Learn More about our process for digitizing 16mm Movie Film
At Village Green Preservation, we love working with 16mm film. Its one-of-a-kind vintage content can be over 100 years old, and the larger frame size can produce high-definition digital videos that look great on a phone or a large TV.
We digitize a ton of 16mm film reels for families, film students and production companies, and our reputation for attention to detail means you will be thrilled with the final product.
Call or text 406-404-1576, or send an email.
We're here to help: Reach out to talk to a real person about your project.
At Village Green Preservation, we take pride in our customer service and attention to detail. Any time you call, text or email, you speak to the same experts who will work on your project. No call centers, no sales pitch.
Our goal is to make you feel comfortable taking the next steps with your precious memories. We want you to have a good understanding of what to expect, including pricing, without any obligation.
Read on to learn how we create the highest quality digital video from your 16mm film, or contact us any time. Call or text 406-404-1576, or send an email.
Specialized equipment captures the most detail from 16mm Film
We use a top-of-the-line vintage 16mm projector that has been retrofitted with a bright-white LED bulb. This eliminates the chance of your film overheating and becoming warped or melting during the transfer process.
The images (and sound) are projected directly to a high-definition digital sensor at the original frame rate. This creates a 1080p resolution MP4 file that captures an amazing amount of detail from every frame of your 16mm film reels.
But wait, there's more! How we use software to enhance the final product.
Many of our competitors stop there, delivering the original capture as the final product.
At Village Green, we take advantage of recent advances in editing software and machine learning to restore and enhance the digital version of your 16mm Film. Our process keeps the files true to the original while delivering the best possible viewing experience.
We use specialized software to eliminate the “shake” from old movie cameras, without cropping out the edges of the film like older programs tend to do. A sharpening filter subtly improves the detail of each frame. Then we use intelligent frame interpolation to fix the playback speed and convert the file to modern frame rates for a smooth, natural look on your devices without losing (or inventing) any detail. When it’s needed, we also manually adjust the color of your film to look more natural, just like it did when it was first developed.
Once those steps are complete, the file is optimized to retain the highest quality with file sizes that are easy to manage and play back on the devices you use every day.
What's next? How to enjoy your digitized 16mm Home Movies
Once your digital film transfer is ready, you can choose the delivery method that helps you and your family easily watch on the devices they are most comfortable with. MP4 Video files can be delivered as a shareable download link, or on a USB Thumb Drive (or both). Request as many DVDs as you want too! We can create multiple sets of your videos and ship anywhere in the US, turning your home movies into a gift the whole family can share and bond over.
Getting started: Can 16mm Film Reels be shipped?
Village Green Preservation is located in Billings Montana, and serves all of Montana and surrounding states from here. If you are in the area, contact us to arrange a drop-off or delivery.
If you are farther away, you can safely and inexpensively ship your film to be digitized. Film reels aren’t affected by airport or post office scanners. We recommend using USPS Media Mail or UPS Ground. Because Billings is the postal hub for Montana, we receive most packages in 1-2 shipping days!
Call or text 406-404-1576, or send an email.