8mm Forum: Grain removal

This is topic Grain removal in forum 8mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Tom Fales (Member # 2618) on January 14, 2013, 08:39 AM:

I'm looking for input on the best way to remove noise or grain from old 8mm films. I've used Neat Video and also played around with VirtualDub, but looking for input on the best workflow once films are captured to PC.

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on January 14, 2013, 08:56 AM:

There are a lot of software to sharpen or to soften (remove the grain) picture. Even on youtube we can do using their feature. But the side effect is the picture loosing its sharpness.

Posted by Bill Brandenstein (Member # 892) on January 14, 2013, 12:03 PM:

I once tried a grain removal effect in Adobe After Effects and it did a great job without hurting sharpness. This was years ago so I don't know what's in the program now. But I do know Adobe gives fully-functional 30-day trial downloads, so it might be worth looking into.

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on January 14, 2013, 07:46 PM:

I've had the best results with Freddy Van de Putte's Avisynth film restoring scripts. Here is an example of Freddy's 8mm film restoration https://vimeo.com/13173031 and here is mine of 16mm film http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqQfz4ccvy8&list=HL1358213347&feature=mh_lolz

[ January 15, 2013, 02:01 AM: Message edited by: Janice Glesser ]

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on January 14, 2013, 08:17 PM:

Janice, Fred's work is absolutely wonderful. But sorry for my ignorance, what does "script" mean? and what is the name of software being used?

thanks

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on January 14, 2013, 10:09 PM:

A script is written in a particular scripting language. Avisynth is not a program, but a scripting language for manipulating video. The VirtualDub program can read and translate the scripts. If you search on YouTube you can find tutorials for creating scripts with Avisynth and VirtualDub. Freddy has written a couple variations of his restoration scripts, which are completely customizable.

Posted by Tom Fales (Member # 2618) on January 16, 2013, 09:59 AM:

Thanks for the input. I've used VirtualDub but found Neat Video does a better job. I'm a bit intimidated by AVIsynth, but maybe I'll go through the youtube samples.
Also, I've never used the Adobe suite products, including After Effects. I think I'll try the trial and see if they have plugins that will improve on it.

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on January 16, 2013, 10:27 AM:

Janice, I am sorry again for my ignorance, but how does the script to be included (installed?) in the software?

And why we need that script, does not the software company say about all features available?

I am still confused.

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on January 16, 2013, 11:46 AM:

The most familiar comparison I can think of is HTML and your browser. HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language. Your browser is a program that translates the HTML text coding to display as formated text and graphics. This is how a scripting language works also.

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on January 16, 2013, 11:53 AM:

Thanks Janice,

I understand HTML so we only need to copy and paste Fred's script into the software, is that right?

Where in the software we can paste that script?

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on January 16, 2013, 12:07 PM:

Winbert, like I mentioned before, you can search YouTube to find some examples and tuts on Avisynth. Here's a good one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXByaCFgIHc. Like an HTML file an Avisynth script is merely a file that you bring up in Virtualdub. The script contains all the information to locate the video file and apply the filters.

That's about all I can do to describe it here. You will have to do your own due diligence at this point [Smile]

Good Luck!

Posted by John Yapp (Member # 2873) on January 16, 2013, 01:28 PM:

Tom, I would wholeheartedly agree with Janice on this one. Learning to make "Videofred"'s avisynth script work in virtualdub involves a bit of a steep learning curve, if like me, you have only basic computer skills, but the results are truly amazing and the script can be tweaked to get the results you personally like. This topic raises an interesting point for me after reading recent "Analogue versus Digital" posts. Using this method, Film can be cleaned, degrained, stabilised and otherwise manipulated, to the point where decades old film looks like digital media. I know there are those on this forum who show their dislike for anything digital,, yet spend lots of time transferring their films to it. I appreciate that much of this work is often for archival purposes, but perhaps it highlights the fact that there is a place for both in our lives.

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on January 17, 2013, 12:59 AM:

I'm in complete agreement with you John. I've done a lot of film transfers now...and truthfully the digitized versions just don't have the "character" as the projected film. However, once it's digitized I want it to look as good as I can get it. I just don't seem to be able to tolerate shaky camera movements... graininess... washed out colors...and fuzzy images on a big screen TV. So I do everything I can to restore the color...sharpness...and stability with the digital tools available. I believe the extent of restoration is purely a personal preference...with as much or as little modification one likes.

Posted by John Vice (Member # 5569) on December 02, 2016, 12:29 AM:

Sorry to resurrect this thread, but I was looking for Freddy's script. All the links on the internet that I can find seem to lead to a dead page at the doom9.org forums. Does anyone know where i can find it?

Posted by Alan Gouger (Member # 31) on December 02, 2016, 08:12 AM:

In the morning I always check in on the forum to see what Ive missed. I had yet to grab my reading glasses and thought the title said "Brain Removal" [Eek!]

Glad that was not the case [Smile]

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on December 02, 2016, 11:41 AM:

Wow! You're not kidding Janice!

I'll need to use something along those lines when i get around to restoring my scope home movies I shot some 30 years ago. They were sharp even back then, but this program makes them look 16MM sharp!

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on December 03, 2016, 08:54 AM:

John...I emailed Freddy ...

quote:
Hello Janice,

I have nothing removed, it's a problem with the Doom9 Forum. For some reason, there is no acces to older threads. (not only mine, others too)

This is the direct link to my script:
http://www.super-8.be/avisynth/Film_Restoring_vs_06_2012.zip

kind regards,
Freddy.

Posted by John Vice (Member # 5569) on December 04, 2016, 10:39 AM:

Thank you. Very kind of you.

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