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Can old movies and videos be restored and upscaled to 4K or full HD quality, and what is the process behind converting them to Blu-ray discs?
The majority of films were shot on 35mm film stock, which has a resolution equivalent to around 20 megapixels, making it possible to restore them to high-definition formats.
Digital restoration, also known as remastering, involves digitally scanning the original film and using software to enhance the image quality, clean up scratches and debris, and adjust colors.
Upscaling is the process of converting standard-definition video to high-definition, which can be done using software or hardware, but it cannot eliminate all issues such as graininess or blurriness.
The resolution of a 4K video is four times that of a 1080p video, and the upscaling process typically involves creating four pixels from one 1080p pixel.
Old movies can be restored to 4K resolution because 35mm film has a higher resolution than 4K video.
The restoration process for old movies involves scanning the original negative and using software to enhance the image, clean up scratches and debris, and adjust colors.
Upscaling software like AVCLabs Video Enhancer AI uses artificial intelligence to enhance the resolution and overall quality of the video.
The time it takes to scan a movie for restoration depends on the resolution, with a 2K scan taking around two days and a 4K scan taking four times as long.
The scanned footage is then digitally restored using software to remove scratches, dirt, and other imperfections.
The restored footage is then color-graded to match the original film's intended look.
The final step in the restoration process is encoding the restored footage to the desired format, such as Blu-ray or 4K.
The resulting restored footage can be of higher quality than the original film due to the removal of imperfections and the enhancement of the image.
Some films that were originally shot on lower-quality film stock or that have suffered significant damage over time may not be restorable to high-definition.
The cost of restoring a film to high-definition can vary widely depending on the length of the film, the condition of the original negative, and the extent of the restoration needed.
Restoring a film to high-definition can help preserve it for future generations and can increase its value for distribution on home video and streaming platforms.
Upscale any video of any resolution to 4K with AI. (Get started for free)