|
|
||
|
|
||
Welcome to our FAQ page
What
is stop-motion capture and why is it better than capture using a projector
or telecine machine? What is stop-motion capture and why is it better than capture using a projector or telecine machine? Stop-motion capture creates a digital photograph of each frame of your film from edge to edge. For example, this means that approximately 3400 separate images of a 50-foot reel of 8mm film are captured as individual digital images and then reconstructed as a single digital video file. In addition, this method allows capture of the entire frame without cropping and at the greatest clarity because no projector bulb is used allowing for a bright, clear image from edge to edge. Quality is unsurpassed by any other method. Why would anyone want just the Basic Film Conversion package? Many people don't have the capability or perhaps the desire to transfer films but they enjoy authoring their own videos. The basic conversion allows these editors to import the digital conversion into their own Non-Linear Editing (NLE) software and do with it whatever they want. Since they know their wants and needs better than anyone, this package allows them to personally create their own DVD projects. What is DVD authoring? DVD authoring means that we edit your production into a movie event customized for you. We create a custom menu, navigation buttons, moving menus and other effects. We build chapters for easy navigation, design custom transitions and graphic effects. You just tell us what you want and we will make it happen. What is color correction? Processing of thirty or forty year old films was done with chemicals that were harsh and over time, these chemicals cause many films to become saturated with usually a red or blue hue. With our premium packages, we can filter out that hue and in most cases restore the original colors to your films. Of course, color correction on severely saturated films may cause a more monochromatic result. What does Editing include? Editing means we can move scenes around in your production, placing them where you want them. We also take out stray frames or sections of film or tape that do not have a usable image. This would include sections that you don't want, film frames that are too dark to see an image, splices, and frames with burn marks or bubbles. We don't remove scenes that are simply out of focus or distorted. Only the movie segments you want omitted and those with no image are removed. Editing can also include motion stabilization for shaky or jittery film and the addition of special effects such as overlays, framing, lower thirds, or sound effects. Synchronizing music to match each reel of film is also a form of editing. Editing is a very time-consuming process and that is why the costs associated with it are reflected in our premium packages. How does a Review Copy help me? A review copy allows you to see the Basic Transfer to determine if you want to enhance your video by adding music, text, graphics, audio narration, introductions etc. and/or to allow you to view your films to determine the order you want them displayed on your DVD, determine how each reel should be titled and if any segments require editing. All of our review copies contain a reel number and timeline time-code so you can easily move segments of film by merely listing reel number or time-code ranges. If you decide you want to make changes or enhancements after you receive your final copy we must restart the project and charge another setup fee so if there are any questions, a Review Copy is a great idea. What is a motion menu? A standard navigation menu or motion menu is the chapter menu that comes with the enhanced and Hollywood Transfer. It allows you to easily navigate through your DVD instead of having to watch the entire disc from start to finish. It generally displays a small 10 second movie clip of the chapter referenced on a button on the DVD main menu. We will title your overall DVD, set the chapters according to your reels and title each chapter as you desire. How will my movies or montages be packaged? Each project (except the digital wedding invitation, PowerPoint, and the Promotional DVD) is packaged in a standard 14mm DVD case with a custom-designed wrap or insert. We have cases that hold as many as 10 discs or nearly 20 hours of film content. We use brand-name, premium quality, printable discs that usually mirror the design on the cover. For film conversion projects with known chapters, we provide a DVD booklet cataloging each chapter on the discs. Copies of Digital Wedding Invitations come standard in a clear plastic, white or pastel-colored paper sleeve (based on availabity). Upgrades to engraved Sterling silver or stainless steel DVD cases are available. Promotional DVDs are packaged in a high-quality flexible plastic jewel case suitable for mailing. PowerPoint conversions are packaged in a standard thin-line jewel case (custom designed DVD cases are available for $5.00 more per DVD). Will my photographs be cut or changed in any way? No cropping or retouching of photographs is done with the physical picture. We scan-in all photographs that will fit on the scanner top and take digital photographs of those that will not. We take great care to ensure that your actual photographs are never altered in any way. The video presentation may show a cropped image for aesthetic effect but no actual cropping of any photograph occurs. What type of photo repair do you offer? We use several different software applications to retouch the scanned copy of your photographs to remove obvious blemishes such as red eye, some date stamps, or artifacts that may have become embedded in the photograph over time. We can repair and restore torn or scratched photos and oftentimes, even partially restore photos which have sustained water or mold damage. In some cases, we can remove or add persons or objects in your photos. We also apply filters to enhance the clarity of photos that may have dark faces due to backlighting issues. We never alter the original photograph. Ask us about purchasing retouched copies of your old photographs. How long will my order take? Memorial Montages (of 40 pictures or less) can usually be completed within 48 hours if needed. All other montages can take anywhere from 2 days to a week depending on the number of pictures and the complexity of the montage. Wedding Invitations can take up to two weeks due to the amount of photograph masking that is required. 8mm film conversions should be given at least 30 days and if you have a large amount of old films, they could take as long as 90 days depending on the level of service you request. Promotional videos can normally be completed in 7-10 days. Simple PowerPoint conversions can be completed in as little as 24 hours per 4 hours of content. All of these times are estimates only. Packaging and shipping of your product is not included in these estimates. What is the maximum number of pictures I may use? There are no maximum number of photographs that may be used in any slideshow/montage. However, our experience has shown us that generally, less is better. More photographs usually means either more music or less display time for each photograph. The overwhelming majority of slideshows we have produced have run between 8 and 20 minutes and included from 2 to 4 music selections and 30 to 120 pictures. When is payment due? Normally payment is due upon completion of your project (except rush-order funeral/visitation montages where payment is due upon submission of photos). We always contact you prior to beginning any project apprising you of an estimated cost to complete your project. If we require other arrangements due to the nature of your project we will let you know upon receipt of your order. Otherwise, once we have completed your project we will contact you for payment. Once we receive payment, we will send your films, slides and tapes back with your new DVD's or tapes. Wiregrass Montage accepts most major credit cards, PayPal, and cashiers or personal checks*. (*Personal checks require a 15 day approval period before projects are shipped.) What type of media is used? DVD: We use
only professional quality, name-brand, archival-quality DVD-R. If your
player does not play the DVD-R format, please let us know when you order.
All DVD players do not necessarily play all DVD formats. However, we
are committed to provide you with a product that will play on your machine.
If the original discs are incompatible with your equipment, we will
replace them at no charge with discs created in another format*. *Replacement format may require a different level of service with regard to menus and chapter markers. Do I have to order online? No. We will happily make arrangements to meet with you or speak by telephone to discuss your project. "WiregrassMontage.com and Wiregrass Montage and Film Conversion do not sell, give or lend your personal data to any other organization or person."
|
||
