FilmFix's up-scaling - benefits and extras:

1. The upscaled file is an MP4 file and can be viewed on any modern device.  While a "Smart TV" has its limitations, it knows what to do with an MP4 file. To note: .avi and .mov files will not play on each and every device.


2. Your up-scaled image quality will be superior to your original capture in SD, when viewed on an HD monitor. Up-scaling strongly reduces the typical jagged edges on diagonal sharp lines -- which you'll notice in SD sort of look like jagged "stair-case" edges.
   
   
   

   without upscaling

   
   
   

   

   with upscaling


3. Our up-scaling is a two step process. First, we correct (as much as possible) for overexposed whites and underexposed blacks. And then ...
   
   
   

   no overexposure correction

   
   
   

   

   with overexposure correction


4. In the second step of up-scaling, the standard all-black side bars on either side of the frame, get replaced by blurred side-bars, which is common place in today videos on the Internet or on TV. You've probably seen it -- they are colored, side-extension "bars" and are a blurrier and diluted version of whatever frame we're on.
   
   
   

   no upscaling

   
   
   

   

   with upscaling


5. And finally, during the up-scale process, we crop off just the messy looking first and last couple of lines (on the top and bottom of image) as well as a minimal amount on the left and right of the image to present a cleaner looking view.

We can fit up to 23 hours of up-scaled video onto a 256 GB flash drive.

Comparison: Raw-Scan and Corrected

Use of clip with expressed written consent from customer -- All Rights Reserved.

8mm B&W Film Transfer Sample

Use of clip with expressed written consent from customer -- All Rights Reserved.

8mm Color Film Transfer Sample

Use of clip with expressed written consent from customer -- All Rights Reserved.

Super 8 Sample Transfer

Use of clip with expressed written consent from customer -- All Rights Reserved.

Charlie Chaplin Promoting "THE KID"

While all cherished footage that we have ever transferred is an honor to us, here at FilmFix, this is the most treasured footage we have ever digitized.

It's short but very sweet, and it proves that each second of every reel is being monitored, while we preserve our customers' precious memories.

These brief moments were shot on 8mm film and shows Charlie Chaplin self-promoting the movie "The Kid" -- the one which brought him into the limelight and International fame. The parade took place in Switzerland, circa 1932. We assume it was that year based on the date hand-written on the film canister, even though he released the film in 1921. This must have been how he started to endear himself to the Swiss people, long before he made his final move there.

Apparently, Charlie Chaplin was know to self-promote his movie by "dressing up" in his iconic Tramp outfit then joining parades. Seemingly, the parade had other characters from other motion pictures but nothing that I could definitively recognize.

In this clip, do you notice how Mr. Chaplin is using a whistle in order to draw attention to himself? We think it's a brilliant way to draw eyes toward him!

To explore more about Charlie Chaplin and his Swiss connection, please visit this page.

Use of clip with expressed written consent from Phil Hugly --  filmed by Lina Studer nee Dubois. All Rights Reserved.

It Is All about Privacy!

We respect your privacy.

You retain the copyright of your treasured family memories!

Not all companies can say that. Please check their "fine-print" to make certain they will not sell or share your personal family footage to an unknown source.

Over the years, we discovered too many other companies retain copyright of your personal memories. If they retain copyright, they can use or sell your footage, as they wish. What you likely thought was a private transaction is not. We find it disturbing that unbeknownst to you, those dearest memories could end up anywhere.

It was astonishing for us to discover a company who was offering their transfers at a low price, and providing low quality work too, only because they were trying to hook customers -- then sell that personal family footage to make a large profit. We can just imagine their further motives!

If privacy is as important to you as it is us, please do your homework -- then, choose us.

 

 

Will Rusty Metal Reels Harm My Film?

Rusty reels have a detrimental effect on the film.

Time can be very hard on old metal film reels.

It accelerates the decay of the films as it reacts with the film's silver. Film archival houses won't even let rusty reels be stored at their facilities.

It is high-time to get these films first moved onto plastic reels, and then see what sort of needs they have. Conditioning the film will be a crucial second step, before a transfer is attempted.

We Carefully Hand-Clean Your Film.

After inspecting your films, we begin by asking ourselves, "What will benefit this film the most?"

The professional brands we use to clean your film are: "VitaFilm", 2 types of "Solvon", Christy's film cleaner, and "FilmRenew."

In our 13 years of experience, we have noted that all films benefit from cleaning -- even films coming straight from the lab! Many films do not require extra special care -- a careful hand-cleaning will do. Other films, though rare, require a pricey film solution called "FilmRenew" (not shown here.)

To note: We never use "VitaFilm" to clean film that has been spliced using tape, because it dissolves the tape.

We have excellent cleaning practices: We start with clean hands (thus the gloves), clean surfaces, and cleaning cloths that are fresh. These things make an important difference.

Below, the film was quite dirty, but with a careful hand cleaning, we achieved very nice results. Sometimes dirt will get securely embedded into the film's emulsion. In certain cases, some of that dirt will remain. Still, plenty will be cleaned off.

Careful hand-cleaning is part of a successful film transfer.

Here, there was some mold with the addition of tar built up on the film. We speculate that the owner was a smoker and enjoyed their cigarettes, or perhaps cigars, while watching their treasured family memories.

Dirt and smoke, in the air, can cause a considerable build up of residue on the film.

 

Oops ⎯ Do Not Send Like This!

Without padding, things can get quite disheveled and the box can more easily tear, during transit. Please remember to pad it a bit and tape the box -- both on the bottom and top.

Please add a little padding so this doesn't happen. We very carefully pack all return shipments!

When a shipping box has some "play" inside, the box's structural integrity suffers. It's inevitable that during transit boxes get tossed about a bit.

Sometimes we receive them with tear in the corner or side of box. If you pad out those corners and edges some, it both helps protect your material and adds some fortitude to the box.

Rest assured -- in our history no box has been so damaged that any precious family memories have fallen out of the package or gotten notably damaged, during their trip to us. FILMFIX seems to be a special name and the carriers really do take note of the contents!

In fact, we have a 100% track-record for receiving every package sent to us in all our years in business, when using a carrier that provides a "tracking number." That's an astoundingly reassuring record, we think!

Which of These Does Not Belong?

One of these reels is not an 8mm film. It's 16mm leader.

The fourth reel from the left is quite an odd sight to see. That's because it's a leader of 16mm film - cut in half. This is something that was sometimes done with double perforated 16mm leader but never with regular perforated leader. The leader cannot be projected as it is, because every second perforation hole is missing.

Is It Regular 8 or Super-8 Film?

Here is a little puzzle:

Try to figure out which of these two reels has Regular 8mm and which has Super-8 film wound onto its reel.

One can determine what kind of film is wound onto each of these reels just by noting the difference in the way the wound film appears.  However,  a prerequisite is knowing how the film was processed, at the lab.

Hint: Observe the difference in how the light reflects off the edge of the film.

Do you see the striped pattern? These revealing measured alternating bands of light reflection will give you the answer. The smaller hole in the center of the film reel can also be a clue -- but careful, see below.

Now, look at this reel and note the light reflecting off the film's edge. The notable meaured line pattern is missing; and the center hole is much larger.

Did you figure out which is which?

Answer:

The top image is Regular 8 film (a.k.a. "Double 8" or "Normal 8"), and the bottom image depicts Super 8 film.

The Regular 8 film has these measured alternating patterned, banding sections, of 25 feet in length, because after processing at the lab, the original film gets cut in half. The lab then wound it onto the reel and it showed up in this fashion. More detail - here.

As for the reel's center hole size: Regular 8mm film has a smaller center hole than does Super 8mm film.  Yet, there is something to keep in mind: Either type of film format can be mistakenly wound onto the wrong type of reel. That's why it's so handy to know how to discern the perforation hole size difference (or, that distinguished alternating, patterned banding of Regular 8 film, as described above.)

Curling 8mm Film

When film gets old it can start to curl, because it is shrinking. The shrinkage amount will depend upon what type of base the film was made of and in what conditions the film was stored.

Fluctuating temperatures and changes in humidity affect the outside edge of the film, and in time, will cause shrinkage of that outside edge of the film, as seen in this image below.

curling 8mm film

Don't wait until your film has curled and become moldy - transfer it now!

This outer part can no longer be transferred and will break if a transfer is attempted. Using a special solution of "FilmRenew" helps some film regain elasticity, but the outer third of this film is beyond repair. The inner two-thirds could be helped by soaking the film in "FilmRenew." Still, there is no guarantee what image quality will be achieved.

Here's some curled 8mm film. One third is damaged but some was saved!