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Introduction...
Serving customers around the world, with over 20 years experience of cine film transfer,
our technician will professionally convert your home movies to DVD, CD, video tape, or HDD.
All transfer work is carried out 'in house'.

We carefully digitally convert Super 8 mm, Standard 8 mm, Single 8 mm,
16 mm, 9.5 mm and 35 mm cine film to DVD, CD, mini DV and VHS video.
We can also supply transfers as video files such as DV, AVI and mpeg.

We can also transfer Polaroid Polavision Phototape cassettes.

The film is transferred frame by frame using professional broadcast standard technology,
ensuring a flicker free image without hotspots, and resulting in a high quality and pleasing transfer.
We do not use automated equipment, as we believe it is crucial to continually monitor the transfer
and make necessary adjustments as required.

Samples of our cine transfer services always available on request.


8 mm...
The original 8mm format, used mainly in the 1950's and 60's was called 'Standard 8'.
This format was later replaced by an improved variation used mainly in the 1970's and 80's called 'Super 8'

8mm cine film was originally returned from the processor on 50ft (3") reels, which run for around four minutes.
However, these have often then been joined or 'spliced' together by the user onto larger 8mm reels of -

200ft (5"), 300ft, 400ft (7"), 600ft (8"), 800ft (9 3/4") or 1200ft reels.

There is usually a gauge on the side of the larger reels, to help you calculate how much film is on the reel.

Standard 8mm film can be identified by its rectangular sprocket holes.

Sometimes it is pointed out to us that on the original boxes
containing standard 8mm film, it states that the reel contains 25ft of film.
This is because early standard eight film was indeed supplied in 25ft lengths, but was 16mm wide.
The user ran the film through the camera, filming onto only one side of the film,
and at the end removed the film from the camera, flipped it over and ran the film through again.
The film processor then split the film down the middle
and spliced the two ends together to produce 50ft of processed film.

This format was eventually replaced by Super 8mm film which has square sprocket holes,
a larger image and a larger central spool hole.

Amateur film usually ran at 18 FPS (frames per second), while mainly professionally produced film ran at 24 FPS.

Most film was silent, if the film has sound it will usually be in the form of a magnetic strip
which can be seen as an orange / brown line along the edge of the film.
Rarely found on 8mm is an optical soundtrack, mainly used on commercial films.

We can accommodate all reel sizes, running speeds and soundtrack types.


Polaroid film...
Polaroid used a system incorporating 38.5ft of self processing 8mm film in a cassette, called polavision phototape.
These films tend to be more grainy and darker than regular 8mm film. They are also more prone to deterioration.


16 mm...
Size of reels range from 100ft to over 2000ft.

Silent film usually ran at 18 FPS and can have sprocket holes on one or both sides
Sound film usually ran at 24 FPS with sprocket holes on one side.

The majority of 16mm sound film used an optical track.
This can be seen when held up to the light as a 'squiggly' line down the side of the film.
Less common was magnetic sound, mainly used by amateurs recording a new soundtrack.

We can accommodate all reel sizes, running speeds and soundtrack types.


9.5 mm...
These films were mostly silent, with sprocket holes down the centre of the film, between each frame.
We can achieve particularly good results from these early films.

We can also extract and transfer the film from the small black metal Pathescope cartridges.

Notched films - Some silent 9.5mm film that included titles were 'notched'. This system was used to save film.
The title appeared on only a single frame of film,
and adjacent to this frame a 'notch' was cut out of the side of the film (out of frame).
If an appropriate projector was used to show the film,
the machine detected the notch and temporarily halted running the film,
therefore displaying the frame of film with the title for a few seconds.
With modern computer software, we are able to recreate this effect if requested
on the final version of the transfer we supply to you.


35 mm...
We also offer transfer services for 35mm film, both sound and silent.


Film repairs...
Leader film will be attached to the films when it is missing or too short.
Breaks in the film will be repaired as required during the transfer process.


Film cleaning...
Your film may benefit from being cleaned prior to transfer.
This is particularly the case with very old film, or film that has been stored in unsuitable conditions.
The cleaning process can also reduce the appearance of scratches.
We carefully clean the film by hand.


Film deterioration...
We have recently seen an increasing percentage of film that has started to deteriorate.
Once deterioration has set in it cannot be stopped or reversed, and we may not be able to clean affected film.
It is crucial to get film in this condition transferred as soon as possible.


Running order...
You can request that your cine films appear in your preferred sequence by numbering them.

For 8mm and 16mm, you can hire a simple to use hand cranked cine viewer
from us to enable you to preview and number your films.
The hire charge for the hand cranked viewer is totally deductable from the final transfer bill.


Editing...
Alternatively, we can transfer all your films to digital media, and then send you a DVD preview.
This will enable you to edit the films as well as determine the running order.
Once you have viewed the preview DVD,
simply advise us the counter readings for the start and end of each segment,
and in the order that you would like them to appear.
We will then produce your final tape or DVD accordingly.
Please note this option will incur an editing charge.


Titles...
On screen titles can be added at any point, for example as an introduction,
at the start of each reel, and at the end to finish off the presentation.

A few suggestions for titles could be 'Memories' or 'Family Memories' or 'Days Gone By' for the introduction.
At the end of the film show you could have 'Thats All Folks' or 'Those Were The Days' or 'The End'.
If it is a gift for someone you could have 'Happy Birthday' or 'Merry Christmas'
and maybe include the recipients name to make it more personal.

DVD's are supplied to you with a menu that displays a main title, and numbered selection buttons,
each of which we can also add your supplied title.
Unless requested otherwise, we would normaly allocate one button to each reel of film.
Please note there is space for only a limited amount of characters for your titles,
and we may need to abbreviate the titles to fit.

So with a DVD you can have menu titles, on screen titles or both.


Sound...
If the cine films have sound this will also be transferred onto the video tape or disc.
However, many are silent, and we can add an appropriate soundtrack to make your production 'complete'.

We can supply a musical soundtrack, or alternatively the sound of an old running cine projector.
If you would prefer to supply your own soundtrack, on tape or CD,
we can accommodate this (copyright permitting).

Please note that if you require a musical soundtrack on a DVD,
for reasons of continuity there will be a single 'play' button on the menu.
(This does not apply for the sound of the projector).
You will of course, still have all the search benefits that a DVD offers.


Master and copies...
We will produce a master from your films which can be any video format including
DVD, CD, miniDV, VHS or Super VHS tape,
and from which we can also produce copies in any format.

We can also supply transfers as video files such as DV, AVI and mpeg (see below).

Transfer service to professional formats also available.

* DVD - These discs can accommodate up to two hours,
or approximately 1,500ft (8mm ∓mp; 9.5mm) / 3,000ft (16mm), of cine film.
We digitally transfer the films directly to the disc.
(Your DVD player will need to be compatible with DVD-R discs. Most modern machines are compatible,
but If you want to test your machine we can supply a test disc).
We only use top branded discs for maximum quality and compatibility.
Beware of services using unbranded and inferior discs.


* Mini DV - These digital tapes are supplied in 60 or 80 minute lengths.

* VHS / SVHS tape - If your require your cine films to be transferred directly to VHS video tape,
we strongly recommended that you order copies in addition to the master.
This is to 'protect your investment'. Keep your master safe and unused,
if your video recorder decides to chew a copy, or the tape simply wears,
you can have another copy made from the original master.

However, we would recommend you request DVD for your master, even if you do not presently have a DVD player,
as the DVD format is ideal for archiving. We can of course supply VHS copies from the DVD master(s).

We do not recommend the use of VHS video tapes longer than three hours
as longer tapes can be prone to stretch or wear.


Mini dv...
If required we can transfer your films directly to mini DV tape, for downloading your films onto your computer.


Video Files...
If you want to edit your films on your computer, but do not have the facilities to download from a camera,
we can supply the transfers as video files, ready to import into your editing software.

Any file type can be supplied including DV AVI and mpeg.
Depending on the volume of film, and your installed hardware, we can supply files on CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or HDD.

Please note - AVI files are large, and accordingly we will probably need to supply them
on external hard disc drive (HDD) which you can hire / buy from us.

For more information please go to Video Files.


Mail order...
As with all our services, if you cannot call in personally, you can send your films to us by mail or courier.
Please include your name, address, email address and telephone number,
together with your instructions, for a quotation.
We recommend using the Post Office's 'Special Delivery' service which guarantees
next day delivery with insurance, and has to be signed for.


When we have completed the transfers...
If your transfers were to DVD, we will send the DVD(s) to you together with your films,
and hold a digital master for 60 days from dispatch,
or until we receive your confirmation of receipt of delivery.

If your transfers were to tape, we will send the tape(s) to you first,
and on your confirmation that you have received them safely, we will then return your films.


Your old cine equipment...
We are pleased to receive your unwanted cine equipment, whatever the condition.


More information...
For an estimate or more specific information,
you can contact our technician directly by email via the contact page, or by telephone.


Please note...
We will handle your precious films with great care.
The film conversion process does not affect your cine film in any way,
and it will be returned to you exactly as you supplied it.