Fast and reliable access to high quality content is an essential part of your business. We work closely with you to ensure your titles arrive in good condition and in the right format for theatrical, broadcast or DVD delivery. We can manage as much or as little as you need including secure transportation of film material, ultrasonic cleaning, HD to 4K scanning, sound capture, remastering from original A & B roll negative, grading and even colourisation.
Moving Pictures
You have better things to do than worry about making sure film gets to where it needs to be.
That’s why we handle all film shipments coming to us via our secure film shuttle van service operating weekdays between London and Bristol.
Best of all this shuttle service is entirely free to all new film distribution clients starting a contract with us.
Why Choose Nulight
Our Process
Explore our custom workflow for film distributors and see what we can do for you
Collect & Catalogue
Inspect & Repair
Our team thoroughly inspects your film to identify any issues that could affect picture quality during the scan. This includes repair of weak joins, damaged edges and adding new leader. This preparation stage helps deliver a cleaner and more stable image as well as significantly reducing the time and cost of any subsequent restoration.
Ultrasonic Cleaning
Digitise Picture & Sound
We use the state-of-the-art Golden Eye 4 archive film scanner which is both gentle on film and supports all standard plus many obsolete formats. Our best light transfer process ensures every frame is captured at up to 4K resolution and 16-bit colour and stored as DPX. Combined optical or magnetic audio is captured at the same time with other audio formats transferred separately and then synced to picture.
Edit to Reference
Where a title is being digitally remastered from negative rushes or A&B rolls the scanned footage is carefully re-edited against a reference copy of the original film. Meticulous attention is given to ensuring a frame-perfect reproduction from matching fades and transitions to including any visual effects added after filming.
Picture Restoration
Picture restoration occurs in two stages. First, we use Phoenix auto-restoration tools to remove the majority of surface debris or picture damage such as dust, dirt sparkle and flicker. Next, we meticulously inspect each frame and restore issues such as scratches, tears, hairs, stability, grain, and warping. In addition to film we can restore a wide range of issues specific to video tape including dropouts, interlacing, noise, moire and crosstalk.
Sound Restoration
Our sound restoration process begins with a clean and noise-free digital transfer of magnetic, variable density optical and variable area optical formats. Our sound engineer uses a range of techniques with ProTools and other audio software to remove any unwanted noise such as high frequency hiss, pops and crackle whilst taking great care to preserve the original character of the sound.
Colour Grading
We offer two levels of digital colour grading. A technical grade aims to correct any age related discolouration that might have occurred over time in the underlying image and return colours to their natural look. Meanwhile, a creative grade offers precise adjustments of individual colours or specific parts of the images to give an new and updated look to the film.
Review & Approval
At any point it’s easy to review your films and suggest changes through our client portal. Larger, high quality files can also be sent using Media Shuttle. Alternatively, clients are always welcome to visit our facilities in person to review thier films on 4K monitors or our 2K projection suite.
Export and Delivery
Receive master copies of your films in either 10, 12 or 16 bit DPX files or other mathematically and visually lossless video formats including Quicktime, MXF, AVI and MKV. For theatrical release we offer a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or for home entertainment a professionally authored DVD or Bluray master.
Client Testimonials
Nulight clearly have a passion for film and their knowledge, experience and attention to detail in every step of the process, from prep to digital restoration, is evident in the final product – our film has never looked better!
James Gibbs, Media Technology OfficerWorking with Nulight to restore our early 16mm films was simply a delight. The negative rolls were often in a delicate condition but Nulight took great care in ensuring that every detail was preserved and restored and beautifully graded. The results were simply staggering, suffice it to say I’d never seen these films looking so good, even when they were prints fresh from the laboratory.
David Sproxton, Co-FounderLUX has worked with Nulight Studios on a number of archival film scanning projects and we would recommend them highly, their experience, knowledge and care is truly unparalleled.
Benjamin Cook, DirectorAfter researching facilities, costs and recommendations within the industry, we approached Bristol-based restoration specialists Nulight Studios. From our first enquiry, their helpful approach guided us through all the processes and options, enabling us to find most creatively appropriate and cost-effective route to the restoration.
Ian Mackinnon, Co-FounderEven when working to tight deadlines, Nulight delivered to a very high standard. As producers, the workflow process was simple and easy, their staff a pleasure to work with and pricing estimates were always accurate. I highly recommend Nulight’s services.
Sarah Peat, Executive ProducerCommunication is excellent, you are kept informed of progress, can view the material online and request any tweaks which are dealt with promptly and efficiently. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Nulight to anyone looking to have their film scanned and restored to the highest standards possible.
James Gibbs, Media Technology OfficerWe wanted to re-transfer some footage from 20 year old broadcast neg. The reels were not properly logged and it could have been too expensive a proposition. Sam and his team worked out the simplest and most cost effective way to eye-match what we needed. They then processed our selects to produce stunning 4K quality images that absolutely stand up against the footage we shot on 6K cameras.
John Capner, ProducerNulight scanned our original negative at high resolution and carried out meticulous frame by frame restoration work before re-grading the digital files. Textures and details that had been lost and forgotten over two decades are now astonishingly vivid. I highly recommend Nulight – they have a very professional and supportive approach and their eye for quality has been amazing.
Ian Mackinnon, Co-Founder