Ascent Media Purchases World’s First 16mm Cintel diTTo
posted on 12th Feb 2008
--Scanner chosen for restoration and D.I. work--
Cintel, a leading provider of film scanning solutions, announced today that Ascent Media based in London has installed the world’s first 16mm/35mm diTTo scanner. After beta-testing the dual-gate Super 2K and 4K data centric scanning system that was launched at NAB 2007, Ascent Media purchased the scanner to compliment its existing technology workflow in its Wardour Street facility.
Ascent Media’s diTTo has the additional D/SCO option enabling powerful optical dust and scratch removal within the scanner, and eliminating the need for time-consuming separate dust-busting workflow stages. As D/SCO is optical and not infra-red it works on all stocks including black and white and does not require annual licensing. The D/SCO will enable Ascent Media to use the diTTo on the growing market of restoration as well as 35mm features re-mastering.
The Cintel diTTo utilises a three colour light source and Area Array CCD which, in conjunction with perfect pin-registration film handling, produces high resolution, repeatable results which is essential for Ascent Media’s high quality work. The 16mm gate will also make the diTTo ideal for use on new independent productions and allow a file-based workflow for HD as well as 2K projects.
“The diTTo ideally complements our realtime HD telecine facilities providing a higher quality result for projects requiring more advanced grading, restoration or VFX treatment. The established ‘log transfer’ workflow as applied to DI projects is well proven and allows a technical transfer to be achieved without compromise, prior to a tape or file-based final grade,” comments Adrian Bull, CTO, Ascent Media.
“This scanner provides a cost effective alternative to our traditional HD telecine services and I have no doubt will establish itself as a preferred choice for high end HDTV work and features re-mastering,” he adds.
