Case study: two home movies brought back as “a work of art”
A client brought us the digitized files of two home movies more than half a century old, in very poor condition: faded colours, shaky picture, dirt and very little detail. We restored them scene by scene, combining our lab’s own tools with Topaz Video and DaVinci Resolve, and delivered them in high definition. Drag the slider and see for yourself.
1. Before and after: see for yourself
2. The challenge: two films in very poor condition
They were two family films of 22 and 31 minutes, already digitized, with every problem old home movies have:
- •Faded colour: the tones had drifted towards yellow and magenta, and the sky had lost its blue.
- •Shaky picture: the film’s movement through the projector and the hand-held camera made every shot wobble.
- •Dirt and haze: dust, stains and a milky haze that flattened the contrast.
- •Little detail: a resolution far below what a modern screen needs.
3. What we did, step by step
- 1.Scene-by-scene analysis: with our own tools we detected every cut (160 scenes in one film and 205 in the other), because each scene needs its own treatment.
- 2.Colour recovered: scene-by-scene colour correction with our own engine, with finishing and fine retouching in DaVinci Resolve.
- 3.Stable picture: stabilization with our own system, which removes the shake without warping the image or leaving marks.
- 4.High definition: detail enhancement and upscaling to HD with Topaz Video.
- 5.Final review: before/after comparisons of the whole film to approve every scene before delivery.
All the work was done in our own lab in Barcelona, with nothing subcontracted.
4. Both versions, side by side
5. What restoration can and cannot do
We are honest with our clients: restoration recovers a great deal, but it does not work miracles. Deep scratches cut into the film itself over decades of screenings are reduced but do not always disappear completely, and a shot that was out of focus to begin with gains sharpness but does not become a different shot. That is why we choose and review scene by scene, and show you the result before delivery.
6. What our client said
“I really like the result. Please go ahead with this work of art!”
Heartfelt thanks to our client, who has given us written permission to show these clips from his family films. For a lab there is no better reward than bringing memories like these back to life and seeing their owner receive them with such enthusiasm.
Frequently asked questions
Can you restore films I have already digitized?
Yes. As in this case, we can start from your digital files, even if they were made years ago or elsewhere, and restore and upscale them to high definition.
Do all the scratches and marks disappear?
Dirt and most marks are greatly reduced, but deep scratches in the film itself do not always disappear completely. We explain it with the sample before we start.
What happens to my original files and films?
They are not altered: we work on copies and return your originals together with the restored version.
Can I see a sample before ordering?
Yes. We prepare a before/after comparison of a clip so you can decide with the result in front of you.
Do you have films or old videos that deserve this?
Tell us what you have and we will prepare a before/after sample from your own material.