Aim of the Project
AFRESA is a fully integrated system for the digitization, preliminary restoration and automatic registration of archive films. The system will enable small archives to perform low-cost, in-house digitization at high quality. Thus the archives can conduct and monitor the digitization process themselves. The system consists of a scanner, automated reconstruction software and a registration system based on the automatic extraction of metadata. Furthermore there will be guidelines for preservation issues.
The AFRESA system features a tool for visual control and inspection. This allows the archives to choose from a wide range of quality settings and compression schemes: From screening the film to putting it online on the web. The footage will become easily accessible without damaging the original photochemical material.
AFRESA is designed and implemented under continuous strong interaction with archives to maximize its usability. Its user interface is easy to understand.
Funding
AFRESA is a joint venture research project, funded by the CTI (Swiss Con-federation’s Innovation Promotion Agency), between the University of Basel, the University of Zurich, the Zurich University of the Arts and the film technology industry – namely Swiss Effects and Cine-Media SA.
The project started in September 2008. A first dissemination event will be held in autumn 2010. If you are interested in AFRESA or have any comments, we would be glad to get into contact with you.