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IBC sees the release, of a the PFClean Film Restoration extension pack. The additional tools provided by the restoration pack are designed to extend PFClean’s core functionality, addressing problems found in very damaged film and with archive restoration projects. The tools have been designed to fit seamlessly into the PFClean environment and operate using the benefits of the PFClean's non-destructive workflow.

These tools consist of: De-warp, Colour Balance, Tear Repair, Frame Fix, RGB channel realignment and Colour correction.

Steve Boag MD, Cineimage London, explains, “After thoroughly researching the market for a cost-effective digital cleanup solution, we found that PFClean hit the mark on all counts. It has a very quick learning curve, provided us with the toolset we required within a clear user interface and most importantly allowed us to deliver clean scans within time and on budget, it can seamlessly fit in to any digital workflow. We weren't just buying a piece of software, we were buying into, and creating, a working partnership. The Pixel Farm themselves have been very helpful and supportive, providing guidance and feedback as and when it was needed.”

2006.A hot topic at this years forthcoming IBC in Amsterdam for many Broadcasters and Post Production facilities will be the pressing issues of archive repair and restoration of audio visual assets. The issues has even received prominence via a specific EU project titled ‘PrestoSpace’ launched in 2004, with a view to co-ordinating technology and solutions for institutions such as Broadcasters, research institutions, libraries and museums specific to the task of preserving audio visual collections as part of Europe’s heritage.

Unfortunately, the historical, cultural and commercial assets produced throughout the 20th Century are much more fragile than the conventional artwork such as paper documents or paintings produced in the past. As a result many are now entirely at risk from deterioration and subsequent loss.

The UNESCO estimate of world audiovisual holdings is 200 million hours, with around 50 million hour held in Europe. This is a huge challenge for not just Broadcaster archives but also for universities, libraries, museums, enterprise and personal collections. Film and video archive restoration products are particularly assuming more importance and those involved are looking to source the most efficient and speedy workflows for the restoration of their vast AV assets. This was an expensive and time-consuming process and as such many cultural gems are still in grave danger from the rigors of time.

The Pixel Farm identified and focused its resources on the opportunities surrounding these problems and released PFClean at the start of 2006. PFClean now at version 2.0 is a fully 64-bit resolution independent, fast and flexible image clean up system. Designed for use with scanned image data prior to the commencement of the VFX, post production and the DI process. PFClean operates flexibly in an ever changing post production environment, working as a manual, fully automatic or hybrid system, allowing the user to define plates or anomalies to be fixed in a non destructive environment. PFClean has already been adopted by a growing number of DI and post-production facilities worldwide including, CineImage, Das Werk, Capital FX and Hungarian Film Labs.

Now shipping, PFClean 2.0 is supported on Linux, Windows XP and Mac OX 10.4.7 PCC and Intel
Multi processor single node license £12999 / $22499.
Unlimited multi node rendering £4999 / $7999.
Free upgrade from version 1.5.
PFClean restoration pack is available for £3000, €4500 and requires PFClean