Convert Cine Film to Digital

Converting cine film reels to digital is not something many can do at home, due to the need for the highly specialist, very expensive film scanning equipment needed. But this is not everything you need - the full list of requirements are:

Film Scanner/Telecine Machine: Acquiring a high-quality film scanner or telecine machine is imperative for a good conversion. These machines are designed to scan each frame of the film individually or in real-time while ensuring the highest possible quality.

Film Cleaning Equipment: Before scanning, the film should be cleaned to remove dust, dirt, and other contaminants using a film cleaning machine or manual cleaning tools.

Computer: A powerful computer system with ample storage is necessary to handle large digital files generated during the conversion process.

Editing Software: Post-processing will require professional-grade editing software to adjust colours, contrast, and to rectify any imperfections.

Storage Devices: High-capacity storage devices are necessary to store the digital files. Also, having a backup system is crucial to prevent data loss.

The optimal resolution depends on the original film format. For instance, 8mm and Super 8 films typically have a resolution equivalent to 720p to 1080p, while 16mm and 35mm films can go up to 2K or 4K. It's advisable to scan at the highest resolution possible to capture all the details, and then downscale if necessary for distribution or storage.

Maintaining the original frame rate is crucial to preserve the intended motion look. Film scanners and telecine machines usually have settings to select the frame rate. We always ensure that the frame rate matches the original film's frame rate, commonly 24fps for cine film.

Lossless or uncompressed file formats like AVI or MOV with codecs like ProRes or DNxHD are advisable as they retain maximum quality. However, they will result in large file sizes. If storage is a concern, high-quality compressed formats like MP4 with H.264 or H.265 codecs can be considered. We always use high bitrate MP4 for our digital file download / cloud conversions, as this offers the highest compatibility while also being very high quality.

Physical restoration of the film by cleaning and repairing broken sprocket holes or splices is the first step. Digital restoration can then be performed using software to remove scratches, dust, and to correct colour fading. *IMPORTANT* - please do not attempt to clean or fix your cine film before sending it to us, as you may accidentally make it worse. We will always clean and repair your films as part of the service, so please leave it to the experts.

Professional conversion with Digital Converters provides a hassle-free experience and typically higher quality results, as well as costing from just £18.99 (incuding your new media and return postage) for 3 inch reel conversion.

DIY conversion requires a significant initial investment in equipment and software, along with a steep learning curve to achieve satisfactory results. The cost-benefit analysis depends on the amount of film to be converted and the level of quality desired, but for most people, the professional method is a no brainer.

Colour accuracy can be maintained by calibrating the scanner and using colour correction tools within your editing software. It's advisable to have a good understanding of color grading to achieve accurate results. Here at Digital Converters we’re highly experienced at cine film conversion and we’ll always ensure accurate colour reproduction for your film.

Common challenges include film degradation, flicker, colour fading, and missing frames. These can be overcome with physical restoration, flicker removal software, colour correction, and frame interpolation respectively. We are well versed and highly experienced in tackling all of the above issues in order to give you your converted cine films back to you looking better than ever.

We use high end scanners which digitise each frame individually, allowing for the very highest-quality conversions. Other methods people sometimes use is capturing, which usually refers to real-time playback and recording, which results in a much lower quality.

The aspect ratio can be preserved by ensuring the scanning or capturing equipment settings match the film's original aspect ratio, and by avoiding any cropping or stretching during post-processing. We always ensure your cine films are reproduced in the original aspect ratio.

The actual digitising duration depends on the length of the film, the scanning speed, and the amount of post-processing required. It could range from a few hours to several days or even weeks for large projects. But if you are sending a small number of reels to us, we should have them converted to digital and sent to you within 7 days. Converting cine Film to USB is usually faster than to disc, due to the fact the files are just transferred and nothing has to be burned to a disc, although the difference is negligible.

Yes, if the cine film has a soundtrack, it will be captured using our sound-capable film scanners or by using separate audio capturing equipment and then syncing the audio and video during post-processing.