What
transfer method do you use?
Phoenix uses sprocketless technology to gently guide the film over the scanner, where digital images are made of each and every cell of your film. You may have heard this referred to as a 'frame by frame scan'. There is no screen involved so no loss of quality or blurriness is possible. This is a clear, sharp scan of every single cell of your film.
These images are then built up to form a movie. Once on the computer, the film is cleaned up manually by our expert team of graphic artists.
then through the software, with careful editing to remove
unwanted sections such as leader-tape. Finally, your editor will watch each section of film and apply colour correction
filters to restore the natural colours and remove horrible
tints caused over time.
What
is the best format to archive my footage?
Alive Studios strongly
recommend customers to order an archive copy
of their transfer on mini dv tape.This
highly versatile, high quality, long-lasting
format allows you to easily edit your films
at a later date, and the nature of the tape
is very durable and far harder to damage than
a DVD. Whilst many customers order AVI files
for editing, you will find a miniDV tape a
better permanent storage format.
If you want to safely store this important film for generations to come, then
this is your best option by far.
Do
you edit out the leader tape?
Yes. We take out as much unused film as possible
including the leader tape at the start and end of
each reel. Whilst we cannot remove everything without
charging for a full edit, we do endeavor to remove
as much unused film as possible.
How
much film will fit on a dvd / miniDV / AVI
1h 20mins for
DVD - 1h for miniDV and 18mins for AVI
Do
you keep a backup?
Yes. We always retain a backup of any DVD's
we produce which are safely stored for ever so you
can request extra copies on DVD or video at any time
in the future for just £15. (This allow upto 6 hours of film. If you have more than 6 hours, then you will be charged £15 for every 6 hours).
(we do not make backups when we have been asked to
transfer to mini DV or an uncompressed format unless
a DVD copy was also ordered).
Can
you transfer film with sound?
Yes. There is a charge of £40 per hour of sound (charged in 1 hour bands, so 1.5 hours would cost £80 etc).
What
are DVD Menus?
Imagine the Index page of a book - A list
of chapters allowing you to quickly jump to any part
of the story with ease.
DVD chapters are just the same. You have a main Index
screen which lists all the chapters. Using your DVD remote
you can select the chapter you want to view and hey presto
you're there! No more fast-forwarding to your favourite
part, it's all at the touch of a button. DVD Menus are
also great for recording important information about
each piece of film for your future generations - Who,
When and Where...
How
long will my order take?
Our normal turn-around is 2-3 weeks, but please
allow longer for busy periods such as Christmas. If
your order is needed for a particular date please call
the Studio and ask for a current lead-time, then clearly
indicate your desired date when ordering. We can sometimes
turn-around orders in a matter of days on special request
so if you've left it a little late for that important
anniversary do give us a call - it's worth asking!
Can
I post my order to you?
Yes. We operate a world-wide service so accept
orders from anywhere in the UK and abroad.
When posting your reels please carefully wrap them in
bubble-wrap or other appropriate protective packaging,
then send using Special Delivery or a courier such as
TNT.
If you want your reels returning by post please add £10
to your order.
Please note that cine films cannot be insured due to
their age and indeterminate value, so any insurance you
take out when posting will not be valid in the event
of a lost parcel. The most important thing is to make
sure you label the package as 'Fragile' and use a service
that is traceable such as recorded or special delivery.
Will
my DVD Play in the USA?
Our DVDs are region-free.
So has long as the TV can play PAL
then that's all you need to know.
Do
you charge for mixed film?
No. You can mix any type of film in your order
for no extra charge.
Do you charge for film breaks?
No. Part of our service is putting together
broken splices.
What
are your terms and conditions?
Click
here to read them.
Can
I edit my DVD myself?
For full information about editing on your computer, please visit our support page.
Do
you copy-protect the DVD's?
No. You are free to make your own copies.
My
film is to be used for commercial purposes (ie
a training video)
That's fine. Our prices are the same for domestic
and commercial customers. You may however like
to choose our 'unbranded' option which for an extra £100
per order, removes any trace of our studio branding from
the film and the packaging. This also allows you to send
in your logo to be included on the box.
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