Movie Film Color Restoration

HD 1080 from 1968 Super-8 Film Raw film capture	HD 1080 from 1968 Super-8 Film with Color Restoration
HD 1080 from 1966 Super-8 Film Raw film capture	HD 1080 from 1966 Super-8 Film with Color Restoration
HD 1080 from 1968 Super-8 Film Raw film capture	HD 1080 from 1968 Super-8 Film with Color Restoration
HD 1080 from 1966 Super-8 Film Raw film capture	HD 1080 from 1966 Super-8 Film with Color Restoration

Why does Movie Film Fade?

As your movie film ages, the dyes in the movie film will begin to fade; taking a lifetime of memories with it. Movie film wasn't meant to last, and the fading can occur within a few years of after being developed. The fading of the dyes in movie film is due to a chemical change of the movie film dye, light exposure & temperature.

Once movie film has been developed the most important aspect in its longevity is the chemical stability of the dyes. Prior to 1980, cyan was very susceptible to fading, which caused the movie film to fade to a purplish hue which is caused by the fading of the yellow & cyan. Once the fading has occurred to the movie film, there is nothing that can be done to restore the actual movie film. Luckily, with today's technology, faded movie film can be corrected digitally.

If movie film is kept at room temperature fading can occur within a few years, which means that color & negative movie film stock that is 40+ years old may have suffered significant fading. The best method to store movie film is in humidity & temperature controlled cold storage, however, the chances of your childhood home movies being stored in this manner are slim. Most movie films are stored in basements, attics, closets & under beds.

There are different types of fading, Dark Fading and Light Exposure Fading. Dark Fading is not caused by darkness, but refers to the fading that occurs while movie film is stored in darkness. Fading that occurs while movie film is being stored in darkness is most affected by temperature & humidity. The fading that is seen due to Dark Fading will be visible as an overall color shift caused by cyan, magenta & yellow dyes fading.

Light fading is caused by UV radiation & light exposure. Fading due to light exposure & UV radiation can account for the majority of fading of movie film. The fading that is seen due to Light Fading will be visible in the lighter areas of the picture becoming washed out, while the darker areas remain relatively intact.

Wear & Tear
The most common type of "wear & tear" damage that you will see are broken sprocket holes. This is caused by a malfunctioning, misthreaded projector, or one that has lost its loop. Black lines that are seen in film are called base scratches, and the green lines that are seen are emulsion scratches.

Vinegar Syndrome
Vinegar Syndrome is a breakdown of the acetate base, which causes the film to become wrinkled, dry & brittle. High humidity & keeping the film sealed in a can will speed the process.

What Type of Movie Film Do You Have?