Scanning: from the film roll to the file stream
Celluloid (also known as nitrate film) is a common historical film material and is not only highly flammable, but also subject to physical deterioration, depending on how it is stored. Later film material is also subject to an ageing process.
Many film treasures are part of Germany’s national cultural heritage and are only preserved on perishable material. Digitizing and restoring these assets with high fidelity, making them accessible to the general public, and preserving them for posterity is part of our job as a technical service provider.
Not only do we process your material with the greatest expertise, using state-of-the-art technology, we also treat your film reels as true film lovers. Regardless of the form in which the source material is delivered to us, whether 35mm or 16mm, each film is manually analyzed and examined frame by frame.
Each roll of film is manually examined for anomalies or damage and prepared for further processing. Mechanical anomalies such as cracks or defective splices are documented and repaired, and any dirt or adhesive residue is carefully removed using a film washing machine (isopropanol). The appropriate digitization workflow for the material is determined in the course of the examination.
The preparation of the film is followed by the actual digitization. What used to be standard as film scanning via telecine is nowadays usually realized step by step via low-contact or pin-registered film transport. For the optical components, ARRI, in cooperation with ZEISS, has developed its own technologies especially for the ARRIscanXT series, which optimally image the film material. After intensive testing, Eurotape was one of the first users worldwide to opt for an ARRIScanXT in a full archive package.
The excellent image quality and the gentle handling of fragile material were decisive factors in our decision to buy. The full equipment of our system allows us to scan material that is subject to heavy mechanical stress (scuffs, scratches) using the so-called wetgate process. In this process, the film material is surrounded by a liquid during digitization, which reduces or, at best, removes scratches and scuffs in the material.
Starting from the digital copy, the material undergoes various processing steps (color correction, retouching, stabilization, framing), which deliver the desired result in close consultation with the client.
In addition to the image processing, the appropriate sound material is prepared, digitized, and restored with the same care and expertise.
Our Workflow
adheres to the digitization guideline Din-Spec 15587 for ethical restoration processes.
Our services in detail
- ARRIScanXT (Full Archive Package): Filmscan HD | 2K | 4K | 6K | HDR, film 35mm and 16mm, wet gate, sprocketless option, IR mask, optical stabilization, no Bayer filter
- Color correction/grading in our own DCI-compliant grading cinema, 4K cinema projection, JBL 5.1 cinema sound, Class-A 4K monitoring (optional), HDR monitoring
- Film restoration: automatic, semi-automatic, or manual dirt removal with
AI-supported tools (Diamant Restoration Suite). Stabilization, de-flicker, etc.
- Sound restoration: De-click, de-crackle, denoise, de-hum dynamic post-processing (R128), mix. Possible output formats: 35mm and 16mm optical sound, 35mm, 17.5mm and 16mm magnetic sound (Commag, Sepmag), various VTR formats and digital files.
- Mastering: Creation of all required deliverables such as DCDM, DCP (encrypted or unencrypted), master files (e.g. Prores 4444), archive copies for film funding and the Federal Archive.
Acessibility
In addition, through our award-winning subtitling and accessibility department, we are able to provide translations or subtitles for the hearing impaired and audio descriptions (audio film) for the blind.
Unsere Kunden
How can we help you?
Schildern Sie uns gern Ihr Anliegen. Unsere erfahrenen Kundenberater finden mit Ihnen sicher eine passende Lösung.
- 030 – 74 207 – 0
- info@eurotape.de