Digitizing 8mm and Super 8 film involves converting analog motion picture film into digital video files for preservation, sharing, and editing. Here’s an overview of the process:
1. Inspect and Clean the Film
- Check for damage: We look for broken splices, warping, or mold and use a soft cloth and film cleaner to remove dust and debris for clearer digital results and to protect equipment.
2. Transfer and Capture
- We use a frame-by-frame digitizer to capture each individual film frame, which produces high-quality, flicker-free video that is ideal for viewing on today’s technology.
- The frames are captured in real time as it plays and at the original frame rate, typically 18 frames per second.
3. Capture the Film
- Use appropriate software or hardware to record the film as it plays.
- Adjust the frame rate to match the original film speed, which is typically 18 frames per second.
- Ensure proper alignment, focus, and exposure.
4. Edit and Enhance (Optional)
- Stabilize shaky footage.
- Correct colors, contrast, and brightness.
- Remove dust, scratches, or flicker using video editing software.
5. Save and Archive
- Export the digital video to a format like MP4, MOV, or AVI.
- Store on hard drives, SSDs, or in the cloud.
- Create backups for long-term preservation.
Digitizing 8mm and Super 8 film helps preserve fragile, aging footage and makes it easy to watch, share, and edit cherished family or historical moments.