Stupid question? maybe

[kwaboy]

With the upcoming launch of HD or Blu-Ray DVD players, how will it be possible for us to watch old films in HD, were they filmed with HD cameras or is the technology there to enable the companies to upscale them to true HD please help as I cant work it out

Thanks

[NicolasB]

Many old TV programmes aren't capable of being usefully released as HD. But old films can be. If something was originally shot on 35mm film then the original celluloid can be digitally scanned to produce a high-definition video image. This is actually done with most feature films now as part of the production process: the original film is scanned into computers for special effects work, and then eventually printed back onto film again for copying and distribution for cinemas.

Even quite old 35mm film stock has effective resolution that is at least as high as any high-definition video standard.

[Angry the Clown]

Nicolas has it right. In the case of content shot on film you'll find that most DVDs produced in the last six years or so are all actually down converted from Hi Definition D5 masters that the studios have created having telecined a 35mm source (a telecine is the process of transferring film elements to tape).

The Hi Def D5 masters are themselves in fact downconversions in a manner of speaking, given the resolution of 35mm still greatly exceeds that of 1920x1080. Again as Nicolas touches upon, film elements dating back to the 30s and even earlier (provided they're treated well) still have the potential to render high levels of detail to be witnessed in HD. For example, the HDTV broadcast of The Wizard of Oz in America last year is apparently a beautiful sight to behold.