Is there any way to improve this 1902 video?

[johnharlin]

A friend of mine asked me if I could improve the quality of a video he would like to have improved. The video is like looking through foggy out of focus glasses. Is there any way this video can be improved.
Here is the address below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qgapRWmiUY

[edDV]

Megacool !

Explains why the Lands End Trail is as it is.

The main video issue is levels. Do you have the file before upload to Youtube?

[johnharlin]

Yes, I do

[edDV]

This is 1902 film. Must rely on the transfer to video since each time there is potential damage.

Post the original transfer file so we can go to work on it.

[johnharlin]

Well, I tried to upload it but it flagged me that it was an invalid file. It was only 23 mb, under the 30 mb limit. It is in the .mpg format.

[edDV]

Just a portion will work. The more motion the better.

[manono]

What output format do you want? DVD? And you can upload to Sendspace or MediaFire and post the link here.

[edDV]

The closest to original film transfer format.

[johnharlin]

OK, I uploaded it to sendspace. I haven't tested it but this is the address it gave me. The same format .mpeg would be OK unless you think another one would be better.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/3iccq7

[2Bdecided]

I don't think you needed to upload it - your file came from here:
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/h?ammem/papr:@field(NUMBER+@band(lcmp003+m3a34536))

The "master" in this case is a roll of paper, a positive created from a 35mm film negative and deposited with the Library of Congress to register copyright. These things were never really designed to be watched, but are often the only source that survives.

It's been digitised at quite a low resolution (320x240) though I'm not sure there's more resolution on the original print - I've never seen one "in real life".

Lots of AVIsynth filters could help (ask on the doom9 forums), but it'll still look like what it is!

Cheers,
David.

[jman98]

I don't think you needed to upload it - your file came from here:
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/h?ammem/papr:@field(NUMBER+@band(lcmp003+m3a34536))

Warning - Videohelp tries to be "helpful" and it chops off the final two ) characters at the end of the link. If you click on the link as above it will fail, but if you add the final two ) characters to the end and retry the link, it works fine. Note that the link as Videohelp mangles it ends at ..536 when it should be ...536)) for it to work properly.

[filmboss80]

If that link doesn't work, you can go to the overall directory of Edison films here: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/edhtml/edmvhm.html

Avisynth or VirtualDubMod filters can make the footage more viewable, but don't expect miracles.