Newington, VA – Dec. 3, 2007 – The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in Washington, DC, has contracted with Communications Engineering, Inc. (CEI) to provide an advanced motion picture scanning system for digitizing and storing thousands of motion pictures in its archives, CEI announced today. This special equipment will be used in the National Archives Motion Picture Preservation Laboratory for scanning and making accessible films that are often unique and/or irreplaceable.
The scanning system will play a key role in preserving and restoring more than 365,000 reels of valuable and often fragile film dating back to 1894. These include government- and commercially produced newsreels, public information and documentary films that serve as important records of the nation’s history. CEI has a great deal of experience with this technology, and recently provided complete integration services for the new Library of Congress National Audio-Visual Conservation Center in Culpeper, VA. This facility features three video and seven audio digital conversion rooms, plus a theater and two screening rooms.
Due to the specific requirements of NARA and the need to handle the films very carefully, CEI will install a Grass Valley Spirit 4K high-performance digital scanner and DataCine with a Bones interface, as well as a Digital Vision Phoenix digital workstation and restoration system. The Spirit 4K uses edge guides instead of pins and continuous motion instead of intermittent, which is safer for handling fragile film. It can also scan 7.5 frames per second at 4K resolution and can be operated by one person.
The Bones interface offers a variety of repair, image transfer and format applications, and the Phoenix system includes many tools for restoration, including color correction, image enhancement and format conversion. NARA anticipates having the system operational by spring 2008.
“As our motion picture archives continue to grow as well as age, the need for this kind of system has become critical, so we are pleased to have the capability to preserve and restore thousands of historically valuable federal films using newer and more powerful technology,” said Criss Kovac, Supervisory Motion Picture Preservation Specialist of NARA. “Instead of risking the loss of these important motion pictures due to degradation or damage, the National Archives will be able to make them available for many years to come.”
“Our extensive work with the Library of Congress and other facilities has given us great insight into the special needs of the National Archives when it comes to carefully digitizing and preserving delicate motion picture film,” said Vince Forcier, project manager for CEI. “The system we are designing and installing for NARA will provide the highest quality and safest handling possible while also delivering speed and ease of use for their technicians.”
Background:
CEI, located in Newington, VA, is a leading, award-winning broadcast and multi-media systems integrator. The company also offers complete equipment service, support and training, and supplies products and services to federal agencies and organizations through GSA. CEI has helped to define the leading edge of systems engineering and implementation for the communications industry since the mid1980’s.
