Convert Your Technicolor Film Cartridges to Digital.
The sealed cartridge most labs do not want to deal with
Technicolor reel-to-reel film came in sealed cartridges of about 50 feet, and they need careful, specialized handling to scan safely. We transfer them frame by frame in HD or 2K on Motion Picture Academy-grade equipment, in-house, and we tell you the exact cost before we start. We also convert 8mm film to digital, 16mm film to digital, and Super 8 film to digital.
Get a Free Technicolor QuoteIn-house in Orange, CA since 2001. Over a million reels handled, never one lost.
~$19
per ~50 ft cartridge (about $14 of footage + $5 handling).
Since 2001
Hollywood 's Choice
In-House Processing
Expert Technicians
Trusted with the Steven Spielberg documentary reels and Chapman University Film School · All film formats →
See the Technicolor difference.
Technicolor film deserves more than a basic transfer. Low-cost conversions can flatten colors, lose shadow and highlight detail, and diminish the vibrant look that made Technicolor iconic. Our frame-by-frame scanning process captures the entire image, then color-corrects each scene individually to preserve the richness, accuracy, and brilliance of your original film.
What Technicolor Film Is
Technicolor home-movie film was supplied in sealed cartridges, each holding roughly 50 feet, about three minutes. The cartridge format protected the film but also makes it trickier to load and scan, which is why it needs a lab that handles it properly.
Each Technicolor cartridge holds about 50 feet of film, so a stack of them can add up to a full home-movie collection.
The cartridge has to be opened and the film loaded with care to avoid damage, which is why it carries a small handling charge.
Once loaded, we scan Technicolor frame by frame in HD or 2K, exactly like 8mm and 16mm, with optional color correction.
Send it in. We identify Technicolor cartridges and every other reel format and quote each one before any work begins.
Why Digitize Technicolor Now
Technicolor film fades and shifts with age. Scene-by-scene color correction recovers much of it, but only what still remains.
Old film shrinks and grows brittle inside the cartridge, making it riskier to run with every passing year.
Because the cartridge needs special handling, many services turn Technicolor away. We take it, so these reels are not left unconverted.
Do not try to run a fragile cartridge at home. We scan the film without ever projecting it, protecting the original.
Technicolor Pricing
Like all film, Technicolor is priced by the foot, plus a small flat handling charge per cartridge for the extra care they require.
About $14 of footage at the Gold HD special ($0.28/ft) plus a flat $5 handling charge per cartridge.
The $5 per-cartridge handling charge covers the extra care of opening and loading the cartridge; it is never discounted. Platinum HD and Professional 2K levels are available at their per-foot rates. See the film hub for all three tiers. $50 order minimum; delivery on drive or DVD/Blu-ray.
Why Bring Technicolor to Legacy Digital
Technicolor cartridges need careful opening and loading. We do it properly rather than turning the format away.
Once loaded, the film is scanned frame by frame in HD or 2K on the same industrial equipment the studios use.
Cold LED light, no sprockets on the picture area, and cleaning and lubrication first protect fragile film.
We count your cartridges and footage and tell you the exact cost, handling included, before any work starts.
How It Works
Getting your Technicolor cartridges to us is simple, and your originals always come home.
Send it to us
Free local pickup across Southern California, a secure prepaid shipping kit by mail, or drop off at our Orange, CA counter.
We digitize it in-house
We carefully load each cartridge, clean the film, and scan it frame by frame in HD or 2K.
You relive it
Get your movies as MP4 (or MOV/ProRes on request) on a drive or disc, and your original cartridges come back with them.
Technicolor Questions
How much does a Technicolor cartridge cost to convert?
Why is there a handling charge?
Is the scan quality the same as 8mm or 16mm?
My cartridges are old and faded. Can they be saved?
How do I get my movies back?
Do you have a minimum order?
Have Other Film Too?
We convert every reel format. Tap one, or send a mixed box and we identify and quote each reel.
Do Not Let a Tricky Format Leave Memories Unconverted.
Get a free, itemized quote. We count every cartridge, tell you the exact cost, and your originals always come home.
Get My Free Technicolor QuoteOr call (888) 405-2685 · Orange, CA · In-house since 2001