How to Change From Film to DVD
- 1). Locate your film. Film prints often end up in attics or basements. If you worked extensively with a particular lab, give them a call. They often store past clients' negatives for years.
- 2). Examine your film. Hold up a section of it to a bright light and look at the image in the frame. Be sure to note if the image is a positive or a negative. If it's a negative, handle the film with extreme care. That is your only original copy. If you still have an old film projector, you can use it to evaluate a positive print but exercise care. Some films shrink with age and can break during projection.
- 3). Select a film and video lab to transfer your film to video. Keep in mind that prices vary according to the quality of the lab. For example, a lab that works with Hollywood studios might charge $200 a minute for a pristine, high-end transfer. If your film is going to be shown at major film festivals or possesses significant historical value, that might be the correct decision. However, if you are just transferring some goofy Super-8 home movies, a "mom-and-pop" operation may be able to do adequate work at a much more affordable price.
- 4). Clean the print. You can do this yourself or have your lab take care of it. (See Resources: "How to Clean and Preserve 16mm film" for details on how to clean your film--in any gauge).
- 5). Take your print to a film and video lab for transfer to DVD. Be sure to get an estimate from the lab beforehand on cost. Oftentimes, they will give you the option of creating a video master in a format other than DVD such as Digi-Beta or Mini-DV. Even if you don't own a Digi-Beta deck, it may be a good idea to have a master in an archival format if the film is valuable. DVDs do not age well.
- 6). After the transfer is complete, obtain a DVD copy from the lab. If you like what you see, order additional copies.