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Avid Tech DVD Transfer Centre also doubles as a film hospital for 8 & 16 mm films in poor condition that require specialist treatment due to the vinegar syndrome or brittleness due to age and storage problems.

Avid Tech's resident film doctor Dr Film aka Jonathon has worked with film for many years and has considerable expertise in dealing with restoration and repairs as well as telecine of very fragile film stock.

Many films have been kept in less than ideal storage and can suffer a raft of damages from various causes. The worst of these is the dreaded Vinegar effect - Vinegar Syndrome

Avid Tech can repair and recover film stock that has not totally disintegrated

using specialised film treatments & lubricants along with modified cement splicing.

Removal and cleaning of water damage, reduction in mould and mildew or just plain grime.

Treatment for deformed or curled 8mm film has been made possible so that more film can be recovered for transfer than was once possible, this treatment was developed by Avid Tech of course.

Some films exhibit many different stages of breakdown including dry dust (white powder) residue

which can be safely neutralized.

Greasy or oily to touch film stock can be expertly cleaned and reconditioned for telecine with our proprietary treatments that do no use dangerous chemicals such as trilene or solvent cleaning agents.

Super wetting agents are used prior to cleaning or washing film by hand and after drying films each reel is inspected for damage and repaired using cement splicing.

Fresh film reels are used and old metal reels and film cans are cleaned and damaged reels are refurbushed or replaced.

Once your film has had it's surgery the film is taken to the recovery room for resting as part of the conditioning process and scheduled for transplantation to a digital format for future generations to observe.

While we have had a little fun putting this page up, it is in fact a serious situation and we treat your films recovery as a matter of great importance.

90% of films are in fine condition, however we do regular recovery works on very poor condition film stock.

Nitrate Film Stock Warning:

 

Older films made from nitrate can not be accepted for treatment and you must not attempt to transport Nitrate films by post or courier and definitely never by air transport. Old Nitrate films are hazardous and highly flammable. Please call us if you suspect your film is Nitrate based for testing procedure.

Never store nitrate film stock in your home or near flammable materials.

Nitrate films can become unstable and unpredictable-GET EXPERT ADVICE.

Thanks for taking the time to read the Dr Film, the film doctor and hospital for films page.

Caring for brittle and degenerating older films is a significant part of our operations.

You should consider Avid Tech if your films smell strongly as other methods of transfer that do not use Avid Tech's FXF system that has no sprockes or gears is asking for diaster, normal projectors can not be trusted to transport brittle or vinegar affected films and will in a majority of cases casue more damage. Trust the film rescue service that more people trust than any other film transfe service.