The power of Avisynth: restoring old 8mm films.

[videoFred]

==================================================================
*EDIT*
Update 17/09/2009:
New improved version version of the script, it can be downloaded from here:
http://www.64k.it/andres/data/f/film...ration_v03.rar


This is a full package with all needed plugins, source code included.
With special thanks to buzzqw for helping me with this.

I have also added a small helpfile (not finished yet)
The code is cleaned up, and the script needs less plugins now.
Both sharpening and denoising are improved, too.

Lots of frames, generated with the improved script, can be found on my website.
Please keep always in mind: this is real 8mm film, no video, no digital tape.
==================================================================




I have posted an example clip on Vimeo to show the people the incredible power of Avisynth.

http://www.vimeo.com/2823934

With special thanks to Fizick, Didée, Manao for making these exellent plugins available for all of us.

Special thanks to Josey_Wells too for the multithreaded version.
Averaging more then 4 frames in MVDegrainMulti() works very well for removing film dirt spots.

The example clip is showing the result of a special film restoring script I have made.

The filmtransfer itself was done by me, but that film needs a second wetgate transfer.
There was a dirt spot on the CCD from my camera too. But that's easy enough to fix.

I just could not wait to show you all these first results.

Fred.

[mikeytown2]

Awesome vid, thats quite amazing! It really shows the power of AviSynth. What did you use to stabilize the image, Deshaker?

As a side note, I think AviSynth could use more promotion and how-to's.
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=142451

[videoFred]

Originally Posted by mikeytown2

What did you use to stabilize the image, Deshaker?

DepanStabilize() of cource! The script does everything in one pass. But I use a special service clip for DepanEstimate().

Fred.

[halsboss]

Nice Job. Yes, what stabilisation ? Also, could you please post some of your scripts ? It'd be of use to the DV camcorder user base too Thanks.

[ankurs]

awesome work !

i'd love to see the script :P

[Blue_MiSfit]

Very nice!!

~Misfit

[sumawo13]

Excellent work.

[videoFred]

Thank you all for the kind words so far.

I will post the script here as soon as possible.

Fred.

[NerdWithNoLife]

It really is a fantastic demonstration. AviSynth is severely overlooked. I've seen other forums, where basically the advice goes like this: get a Mac. Get Final Cut Pro. Buy expensive stuff. But on the fundamentals of video and compression, the majority of people are clueless. I know a guy who works on video all the time (he's the video guy for a local institution) and he didn't know that film is 24fps and US TV is [approximately] 30. I don't say this to slam anyone, for we're all students at some level, it's just a shame they aren't getting more out of software/equipment that can cost thousands. Not every video should be processed with the same one-size-fits-all settings.

[Wilbert]

@videoFred,

I think it would be a great idea to write a guide about this subject on avisynth.org (ie about restoring old 8mm films)! I hope you are interested and i will help you if necessary.

[EuropeanMan]

wow - just saw the clip - AMAZING - specially the trains...what a difference

can't wait to see the script and the tools for your colour corrections.

[videoFred]

Originally Posted by NerdWithNoLife

AviSynth is severely overlooked.

Yes it is! That's why I have uploaded this clip on Vimeo in the first place.
The second reason was to show the quality from the old double-8mm film system.

Fred.

[videoFred]

Originally Posted by Wilbert

I think it would be a great idea to write a guide about this subject on avisynth.org

OK Wilbert, I will send you a PM.

Fred.

[videoFred]

*EDIT 16/09/2009*
The updated script is available for download now.
Please see top of this thread.

[jollye]

Hi,

That's really an amazing result. However I've noticed that when we pause the movie (for example on the cactus trees), there seem to be no details in the source. As it's impossible to get details that weren't present in the original, I suspect it's a compression side effect. It looks as if the original image is more compressed than the processed one.

Do you have an explanation?

Thanks

[videoFred]

Hello Jollye,

The old double-8mm film frame format is very tiny: 4.20x3.60mm. And because of the used anamorphic lens, that film was not so sharp to begin with. I have seen better. Second, I have captured the film with gamma set pretty high on my machine vision camera. It's a trick to be able to capture the dynamic range of real film.

So yes, the compression from my mpeg4 example clip is removing some detail from the original indeed.


Fred.

[smok3]

Originally Posted by videoFred

So yes, the compression from my mpeg4 example clip is removing some detail from the original indeed.
Fred.

And you were doing so well..., you do understand that this single fact actually breaks all the 'movie magic' ?

[tedkunich]

Originally Posted by videoFred

Here is the script:

# film restoring script by videoFred.

CLeft=30  CTop=30  CRight=30  CBottom=30  #crop values after Depan and before final resizing (40,30,40,30)

All suggestions to improve it are welcome.

Fred.

Fred,

One recommendation is to make the crop values multiples of 8 - LSF corrupts the output with the non-mod8 crop. (at least with my original 1008x1008 source (cropped HDV cam output))

I'm looking to replace the MVxxxMulti calls with Fizick's MVToolsV2 equivalents

Thanks again.

Ted

[videoFred]

Originally Posted by tedkunich

One recommendation is to make the crop values multiples of 8 - LSF corrupts the output with the non-mod8 crop.

Good hint! I did not realise this because it works without error messages. My machine camera source is 1024x768. When cropping 30 pixels on each side I get 964x708. But 960x704 would be better indeed. I will test this at once.

I'm looking to replace the MVxxxMulti calls with Fizick's MVToolsV2 equivalents

I have several versions of the script here, including with MVToolsV2.. with the 'super' clip. Works very fine too.

Thank you Ted and more tips are very welcome.

Fred.

[videoFred]

Originally Posted by smok3

And you were doing so well..., you do understand that this single fact actually breaks all the 'movie magic' ?

It's an internet upload! Easy to download for everybody.

It shows very well the effect from the script.

Fred.