Scottish Screen Archive moving image preservation strategy (PDF)

More documents

Recommendations

Info

A. Motion picture film preservation All gauges of film stock are preserved by Scottish Screen Archive, these include: 35mm, 16mm, 9.5mm, 8mm standard, Super 8mm plus other rarer gauges if required There are two routes for preserving celluloid stock: 1: Storage in controlled environment 2: Duplication of deteriorating originals to modern film stock These are not mutually exclusive. The size of Scottish Screen Archive's divisional film collection requiring to be duplicated for preservation vastly exceeds the capacity of the Scottish Screen Archive's financial and technical resources. The principal strategy therefore is to preserve the film material through storage in a controlled environment, thereby stabilising the collection against further deterioration, and buying time for any duplication in the future. The small annual divisional budget for preservation duplication will be reserved for those specific classes of material under threat from chemical decay and for which long term storage is not an appropriate conservation strategy. 1. Preservation through storage Storage conditions are vital in preserving celluloid motion picture materials. Cold temperatures and low relative humidity will increase the lifespan of film stock by hundreds of years. This will prevent the fading of colour dyes and fungus growth. Materials affected by acetic degradation, known as ‘vinegar syndrome,’ require to be stored at sub-zero temperatures to slow down this autocatalytic chemical reaction. The time taken for motion pictures to degrade to destruction depends on three main factors, stock type, storage conditions and processing quality. Nitrate and acetate film stock can become chemically unstable within a short period of time if stored at high temperatures and humidity. Badly processed film also speeds up chemical decay. The main NLS preservation strategy should be to aim for optimum archival storage conditions in its film vaults. Film Type Colour and Nitrate Film Black and White Film Film with Commag Soundtrack Magnetic Soundtracks Optimum Archival Storage Conditions -20 degrees centigrade / 30% relative humidity -10 degrees centigrade / 30% relative humidity 10 degrees centigrade / 35% relative humidity 10 degrees centigrade / 35% relative humidity New scientific research may mean that optimum storage conditions may change in the future. NLS should be prepared to modify storage conditions based on any new scientific evidence or experience gained. 2
2. Preservation through duplication The following classes of film will be prioritised for duplication: Nitrate film stock: Due to the inevitable chemical breakdown, the hazardous nature of nitro-cellulose stock and the fact that NLS cannot store large quantities of material on site for safety reasons. Acetate picture or magnetic soundtrack affected by vinegar syndrome. Magnetic soundtracks must be rerecorded onto new magnetic stock or digitised. 3. Digital technology Digital technology will eventually take over from motion picture film. s this technology increases its hold on moving image production and exhibition, traditional photochemical film laboratory services will decline and film duplication stocks will be phased out. Eventually motion picture film stock manufacture will cease to exist. 35mm film should be scanned at a resolution of at least 4k and 16mm film at 2k. Digital technology will eventually become a major ally in film preservation, enabling the duplication of the celluloid image and sound information onto digital formats without any loss of picture or sound information. B. Videotape preservation The Scottish Screen Archive preserves a range of videotape formats including: 1 inch, Sony 1/2 inch, U-Matic, Hi-8, VHS, S-VHS, Betacam SP, Digital Betacam, Mini DV, HDCAM, HDCAM-SR and others 1. Preservation through storage Videotape masters should be stored in a cool and dry environment. This will greatly increase the original tapes’ lifespan. Videotape kept outwith proper storage will degrade over time. Videotape can become chemically unstable within a short period of time if stored at high temperatures and humidity. Lubricants used in the original tape formula will start to separate and extrude onto the tape surface. This will cause the tape to stick on the video player drum and make it impossible to play back the recording. The main NLS preservation strategy should be to aim for optimum archival storage conditions for its video and magnetic recordings. Videotape Conditions All formats Optimum Archival Storage Conditions 10 degrees centigrade / 35% relative humidity Preservation through duplication Videotape formats are in a constant cycle of change, driven largely by the market interests of the manufacturers of the hardware. Any preservation strategy for archival materials must be prepared to embrace a culture of format migration as the commercial 3
Page 1: National Library of Scotland: Scott

Scottish Screen Archive moving image preservation strategy (PDF)

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?