We would be pleased to review an off-line and EDLs of the opticals on your project and provide you with a competitive quote for "digitals".
Our Approach
Our experience in high-resolution scanning
and film recording has allowed us to develop an approach to the creation of
digital opticals that preserves the entire dynamic range of the original negative
and minimizes generational loss. All footage to be effected is transferred
to high resolution, 10 bit log format digital files. This format can store
the entire dynamic range of the negative - from base density to 2.048 (status
M) above base. The deepest shadow detail and the brightest specular highlights
are preserved in this transfer.
All effects are executed digitally using software that does not compromise the dynamic range of the original footage. Completed effects are recorded directly onto Kodak 5242 stock using a laser recorder. The result is a negative with virtually no grain build up that also matches the dynamic range of the original. Even the most complex optical effect is executed in a single digital generation.
Benefits
One
of the biggest benefits of going digital is the control of dirt that inevitably
finds its way into an optical process. Once transferred to digital, footage
can be inspected and dirt digitally painted out, providing clean footage to
work with. Digitally, we are free to create effects without the possibility
of dirt being introduced. When the effect is recorded to 5242 it is in the
laser recorder's controlled environment.
Just as visual effects have benefited from the advent of digital technology so too can opticals. Software gives us a degree of control that the optical process cannot match. For example, digital colour correction can include red, green and blue adjustments as well as the ability to affect highlights, midtones, shadow detail, or gamma independently. Changes can be viewed on the computer monitor prior to committing to film. Similarly, dissolves and fades can incorporate customized exposure curves to control the transition from A to B.
Titles over picture or black also benefit from the digital process. High densities can be achieved on the negative without ballooning or bleeding. Customized colours, drop shadows and outlines can be used to enhance title work.