FEATURES

Scanner brand

Lasergraphic – ScanStation

Input film format

35mm, 16mm, Super 16mm, 28mm, 17.5mm, 9.5mm, 8mm, Super 8mm

Output resolution and formats

5,5K, 5K, 4K, 2K HD, SD
formats: ProRes 4444XQ, 422 HQ, DPX, TIFF and others -> …. H264, H265

“Pinless scanning” technology

Conventional scanners use pins when scanning film frames: when a frame is stopped to be captured, pins are placed into the perforations and align the film into exact position. If, however, the film is damaged or shrunken, the spacing between the perforations is changed and does not correspond to the settings of the pins. The result is jitter and above all the danger of damaging the perforation holes.

Modern film scanners use optical pin registration. A beam of light measures each frame all the way to the perforation. It then digitally places the captured image into the proper position. The result is a jitter-free picture even despite warping or damage.

Although scanning is achieved through optical registration of the perforation holes, the technology is not disrupted when scanning films where perforations are missing or already damaged. It can tolerate the absence of up to 15 perforation holes. It can also easily overcome potential splicing.

Pinless scanning technology is an important advantage for older films where age has led to a change in dimensions through shrinkage or warping. Another advantage is that fragile perforations are protected against further damage. The technology naturally cannot suppress jitter that originated when the film was being shot.

Light source

The new type of scanners use a low-temperature diffuse RGB LED light to scan frames.

The problem of dirt

The diffuse light reduces fine scratches and fingerprints on the emulsion side of the film without softening or blurring the picture. In contrast, a classic narrow light source “copies” such damage during scanning because the light deflects at the edge of the damage. Diffuse light on the other hand “ignores” the damage, as the deflected rays of light are replaced by others.

The problem of sharpness

Older warped films lose their focus in the scanning field. The new type of scanners, which use a strong flash of light, increase the depth of focus. This allows better processing of warped and crinkled film. The depth of focus also leads to greater tolerance to splicing, with the frames around the splice also focussed more deeply.

Collimated light source and diffuse light

FEATURES

Protection of old and damaged films

The new type of scanner is especially considerate to the scanning of older films:

cool LED light source protects the film against heat damage
strong flash of the light increases the depth of focus and allows the processing of crinkled or warped film
diffuse light corrects surface scratches and dust
“pinless scanning” technology protects delicate perforation and ensures a still image

Damaged film

Soundtrack reader

For 16mm and 35mm optical sound, the scanner is equipped with an optical digital reader. This is much more technologically advanced than a classic optical reader with an analogue exciter. The digital reader works on a similar principal as digital image scanning, meaning the soundtrack is also scanned separately while scanning the visual field, and is then digitally “stitched” together. In this manner the scanned optical sound recording is as faithful as possible to the original.

For magnetic audio on 16mm, the scanner is equipped with a magnetic reader.

HDR scanning

The principle of HDR (High Dynamic Range) consists of a double exposure/scanning of a single film frame. This technology allows a higher dynamic range to be achieved and thus the best rendering of light and shadow. HDR is beneficial when it is necessary to obtain as much visual information as possible from too dark or overexposed scenes.

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