NEW - 8mm 4K/2K Full HD Film Transfer

Capturing memories using Standard or Super 8mm cine film was a very popular format throughout the 1950's, 60's, 70's and early 80's.

Many people still have old 8mm cine film stored away and no equipment left to view them on, memories that still exist on cine film can be enjoyed by the new generations within the family by transferring the images over to stable formats like DVD or Blu-ray Video Disc, which can offer up to 100 years of storage capability. (information based on disc manufacturers statements).

However, the process of copying film is not that simple, people often try using their camcorders which produces very poor results, mainly because the camcorder does not have the capability to scan the film at the correct frame rate which ultimately produces "flicker" or serious image softening. Often film is copied using mirrors or "Copy Boxes" which most certainly produces very poor results, with uneven dark-shaded edges to the picture caused by the "hotspot" of the projector lamp that is used to backlight the film itself.

MIRAGE DIGISCAN HD 4K/2KFILM SCANNING SYSTEM

The Mirage DigiScan HD machine is a Custom Built 4K/2K High Definition 8mm "Frame by Fame" Film Scanner which scans the film at almost four times higher resolution than the current HD format and converts the final output of the video data to 2K Full HD images. Each and every frame on the film is copied individually which is what we call "Frame by Frame" Scanning and these are then processed by high technology computer software for sharp, clear, flicker free images.

FULL FRAME SCANNING TECHNOLOGY

The actual shape of the images from Standard and Super 8 film are wider than those found on our now older 4:3 television standard, but not as wide as a Widescreen television picture. Companies that capture film using 4:3 cameras often lose some of the edges and titling which (as previously mentioned) is expected using this kind of format. Also what is often not realised is that film projectors too mask the film image through the gate and again not showing the full extent of the original exposed film.

The Mirage Digiscan HD machine has a purposely enlarged gate to reveal all of the film image during the scanning process and this shows you more of the original film frame than that ever seen before during projection. This is achieved by fitting the scanned images into a 16:9 Widescreen aspect video image and masking out the film sprocket holes from the picture retaining as much image information as is possible using what is known as "Pillarboxing" in other words adding black bands down each side of the picture as a masking system with your more detailed film image placed centrally on the screen.

WHY SCAN THE FILM IN 4K RESOLUTION?

Even 8mm film produces images in higher resolution than SD (Standard Definition) pictures and is only limited by the film grain and the actual quality of the original exposure and camera used. Both Standard and Super 8mm Film has an equivalent line resolution of between 300 to 600 lines. Scanning your film in SD (Standard Definition) only allows it to be scanned at around 500 to 625 lines using the PAL (Phase Alternate Line) format, but this does not allow for any picture correction after scanning the film without softening the images. Scanning at 4K equivalent pixel resolution and then converting to 2K HD Resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels) means the final images produced are 1080 lines, which is a higher resolution than the film itself (300 to 600 lines) and therefore producing sharp colourful images every time. (Film line resolution information based on Kodachrome Resolving Power test data)

FILE FORMATS FOR SELF EDITING

Besides mastering your films to both DVD and Blu-ray formats, we can also offer our customers the scanned video files in both SD and HD AVi or other video files for self editing if required. Customers must supply a Portable Hard Drive or Memory Stick large enough to transfer the final images to after scanning. One 50ft reel of film can produce a file size of around 6.8 Gigabytes in HD.

EDITING & COLOUR CORRECTION

Depending on the storage, manufacturer and emulsions used, film can sometimes change colour during the ageing process and this can often be digitally corrected in post production once your film transfer project enters one of our Broadcast Quality Edit Suites. Editing the films to remove the leaders and other blank portions is undertaken at the same time and easy listening music added (if required) together with reel number titling.

For further information please contact us.

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