by stopping the optical printer
camera and advancing the projector 4 frames and then restarting both.
Dissolves could also be overlapped via this method without generation
gain.
This would coincide with "Selective Printing", which was also available
for other processes.
I have previously described this innovative process, which was later
aped by DeLuxe and others.
Yes, the neg is A-rolled.
The neg generally runs in a heads to tails direction, as does the intermediate.
However, the two are not absolutely linked in lock-step.
Either can be shuttled backwards and forwards as is necessary to effect
a fade or dissolve, or for other purposes.
Indeed, some sections of the A-roll can be auto-skipped, so that
alternate versions can be accommodated on a single roll (examples:
multiple language titles; alternate takes for certain jurisdictions).
Implicit in this process is a very fast and responsive light valve,
which is capable of zero-cutting.
Clearly, for Techniscope, "handles" must be placed either side of a
cut, lest the cut be visible.
It has been my observation that there was little attempt to do the same
for 'Scope, although 'Scope cuts are easily visible on a fully cut
plate, or on many TV transfers.
No "handles" are required for Academy or Super-35, or for any other
process which doesn't embrace the entire frame.