Until now, I released my projects mainly on BD with menus. I like menus, and you? I bet so...

The only free software that allow authoring BDs with menus is MultiAVCHD. It works - I mean, it makes a BD structure, ready to burn on actual BD-R disc, but some users found the burned BD not compatible with their players. Moreso, the most known software media players (MPC and VLC) have often strange behaviour with BD menus (much worse than DVD). So, at the end, final users play directly the 00000.m2ts file, and all my work results useless... still, I love to have menus, and intro, and so no...

Lately I find that many, many users (me included) don't burn projects on discs anymore, but play the file directly on their PC; a plain single file is the best option - one could play it "as is", or remux it in a BD (or AVCHD) structure, and have a phisical media to play. Still, menus are lacking, and intro, if any, must be added at the beginning (and/or end) of the file, meaning much work, and "ethical" issues.

MKV "seems" ready to support menus, but when?

Then, I thought to a possible alternative. A simple HTML5 player!

Crazy idea? Maybe, that's why I'm posting it here, to have your opinions. HTML5 players are used by everyone, on YouTube, Vimeo, DailyMotion and so on. Yet, they are very limited in comparison to any software player. But this could work in our favour, somehow... frankly, when I want to watch a video clip on my PC, all I want to do (eventually) is to choose my language and/or subtitle tracks, and you?

We could release a project in a single folder, with one HTML file that will start the player, and one MVK (or other) video file containing the main feature. Well, almost useless, someone could point out, what is the difference instead of playing the file directly? Well, if there is more than one file - for example, bonus material, or an entire bonus project, having an HTML file with simple menu pointing to those files could be handy (and with a nice looking).

I've seen some free HTML5 video players that allow to add custom made buttons; why don't add one for the trailer? One for chapters, one for audio and subs selection? A bit like DVD/BD menus, but made in HTML/CSS; great appearance, and small footprint, can be read by any OS, also mobile - even if I don't think someone would normally watch an entire 1080p movies on a cellphone...

Another great option could be to add soft matte to an open matte release, avoiding two releases (and double work/time to upload/time to download/HDD space etc.)

Seamless branching "could" work, too... maybe it's possible to have HTML buttons in the menu for the theatrical and extended version, where for example TC calls file1+file2+file3, while EE calls file1+file4+file2+file5+file3... got the point? More investigation is needed, to understand if this is possible and the join are indeed seamless.

Now, codec support: video AVC for sure, also WebM and Theora; audio AAC, vorbis, opus, FLAC, mp3, WAV; containers WebM, Ogg, MP4; I'm pretty sure there is a way to support MKV container, and audio AC3 as well. What's about DTS? Of course, it's still possible to convert audio to a supported format.

What is the output quality of a video clip played in an HTML5 player (possibly without using Flash)? I mean, visually I have the same quality of a software player? And audio wise?

It will be great to have a standardized player, where each of us could put his logo, and other custom... "things", but still having a look'n'feel familiar with other releases...

Still another crazy, and useless, idea, or can have some potential?

Hello to everyone on the board !
Better late than never, I just had to sign up here ! Thanks Andrea for all the work and happy 2017 everyone !

I'm compiling another master list; this time, of course, is about fan projects - restorations, preservations, fan edits and so on... so far, it has more than 1700(!) entries, but not so much from here... I thought to add also work in progress (WIP) and ideas for new projects...

I KNOW (yes, I KNOW! ) you have a lot of unfinished, half baked, barely started projects in your hard disks, yes, like me... fear not, disclose every project (just complete ones, no audio-only or trailers for the moment) you have, waiting to be completed, or just an idea in your mind...

List of released, in progress (WIP), psudo-abandoned but still into our mind (TBA), or just plain idea (IDEA) projects:

It seems there is some interest in this topic, so I thought to start a proper thread; the first posts are moved from other threads, to be perfectly on topic - sorry for that, posters, but I think it's better to gather them in one place.

Everything started around this, more or less:

(2017-01-16, 06:26 PM)spoRv Wrote: Don't know... as Alien Resurrection LD supposedly used the silver retention print master, maybe it could be the same for X files.

(2017-01-17, 03:35 AM)PDB Wrote: I got a question on that. Does your LD look different then the BD, spoRv? Everyone says the LD is taken from a silver print so I got a cap from Jonno to see if it was worth a regrade project. And beside being brighter because of the IRE difference, it looked basically the same as the BD. Not enough to get excited about.

(2017-01-17, 09:20 PM)spoRv Wrote: Alien Resurrection: yesterday (actually, this night) I briefly compared it on LD, DVD, BD, HDTV: the last three share the same color grading, while the LD seems very similar, but a bit brighter... so, I'm pretty sure its master was not made using an ACE print...

I was pointed this way by _^..^_ from OT forums, nice to see some familiar names around here. I don't know how much I'll be contributing, but here I am!

Hello,

Among all the DTS CDs we've accumulated over the years, does anybody have the revised long version of the Digital Experience logo, the one we're more familiar with? I would love to hear that in cinema DTS again.

Or was it on its own CD that we don't have?

Sometimes I wonder how a project maker decides which movie needs a restoration/preservation... so I thought to some ideas to take in account, to choose which movie will be the object of our new project, and what to make with it - if you have further ones, let me know! This could help new (and future) project makers, and also food for thought for the existing ones.

• "unfixed" titles - let's face it, we are a bit tired of all the Star Wars projects, aren't we? That's not the fact we do not love it - we do! - but start a new project about it, unless this is really revolutionary, it will be hardly needed... think about some less known title that needs to be fixed, or even a famous one which is not fixed yet - there are many around...
  
• uncommon titles - some obscure, forgotten one; an old b&w masterpiece, that Hong Kong flick that nobody knows, but also a mainstream title who nobody thinks it needs a fix
  
• not only movies - why don't restore an animated feature, a concert, a documentary, a TV series? Or compile a brand new bonus disc, with all those extra material like interviews, behind the scenes, documentaries etc? Or just clean that old scanned trailer full of scratches?
  
• extended edition - it's common practice to add deleted/extended scenes as bonus material in the released media; why don't put them back in the movie?
  
• theatrical cut - or, there is some rare cases where the only HD version is the extended one; it's good to have this, because we all love to watch more, but to me, it's mandatory to offer also the theatrical cut
  
• original cut - George Lucas docet... do you need more explanations? Apart extensive reconstruction made to such movies, often just few scenes must be replaced to restore an original cut
  
• film scan - let's face it, this is a great option, even if it's an hard (and expensive) task to buy and scan a film, and to restore its colors, clean the dust, scratches etc.
  
• added footage - for your light fan edit, you could think to replace some shots with a different take, or a shot taken from a documentary, trailer and so on...
  
• open matte - yes, we all know that a movie *should* be watched in its original aspect ratio; but sometimes, there are some open matte versions that really deserves to be preserved!
  
• color grading - often the new HD versions have revised color palettes, usually the well-knows "teal & orange"; but if the theatrical colors were different, it's a good idea to try to restore them, in particular if you have a color reference like previously released SD media or film cells
  
• logo free - tough task, if you haven't two different versions with logo placed in different corners...
  
• no HD releases - there are so many great HDTV broadcast recordings out there, that could be used as "HD master" for a project...
  
• upscale 720p - a simple task, that could lead to perfect results if well done, way better than any real time upscaling
  
• upscale SD - but, if there is no HD availble source, this is a viable option; a well done upscale - better using a good SD source, and combine two or more if possible - could outperform any simple upscaling done in real time by an hardware or software player, or display
  
• proper speed - what if the only available HD version has 25fps? Simple, remux it to 24fps (or 23.976fps) to restore the original theatrical version - don't forget to convert the audio, too!
  
• inverse telecine - convert back to film the 29.97fps material, to avoid judder and spare some bits - do not forget to NOT touch the audio, though!
  
• grain plate - the noise reduction applied from the studio removed all the grain? Fear not, just add a real 35mm film grain plate, and the video will look better
  
• colorize a B&W film - ethically, I don't want to pronounce; technically, it's the most hard work possible... as there are not good automatic colorize method (yet), it should be done by hand... good luck!
  

• original audio track - often the audio mix is revised, too; the old laserdiscs, DVDs and even VHS tapes could be a treasure for the original mix present in them. Do not exclude the DTS Cinema tracks, too!
  
• multiple audio tracks - if there are several interesting options, we could add'em all! Also, multi language projects are cool!
  
• subtitle track - sometimes there is no subtitle tracks at all, or it need a fix
  
• literal subtitle - taken from CC or transcripted from the dialog, great for the hearing impaired or not native speaker who wants/needs to understand perfectly the dialog, word by word
  
• multiple subtitles - each sub track takes so little space, so it will be great to add some extra language subs
  

I lament the fact that I had to be the one to create this. I flagged that I might give it a shot in August 2015 on an OT.com thread.

Change list (SPOILERS!):

• 20th Cent Fox logo removed.
  
• The first 36 minutes or so conform to the theatrical version with no changes.
  
• Added the scene with convicts following the scene where Clemens confronts Ripley at the scrap heap.
  
• Returned the meeting between Clemens and Andrews to the workprint cut (no Aaron, but longer than the theatrical cut).
  
• Following Junior's attempt to rape Ripley, the establishing shot showing the prisoners entering the tunnel is returned (Golic smashing the cigerete machine is not include though, because it isn't in the workprint).
  
• The Assembly Cut version of the Bishop-Ripley conversation is used, which is intercut with Golic being confronted by the other convicts.
  
• The infirmary scene with Ripley, Clemens, and Golic is re-cut to better match the workprint, using both theatrical and assembly cut elements.
  
• Ripley says "sounds good to me" after Morse threatens her.
  
• Obviously, they trap the Xenomorph in the toxic waste tank. The Assembly Cut was used for the whole ~18 min sequence with no changes.
  
• The Assembly Cut is used from the scene where the prisoners discuss what to do (immediately after Ripley asks Dillon to kill her) through to the end of the film.
  

What do you get the man/woman who has everything? Why a laserdisc recorder of course:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/142246948379?_...EBIDX%3AIT

Has anyone here ever heard of such a thing? I think it's for broadcast use.

List of some films which used silver retention / bleach bypass; title, type of process, media that used this version for the master - Updated: 2021-07-12

• 1984  used bleach-bypass    UK MGM DVD (September 2004)
  
• 21 Grams CCE https://theasc.com/magazine/dec03/cover/page3.html
  
• Alien: Resurrection    used about a 50 percent level of ACE   
  
• American Gangster    used the OZ process    
  
• Amistad    used ENR
  
• Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford    50% bleach bypass on the negative in order to get the blacks very black    
  
• Behind Enemy Lines    approx. 50 prints were ACE chemically treated
  
• Bird    used ENR  
  
• Bringing Out the Dead   https://ascmag.com/articles/the-end-of-t...-the-1990s
  
• Bulworth ENR https://ascmag.com/articles/the-end-of-t...-the-1990s   
  
• City of Lost Children, The    used NEC    
  
• Cowboys and Aliens    used cross-processing reversal film technique for the flashbacks
  
• Daredevil CCE https://theasc.com/magazine/aug03/cover/sidebar.html
  
• Delicatessen    used bleach-bypass    
  
• Dick Tracy    used ENR 
  
• Django Unchained    used cross-processing reversal film technique for the flashbacks  
  
• Domino    used cross-processing reversal film technique
  
• Evita    used a VariCon and diffusion filters combined with a 30% ENR printing
  
• Fallen    used ENR  
  
• Fight Club    used a silver retention process (maybe CCE?) 
  
• Game, The    used ENR    
  
• Get on the Bus    used cross-processing reversal film technique    
  
• Jade     used just a little bit of ENR     
  
• Kansas City    used Kodak's EXR 5287 stock combined with EST    
  
• Kill Bill    used cross-processing reversal film technique for the flashbacks
  
• L.A. Confidential https://ascmag.com/articles/the-end-of-t...-the-1990s
  
• Ladyhawke    used ENR    
  
• Last Emperor, The    used ENR    
  
• Little Buddha    used ENR     
  
• Lost Souls    used bleach-bypass    
  
• Man on Fire  used a silver retention process
  
• Michael Collins    used ENR    
  
• Million Dollar Baby    used ENR    
  
• Minority Report    used a SB process to the negative  
  
• Munich    used ENR    
  
• Payback    used the CCE printing process, combined with shooting without the 85 filter outdoors on tungsten stock, and using a blue filter indoors    
  
• Reds    used ENR    
  
• Ronin    used pull-processing of the neg combined with CCE printing    
  
• Rookie, The    used ENR
  
• Savages    used in part cross-processing reversal film technique
  
• Saving Private Ryan    was shot on 5293 pushed one stop to 400 ASA, flashed with a Panaflasher (generally), and employed one of the highest levels of ENR used to date (nov 98) on the prints    
  
• Seven    used negative flashing combined with Deluxe's CCE printing process  
  
• Snow Falling on Cedars https://ascmag.com/articles/the-end-of-t...-the-1990s
  
• Summer of Sam    used in part cross-processing reversal film technique
  
• Terminator Salvation    used the OZ process  
  
• The Wings of the Dove https://ascmag.com/articles/the-end-of-t...-the-1990s
  
• Three Kings    used cross-processing reversal film technique
  
• Tucker    used ENR    
  
• U-Turn    used cross-processing reversal film technique    
  
• Underneath, The    used cross-processing reversal film technique    
  
• War of the Worlds    used ENR    
  
• X-Files, The    used about a 50 percent level of ACE