BURBANK, CA — Prasad (www.prasadcorp.com), the provider of film preservation, digitization and restoration services, has formed a strategic partnership with Colorlab (www.colorlab.com), the Washington, DC-based digital film laboratory, to offer film scanning services via its Scanity HDR 4K film scanner. The unit is the first scanner, equipped with Prasad’s proprietary WetGate technology, to be installed in North America.
The agreement unites two companies that have been working to advance the art of film preservation and restoration, as well as meet rising global demand. Originally founded in 1972 as a 16mm film laboratory, Colorlab has processed millions of feet of film, while expanding and evolving into a full-service facility with a global clientele. Prasad has been involved in film and video post production for 65 years and, as owner of Digital Film Technology (DFT), holds IPs for some of the world’s leading scanning systems, including Scanity HDR and OXScan 14K.
The Scanity HDR 4K Scanner is capable of handling a range of difficult issues common in historically aged or damaged film. With optional WetGate technology, the system makes the process of handling fragile film elements smoother and safer. By filling surface deficiencies with fluid at the point of scan, it delivers near-perfect quality transfers, saving time and downstream processing, while significantly improving the results.
“Prasad is excited to introduce the Scanity HDR 4K film scanner with WetGate to the US marketplace and thrilled to have Colorlab as our partner,” says Tracy Balsz, VP at Prasad Corp. “Together, we will supply the film community, on the East Coast and across the country, with an unsurpassed 16mm and 35mm digitization solution.”
Colorlab expects the Scanity HDR 4K film scanner with WetGate to be used to scan a wide range of archival media for preservation and monetization. The facility’s clients include major motion picture studios, institutional and private archives, independent producers and many others worldwide.
“Our mission is to provide the best digital solutions in preservation and restoration of archival films,” says Thomas Aschenbach, owner and president at Colorlab Corp. “Scanity HDR with WetGate is an exciting addition to our complement of solutions for archival film digitization."