On this page you'll learn about the different types of film
transfers. In addition, there is a film
transfer basics
section at the bottom of this page that will help you understand how
the different film transfer types compare to each other.
Today, over 80% of the film transfer companies use a real-time transfer
process. Most
real-time transfers use a modified projector with a standard definition
camera or camcorder. You could even setup a crude real-time transfer system at
home using your projector and a camcorder. As you can imagine, using a
camcorder to record the film is not the best method. In fact, you
loose about 40% to 50% of the quality during a real-time transfer.
Some companies use a high definition camera or camcorder instead. It
might make it look 5% to 10% better. The problem isn't the camcorder
but the transfer method, meaning that the camcorder is recording the
film as it plays as opposed to scanning the film (see below).
Standard
Definition Camera/Camcorder: Average 15 cents/ft
High Definition Camera/Camcorder: Average 25 cents/ft
 In a frame by
frame process, the camera/camcorder and projector are still used for capture but it is used
in a different way than it was used in a real-time process.
Each time a frame gets into the gate it sends a sync signal to the
computer to capture the frame. So, the camcorder is used to take
a picture of each frame instead of capturing a running video. Because
you captured each film frame like a still picture, the video will come
out with more detail than it would from a real-time process. A frame by frame process will result in video that is
20-30% better than a similarly configured real-time process.
Standard
Definition Camcorder: Average 20 cents/ft
High Definition Camcorder: Average 30 cents/ft
A professional motion picture film scanner is built with state of the art
components made for the professional market. These machines use a
roller based transport system instead of a sprocket based system. In
addition, many of these scanners have some kind of automatic scan
alignment to adjust for shrunk film. These technologies enable the
scanner to deal with sprocket related problems and to ensure it can get
100% of the frame even on shrunken film.
The Rank Cintel machine was one of the best professional film scanners in
the recent past. Some companies still use these machines. It was built
in the 1980s to transfer 16mm/35mm film to standard definition video.
The company never made a high definition version. Today, state of the
art film scanners include DFT's Spirit and Scanity scanners. There are
other companies building state of the art film scanners today as well.
Using a professional motion picture film scanner will result in video that is
30-50% better than a similarly configured frame
by frame process.
480 line per
frame scan:
Average 35 cents/ft
1080 line per frame scan: Average 55 cents/ft
Film Transfer Overview Video has several characteristics that determine
how good it is. One of the most important characteristics is the number
of lines of resolution. The resolution determines how detailed and
sharp the video is. If you’ve ever watched a standard definition video
channel on an HDTV and then switched to the high definition (HD)
version, you notice that the HD version is much sharper and detailed.
The reason is that standard definition video has 480 horizontal lines
while HD has 1080 lines. In a similar way, a film transfer can deliver
video in standard definition or high definition. Just like the TV
channels, a high definition film transfer will look better than a
standard definition film transfer.
Equally important as resolution is the type of
film transfer. There are a few basic types of film transfer processes.
More than 90% of the companies out there today use a real-time
transfer. Any
type of real-time film transfer will result in video that is 40-50%
worse than the film’s current condition.
A frame by frame process means that each
film frame is captured like a separate digital picture. Reading each
frame one at a time increases the detail that is captured. A
frame by frame process will result in video that is 20-30%
better than a similarly configured real-time
process.
The ultimate film transfer process uses a
professional film scanner. Instead of using a camcorder to capture the
film, a scanner is used to scan the film.
As you can image, scanning a photograph will give you much better
quality than using your camcorder to video tape a photograph.
So, at this point you’ve learned that film
transfers can capture at standard definition (480 lines) or high
definition (1080 lines). You’ve also learned about the 3 different
types of film transfers being used today. In order from least to best quality we have:
Without Restoration
1) Real-Time Standard
Definition (least quality)
2) Real-Time High Definition
3) Frame by Frame Standard Definition
4) Film Scanner at 480 lines
5) Frame by Frame High Definition
6) Film Scanner at 1080 lines (best quality)
The film transfer processes above are the basics types and do not
include any restoration by themselves. Because over 90% of the old
movie film we see needs restoration work, we've developed our
Hollywood Restoration I
and
Hollywood Restoration II
technology which can increase the quality of the film transfer by 30-80%.
With Restoration
1) Real-Time Standard
Definition
- Our Bronze (least quality)
2) Real-Time High Definition
3) Frame by Frame Standard Definition
- Our Silver
4) Film Scanner at 480 lines
5) Frame by Frame High Definition
6)
Film Scanner at 480 lines with
restoration - Our Gold
7) Film Scanner at 1080 lines
8) Film
Scanner at 1080 lines
with restoration - Our Platinum
(best quality)
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800.575.6202 
