Imagine It Entertainment writes:

… just how much information is actually on film … The following images are a simplification to illustrate some general points. … and will vary based on specific film stocks.

• • 8mm and Super 8 film has a maximum resolution of 2K horizontal lines. • • A 480 line SD scan will only get about 40% of the details from the film. • • A 1080 line HD scan will get about 75% of the details from the film. • • To truly archive 8mm or Super 8 film it must be scanned at 2K resolution.

• • Older 16mm print film has around 2K lines. • • Newer 16mm and S16mm can have up to 3K lines of resolution. • • Although an HD scan is good, it only gets about 50% of the details from the film. • • To archive 16mm film a 2k scan is required for older print film and a 4K scan for newer film stocks with smaller film grain.

• • Older 35mm film has up to 3K lines while newer 35mm film can have in excess of 4K lines. • • An HD scan only gets about 1/4 of the film’s details. • • A 2K scan (2048 ×1556) will get about 50%. • • A 4K (4096 x 3112) scan will get the majority of the film details. Newer film stocks with finer grain will require a 6K scan in order to truly archive it.


		• • 8mm and Super 8 film has a maximum resolution of 2K horizontal lines. • • A 480 line SD scan will only get about 40% of the details from the film. • • A 1080 line HD scan will get about 75% of the details from the film. • • To truly archive 8mm or Super 8 film it must be scanned at 2K resolution.
		• • Older 16mm print film has around 2K lines. • • Newer 16mm and S16mm can have up to 3K lines of resolution. • • Although an HD scan is good, it only gets about 50% of the details from the film. • • To archive 16mm film a 2k scan is required for older print film and a 4K scan for newer film stocks with smaller film grain.
		• • Older 35mm film has up to 3K lines while newer 35mm film can have in excess of 4K lines. • • An HD scan only gets about 1/4 of the film’s details. • • A 2K scan (2048 ×1556) will get about 50%. • • A 4K (4096 x 3112) scan will get the majority of the film details. Newer film stocks with finer grain will require a 6K scan in order to truly archive it.