Your family likely has old reel-to-reel film stored somewhere far out of reach. That piece of your family history is also probably covered in dust, cracked and brittle, and buried in boxes in your garage. And you probably don’t even remember the last time you viewed these memories. Right?
Even if you have a working projector to play your reels of film, you’ve probably avoided dragging out the old machine for at least a decade. Am I right again? It’s okay, you aren’t alone. And we’re here to help- ScanDigital can help put those memories onto DVD so you enjoy then whenever you wish!
Here’s a quick peek into our process for reel-to-reel transfers:
As shown in the video above, here are the steps we take to capture your reels of film on DVD:
1. Identify and Access Film
First, our reel-to-reel film expert identifies the type of film and accesses the condition. All varieties of film, including 8mm, Super 8 and 16mm, are processed different, so identifying the type of film is important. The current condition of the film is also assessed to assure that very fragile film is handled appropriately.
2. Clean the Film
Reels of film are then transferred to a different reel, allowing our technician to delicately clean the film of dust. We use a non-abrasive cloth to assure the well being of the film.
3. Splice and Connect Reels of Film
As our technician cleans the film, any broken sprockets are spliced and mended. We also connect several small reels together so they can be transferred to and played on one DVD.
4. Lubricate and Clean Again
To assure the film is transferred smoothly, we lubricate the film with a waxy substance. This protects the film when it goes through our transfer process.
5. Project Film
The reels of film are then put into the projector, where we record the memories as they play. Our highly skilled technicians monitor the film the entire time it is processing.
6. Preview and Edit Captured Film
Our technicians preview the film as it’s captured to assure a clean and sharp transfer. Then, they view the film at the editing station where any necessary adjustments are made.
7. Burn DVD and Return
Finally, the transferred film is burned to a DVD. Then the original reels and DVD copy are shipped back.
Once in digital format, your memories are preserved and easily accessible. Forget about digging out the old shoeboxes filled with film and the old projector, now you can just pop in the DVD and enjoy a piece of your family’s history!
If you have any questions about getting your film transferred to DVD or about ScanDigital’s process, please contact us at 888.333.2808, by email at info@scandigital.com, on Twitter or on Facebook.
Tags: reel-to-reel film