FAQ

How can you tell what type of reel it is ?

My film reel does not have exactly one of the three sizes listed. What will I pay?

According to the length of the film, extra minutes will be invoiced at a flat-rate based on the time spent digitising the reel.

My film reels contain a blank section. How will I be invoiced?

If the blank section is at the beginning or at the end of the film, you will not be charged for it. However, if the blank section is in the middle of the film the price will remain unchanged.

What digitisation system do you use?

We use a triCCD telecine with a frame-by-frame capture. The colorimetry, the contrast and the framing are also corrected.

My films have not been developed. Is it possible to digitise them?

We do not handle this type of service.

I do not know whether my old or deteriorated reels can be digitised. What should I do?

We can digitise your reels as long as they are not mouldy and the substrate media is not warped.

Is it possible to digitise just part of an item?

We digitise your films in their entirety; however, we can provide AVI files in DV format which will allow you to edit the film at your convenience.

Will I get my original films back?

Yes. They will be returned to you along with the media on which they have been saved on.

What about the rates for 9.5mm and 16mm?

For all requests regarding digitisation of 9.5mm or 16mm reels, please contact our customer service department on 2 034 450 600.

What types of videotapes is it possible to digitise?

S-VHS, VHS, VHS-C, Hi-8, Video 8, Digital 8, Mini DV (PAL/SECAM/NTSC)

What about the professional formats (Betamax, Betacam, U-matic, DVCAM)?

For all requests regarding digitisation of videotapes in professional or non-standard formats, please contact our customer service department on 2 034 450 600.

My cassette is not full. How will it be invoiced?

Billing for digitisation of cassettes is based on a per-item price and is independent of the length of the tape.

The tape in one of my videotape is damaged: can I still get it digitised?

We can digitise your video with a damaged tape, although the quality on the digital format will be the same as what is on the videotape. If the tape has been cut or blocked a repair charge of £20 may occur

Is it possible to digitise just part of an item?

We digitise your entire film; however, we can provide AVI files in DV format which then allow you to edit the file at your convenience.

Will I get my original videotapes back?

Yes, they will be returned to you along with the media on which they have been saved.

Quel format de diapos puis-je faire numériser ?

Nous numérisons les diapositives dans un cache au format 5cm*5cm et jusqu'à 2 mm d'épaisseur. Pour les diapositives plus épaisses ou sous verre, il y a un supplément

What format slides can I get digitised?

We digitise slides in mounts that are 5x5 cm and up to 2mm thick. A supplement is charged for slides that are thicker or on glass

Slides that you cannot get digitised.

We do not digitise slides that are damaged, unstuck, warped or peeling, or in albums. If this applies in your case, we recommend changing the mounts before sending the slides. We are unfortunately unable to process slides in 7x7 cm mounts (medium size).

Is the dust removed from the slides?

Dust is removed from them by blowing compressed air over them, which removed dust that is not stuck on. We also remove dust by digital treatment with infrared. This treatment works perfectly with Kodachrome slides. It can however not be used for treating b/w films.

What digitisation system do you use?

We use a Braun slide scanner with an infrared system.

What file types will be on my DVD?

Your DVD will contain 1 high-quality JPEG file (3500 dpi, which is 3200 x 4800 pixels for 24x36mm) and 1 compressed JPEG file (at 512 x 340 pixels) for each slide + 1 slide show in DVD video format for each package of slides (generally 50).

How many slides can be fitted on one DVD?

About 500 can fit on a single DVD.

Will I get my original media back after digitisation?

Yes. They will be returned to you along with the media on which they have been restored.

What format negatives can I get digitised?

We digitise 24x36mm films (135 format), colour and b/w, in strips with at least 2 exposures or in rolls. If a strip of negatives has a paper backing on one side, that will be removed.

Negatives that you cannot get digitised.

Formats APS, 120/220, 110, 126 Instamatic, 127 and (more generally) all images that are not 24x36 mm. Single images and strips that are less than 7.6 cm in length (two frames) cannot be digitised, nor can strips with damaged perforations.

What file types will be on my DVD?

Your DVD will contain 1 high-definition JPEG file (2400 dpi, which is 2200 x 3300 pixels) and 1 compressed JPEG file for each image + 1 slide show in DVD video format for each package of negatives.

Will I get my original media back after digitisation?

Yes. They will be returned to you along with the media on which they have been restored.

What format photos can I get digitised?

Scanning is done on both front and back. The format for photographs must be digitised iat least 6x6 cm and no more than 13x19 cm. The weight of the paper cannot exceed 350 g/m². On an indicative basis: good quality photographic paper does not generally exceed 270 g/m².

Photos that you cannot get digitised.

We do not digitise photographs that are thick, sticky, folded, dog-eared or with paperclips or staples. Stiff supports (e.g. card) are not accepted.

What file types will be on my DVD?

Your DVD will contain 2 high-definition JPEG files (600 dpi, which is about 2400 x 3600 pixels for a 10x15 cm photo) and 2 compressed JPEG files for each image (front and back) + 1 slide show in DVD video format for each package of photos.

How many photos can be fitted on one DVD?

About 500 can fit on a single DVD.

Can I digitise them in a specific sequence?

The sequence of the photos is not guaranteed.

Will I get my original media back after digitisation?

Yes, they will be returned to you along with your DVD or DVDs.

Is it possible to digitise just part of an item

We digitise your films in their entirety; however, we can provide .AVI files in DV format which will then let you do your own editing.

Is it possible to put each reel or cassette on a separate DVD?

Yes. In that case, please state your request in writing on the order form.

Is it possible to put each carousel of slides on each DVD?

If you would like the batches of slides to be on different DVDs, you will in this case need to separate out the orders.

What format are the files on the DVD?

The format is standard DVD video (MPEG2, resolution of 720 x 576, GOP = 12 or 15, rate 5 to 6 Mb/s)

What length DVDs do you supply?

The average duration of a DVD is 90 minutes.

How many films can be fitted on one DVD?

You can put up to 90 minutes of films on your DVD.

How many slides/photos can be fitted on one DVD?

You can put up to about 500 photographs or slides on your DVD.

Can I get my original media back after digitisation?

Yes, they will be returned to you along with your DVD or DVDs.

What is the throughput time?

The average lead time is about 4 weeks.

After I have ordered a DVD, how long do I have if I want to order a copy?

And how?

You have a period of 30 days starting from the date on which the last video sequence in the order was digitised. We retain the high-resolution versions of your image items for that interval. If that period has elapsed, please contact us on 2 034 450 600.

Can I do video editing directly from my DVD?

It is not the most appropriate format and editing software may not accept all DVD video sources directly or may not allow cutting to the next image. We offer the additional option of transferring your videos to DV format in an AVI file. This is a format that can be used in any suitable video editing software (Final Cut, Adobe Première, Windows Movie Maker on PC, iMovie on MAC).

What editing files can you provide?

We offer DV-format editable AVI files. This is an IT file format that was designed for storing audio and video data. DVI format is available with the extra DV-ROM paid option for editing. These files can be provided on a disk or on DVD-ROM. The DV flow rate is more than 5 times better than the standard rate of a DVD; the content of the DVD-ROMs has to be transferred to a hard disk if it is to be possible to read them fluidly and edit them.

What software can be used for the editing?

DV format can be used in all types of video editing software: Final Cut, Adobe Première, Windows Movie Maker (PC) and iMovie (MAC), etc.

What type of equipment can I read by DVD on?

You can read your DVD on a home DVD player and/or a computer’s DVD drive.

Why won’t my DVD work in my computer’s DVD drive?

It needs a CODEC, a process capable of compressing or decompressing images or sound. The CODEC decodes the compressed images or sound tracks in order to recreate the image and sound that are presented on your computer. So if a suitable CODEC has not been installed, your computer will not be able to play your sound or video. Before progressing to a “quality return" of a DVD, you need to check if the CODEC on the computer is up to date. Our services need you to have a computer with an MPEG2 DVD CODEC and/or with DVD video playback software installed.

How a my films organised on the DVD?

Reels: you can number your films so that they are placed in chronological order, up to 90 minutes. Cassettes: by default, we create one DVD per cassette unless they are short and you ask for them to be bundled together, up to 90 minutes.

How can I access the JPEG files of my slides/negatives/photos?

On a PC :
Stop the slide show by pressing the Esc key.
Then go to “My Computer” or “Computer”.
Right-click the DVD and choose “Open”.
Go to the “scan” directory.
You will find your images there, both in low quality (web files) and high quality (HQ files).
On Mac :
Stop the slide show by pressing the Esc key.
Open the Finder and click the DVD.
you can access the "scan" file and copy it to your computer or import it via Photo.

Capacities of the media for restored material:
16GB USB stick: about 8 hours in MPEG4 or 3000 images in JPEG.
1TB HDD: 300 hours MPEG2 / 60 hours DV + MPEG2 / 200,000 images.
Standard DVD: sequence of about 90 minutes in MPEG2.
DVD-ROM: sequence of 20 minutes in DV format.

Can you mix films and pictures on the same DVD?

No. Only items from the same family (cassettes + reels or slides + negatives, for example). This is only possible on an external hard drive or a memory stick.

Can all the items be personalised?

No. Only cassettes and reels can be personalised. However, the titles cannot be personalised for MPEG4 (download links and memory sticks). Only a chronological sequence can be ordered.