Could this technique be used on the Darnell film?

Remastered 1895 film clip

Phil my opinion would be that we would still need the original film or at the very least first gen copy.

Mick, I agree, but I'm not hopeful that we'll ever get the original. So, I think we should go with what's currently available.  If there's software that can be utilised to de-blur and add clarity to the Darnell film, then we should utilise it until such a time we get the original.

Phil Hopley wrote:Mick, I agree, but I'm not hopeful that we'll ever get the original. So, I think we should go with what's currently available.  If there's software that can be utilised to de-blur and add clarity to the Darnell film, then we should utilise it until such a time we get the original.

Phil, I'm with you mate. But I have to say I've spoken with experts with regards to what we might be able to achieve with what we've got available and to a man, they have all said there is no known software that would allow us to sharpen, enhance or improve the image as it is. I'm sorry to sound negative but I've tried for almost 2 or three years now and I'm being told this by everyone. I work with digital cinema currently and I concur with what I'm being told. There simply is not enough information in the copies floating about online.

There has to be enough information in the images to begin with. I have had that examined by Professors in that field and other film experts too. There is not enough there to attempt to sharpen, de blur or add clarity to any of the frames.

OK, thanks Mick. I guess we'll just have to wait until it gets released but I don't expect to be alive when it happens.

The problem with the PP films are they are not already clear. You'd basically be working from nothing. The 1896 Lumiere clip that was enhanced to 4K was pretty clear already, as witnessed by the side by side comparison.

I do wonder what the Zapruder film would like if this was done to it.

JFK Case wrote:The problem with the PP films are they are not already clear. You'd basically be working from nothing. The 1896 Lumiere clip that was enhanced to 4K was pretty clear already, as witnessed by the side by side comparison.

I do wonder what the Zapruder film would like if this was done to it.

Ah yes, but the original film will have enough information to perform enhancement work. That's key. The originals. All these online versions are compressed and of poor quality to begin with and yes they do looked blurred. 

I'm absolutely convinced if we ever got to see either the Weigman or Darnell original footage we would be so amazed at the quality of the footage. I do work in this area, I can attest to this. Not to be smug, just as a matter of what I've seen throughout my career.

The mere fact that the films have not been released should tell you something.