Film Fix
Film Fix is a suite of high quality,
cost-effective film and video restoration
tools. Using Film Fix, After Effects
and Digital Fusion users can restore
tears, remove dust and dirt particles,
and stabilise footage originated on
film and any video resolution material
transferred from film.
With
Film Fix you can:
- Repair seams with the only automated tear-repair tool on the market.
- Stabilise footage with fast, software-based 2D translation.
- Automatically eliminate severe non-linear inter-frame brightness fluctuations.
- Remove dust and sparkle defects using motion detection information.
- Render across a set of networked computers to execute full collective CPU potential.
Film Fix utilises a fast, accurate motion
estimation system, which processes pixel-accurate
image data at different scales similar
to the way the human eye views the world.
These powerful, intelligent algorithms
allow it to identify problems such as
dust, dirt, and tearing despite complex
motion in the footage. Once identified,
these artifacts are quickly and naturally
removed.
With today’s compositing systems
and Film Fix, users can efficiently
process archival material for output
to high definition or DVD. After Effects
and Digital Fusion provide interactive
touch-up tools and robust render farm
systems that in combination with Film
Fix make these desktop applications
ideal restoration systems competitive
with dedicated high-end platforms.
Behind
the Technology
The technology for Film Fix was developed
by Green Parrot Pictures’ Dr. Anil,
a pioneer in motion picture restoration
with over 25 years of experience in
the field. Dr. Kokaram’s work includes
the book “Motion Picture Restoration”
and more than 60 papers on general video
processing—40 of which are specifically
on video and film restoration. Dr. Kokaram
is a Senior Lecturer at Trinity College
in Dublin, Ireland.
Red Giant Software and Green Parrot
Pictures' have formed a partnership
to bring this amazing new technology
to market as desktop plug-ins. Film
Fix utilizes FAME (Fast Accurate Motion
Estimation), which processes pixel-accurate
image data at different scales similar
to the way the human eye views the world.
These powerful, intelligent algorithms
allow it to identify problems such as
dust, dirt, and tearing despite complex
motion in the footage. Once identified,
these artifacts can be quickly and naturally
removed.
A
Recent Surge in Film Restoration
In an article by Claudia Kienzle, Post
Magazine (May 2004) writes:
"The surge in demand for film
restoration is being fueled by two major
trends. First is the recognition by
motion picture studios of the value
of their content. Before the advent
of cable channels, HDTV, DVD and other
new distribution outlets hungry for
content, movies used to be packed away
in vaults with no real plans for re-use
beyond the theatrical release. Now,
studios want to preserve classic movies
for posterity, as well as re-purpose
them for re-release in today's exciting
new venues.
The second trend is the demand
for an ultra-pristine image by consumers
of DVDs, HD TVs and other home theater
equipment. Because of this, even today's
big-budget movies are routinely restored
- to remove dirt, scratches, grain,
flicker, jitter, among other defects
- as part of the digital intermediate
process. As a result, the post houses
we spoke with all say they have seen
a dramatic increase in the volume of
film restoration business."
Supported
applications & compatibility
 |
After Effects
6.0 (or higher) |
|
|
Requires Windows XP
or 2000.
Digital Fusion & Mac OSX
support will be released later
in 2005.
|
|
|
Render farm support:
Film Fix will include an unlimited
render license and special render-only
versions that can be deployed
on an After Effects render farm.
The X-Factor plug-in for After
Effects will also work with the
render-only version of Film Fix. |
