Film Preparation & Procedure

Film Splicing - Cleaning - Lubrication - Anti Static

The first step in any transfer is to properly prepare the film...

Step 1 - Label the Film - Then merge onto larger reels if warranted or requested

If you have many 25 or 50 ft rolls of film, they are more easily and quickly transferred by splicing them all together on one or more larger reels up to 400 ft  (7 inch reel)

This saves handling and cleaning many separate reels and is somewhat less expensive to have transferred this way...   This is something you can do yourself to save some money and have the necessary proper splicing equipment and materials.

We can also splice all the separate reels into one larger one if you no longer have the splicing equipment or simply can't be bothered.....

To begin, first label the reels starting with the number one and proceed to label the others in sequence...   That will be the order they will be transferred in..  Unlabeled reels will be transferred in random order or of our choosing !

When you opt to have us merge all the smaller reels on to larger reels, we add a white leader and mark it denoting any info you choose such as home movies 1942 to 1947 for example to quickly identify content.

Generally, we prefer to use a cement splicer...  Cement splices have proven to be not only more durable and longer lasting, but the splices glide more easily thru the film gate as compared to Presstapes ®.  It takes a bit longer for the two ends to bond, but it makes for a better splice.

As a side note: Perhaps the best film splicer ever made for Regular 8, Super 8 and 16mm films was the Hancock-Maier model 812-S as shown here. It is a cement splicer. Not as simple as using press tapes, but the splices are permanent, will not dry out and pass thru the film gate smoothly.

Step 2 Add leader to the beginning of each reel

Most film returned by the processor will have a white leader added...  The leader insured that the first several seconds of the film is captured.  Over time this might have become damaged or simply trimmed too many times threading it.   We add or replace leader as necessary using a cement splicer

Step 3 - Clean, and apply an anti-static and film lubricating solution 

No matter how expensive and sophisticated the transfer equipment employed or the skills of the transfer technician, a dirty film can ruin an otherwise great transfer...  That is just a simple fact.  It's akin to painting a filthy car and expecting excellent results. It's just not gonna happen !  Other things being equal, proper preparation determines in large part, the final outcome.  Film transfers are no different.

Cleaning the film cannot be over emphasized... especially in the smaller 8, Super8 and 9.5mm formats...   The smaller the film format, the larger the smallest spec of dirt will appear if it is not removed.  Smaller film formats simply have to be enlarged more to fit the same screen size compared to the larger  35 and 70 mm film formats.  So the same almost microscopic spec of dust spec on say 35mm film will hardly even be noticed, compared to the same spec if it were on an 8mm film, where it will look like a large "log jam" by comparison..  

Some  hairs and dust that appear in the transferred image look to be a dirty projector film gate..  But dirt and hair also are a problem when dirt and hairs also are present on the film gate in the camera that made the recording.  The image of the dust and hairs is exposed right on to the film !

The cleaning solution not only cleans the film, but also lubricates it so it does not bind in the film gate but glides smoothly...  Since each frame of film must be perfectly registered, adequate lubrication minimizes any potential stiction in the film gate. The cleaning solution also contains an anti static additive that reduces static buildup which attracts dust particles like a magnet...   No amount of cleaning ever seems to remove every last spec.  It is difficult to quantify but I would venture to guess that proper cleaning removes over 99% of them.

Side Note:  Some firms charge as little as 10 cents a foot and even less...  Just be aware that there is no way you can properly even prepare a film for transfer and expect to turn a profit at those rates...  It is a mathematical impossibility...  To be able to charge such rates, it means corners have to be cut.  And one of the most time consuming corners to be cut are proper cleaning and splicing !  In some and even many cases, that might be acceptable to some where all they are interested  in is seeing what is on the film and where price is more important than quality...   Don't read this wrong: I am not knocking low quality - low cost film transfers, as there is a need for that price point and quality level.  But as film ages, this might be the last opportunity to have it transferred to a digital format to preserve it...   For many folks, it might not be the time to cut corners.   In any event, we also could match prices with those charging such low rates, but it is not what we are about... There are plenty of firms out there that do try and compete solely on the basis of price..  But keep in mind that all film transfers are not equal..  To be able to do it for 10 cents a foot or less, means that something has got to give !   As in most things in life; you get what you pay for..   Don't read this wrong..  a 9 cent per foot transfer is far preferable than not getting the film transferred at all.  After all; the films will not last forever...