ARRISCAN XT

Tried and tested film restoration technology at a new level of excellence

In hundreds of archives around the world reels of film, some more than a century old, lie deteriorating. ARRI’s digitizing system, the new ARRISCAN XT, plays a key part in saving those films for future generations.

It builds on the achievements of the ARRISCAN and ARRILASER, which in recent years have set industry standards for digital postproduction. In cooperation with archives and restoration specialists worldwide, ARRI has applied this range of cutting-edge technologies for digitizing and remastering old and often damaged and fragile film.

ARRI’s ALEXA XT sensor gives the new ARRISCAN XT the best image quality for archive film, and its scanning speed is up to 65% faster than its predecessor. Badly damaged material can be worked on using a computerized intermitted frame-by-frame transport system. The diffuse, high-power LED illumination of the ARRISCAN XT reduces the visibility of scratches and does not produce any heat at all – essential when working with highly flammable nitrate stock. The Wet Gate system uses a specially developed liquid to conceal scratches and dust.

Developed by ZEISS in cooperation with ARRI, the ARRISCAN XT’s optics and the variable optical magnification system make sharpness-reducing digital resizing of scans unnecessary, even when scanning unusual frame dimensions or shrunken film material.

The ARRISCAN XT takes on existing, tried and tested film restoration technology to a new level of excellence. It is fully compatible with existing ARRISCANs, meaning restorers will be able to upgrade their equipment on-site with the addition of improved software, new features, and updated hardware.

Features

ALEXA XT CMOS Area Sensor + Optics

An ARRI-designed piece of high tech
Large 35 mm format CMOS chip
2K oversampling
4K oversampling, using Microscan
Distortion-free geometry
High dynamic range
CDS enhancement, dynamic range enhancement

LED Illumination

Stable colorimetry over time
RGB + IR
No thermal stress for film
Closed loop regulation
Excellent color separation
Long-term stability
Uniform illumination via integrating sphere
Allows flexible dynamic range enhancement

Film Control - Film Safety

The fast and pin-registered film transport of the ARRISCAN XT was developed specially for the classic ARRISCAN.

Designed and manufactured by ARRI, the transport mechanism is a precision system that ensures film safety at all times, and guarantees maximum image steadiness. The exchangeable film gate makes it very easy to switch from 35 mm to 16 mm, to Wet Gates, or the Sprocketless Transport.

Efficient Workflows

Application-matched parameters
Resolution up to 6K
Speed up to 8 fps in 2K resolution
Optimized MTF response for high quality images
Linux-based
Script interface
EDL import
Keycode reader included
Fully controllable film transport speed and mechanical pins
Optimized high density print film scanning
Compatible with all established network storages

Gate options for historic films

Dry Gates

Damaged material and unusual frame heights are common challenges for archive scanning. With an aperture that is not only wider, but also taller than a standard 35 mm or 16 mm, the gate has enough headroom to allow frames to be stabilized during or after scanning. Severely damaged film can be scanned with ease, as can non-standard film formats with unusually tall frame sizes.

Wet Gate system

Although digital restoration is becoming increasingly prominent in the archive world, heavily scratched film still presents big obstacles and can be expensive to repair digitally. By using a special liquid to conceal dust and scratches, the ARRISCAN XT Wet Gate system offers a solution that is more organic than digital retouching and far more honest to the original material.

Any ARRISCAN XT can be retrofitted with the Wet Gate system. After initial installation, the machine can be switched from normal to Wet Gate scanning as easily as a changeover from 35 mm to 16 mm.

16 MM WET GATE FEATURES:

Pin-registered 16 mm Wet Gate
0.4 mm maximum film thickness
2 fps – 3 fps scanning speed, depending on liquid and film condition
13.2 mm x 10 mm oversized aperture

35 MM WET GATE FEATURES:

Pinless 35 mm Wet Gate
0.4 mm maximum film thickness
1 fps – 2 fps scanning speed depending on liquid and film condition
34.5 mm x 21.9 mm oversized aperture

Optical Sound Digitization

The Image to Sound Tools is a unique system designed for ARRISCAN XT to decode and digitize the optical sound on films. The package of specialized software extracts the optical soundtrack, and converts it into digital audio. Scanning parameters are usually selected for the image properties, so the system is equipped with a suite of tools that improves sound quality from scans.

The system’s biggest advantage is its ability to playback audio directly from image files in real time. The audio playback, or looped playback, allows restorers to quickly set the optimum performance parameters for digitization, even when a soundtrack is damaged.

arriscan_xt_optical_sound_decoding_system

Technical Data

Product

ARRISCAN XT

Film formats 35 mm / 16 mm

Custom resolutions and optical magnifications covering all standard aperture sizes and aspect ratios including:
- S35 aperture 2perf, 3perf and 4perf
- N35 (academy) aperture 2perf, 3perf and 4perf
- S16 / N16

Film gates and aperture dimensions

- 35 mm Archive Gate pin, aperture: 28.0 mm x 21.5 mm
- 35 mm Wet Gate pinless, aperture: 34.5 mm x 21.9 mm
- 16 mm Archive Gate pin, aperture: 14.2 mm x 9.1 mm
- 16 mm Wet Gate pin, aperture: 13.2 mm x 10.0 mm

Imaging device

Custom ARRI designed ALEXA XT dual gain CMOS area sensor with multichannel readout. Monochrome sensor with IR masking.
- Highspeed microscan system for sensor positioning
- 3K (3072 x 2160) native sensor resolution
- 6K (6144 x 4320) native resolution using microscanning

Dynamic range

- Dual gain AXT HDR mode: up to 4.0 logarithmic densities

Bit depth

- True 16-bit image processing using dual gain AXT HDR mode
- True 16-bit linear file output (per color channel)

Output resolutions

- 3K native 2730 x 2074
- 6K native 5460 x 4148 using microscanning
- 2K 2048 x 1556 downsampled from 3K or 6K
- 4K 4096 x 3112 downsampled from 6K
- Variable customizable resolutions from HD up to 6K

Optical system

- High-precision Zeiss optics custom designed for ARRISCAN with IR focus compensation, 105 mm focal length
- Adaptor lens for 16 mm
- Autofocus system and variable optical magnification

Illumination

- High power LEDs (R, G, B, IR), temperature controlled - Integration sphere providing diffuse and indirect lighting for scratch reduction and uniform illumination of the gate aperture - Infrared for dust & scratch removal through IR-Cleaner license

Film transport

- Fully computerized intermittent frame-by-frame film transport
- Adjustable parameters for speed, ramping, film tension and pinless scanning
- Sprocket motors for primary film transport and frame positioning
- Sprocketless film transport for 35mm, electronically position controlled
- Two Film platters, electronically position controlled
- Two supporting film plates to ensure warped or shrunken reels stay wound correctly onto film core and flat against winding platter
- Two Particle Transfer Rollers (PTR)

Film registration

- Mechanical pin registration, electronically position-controlled
- Optical registration and image stabilization
- Pinless scanning, electronically position-controlled

Scanning speed

- 7.0 fps @ 3K, 2K resolution, AXT RGB HDR mode *
- 2.2 fps @ 6K, 4K resolution, AXT RGB HDR mode *
- 10.0 fps @ 3K, 2K resolution, AXT monochrome HDR mode *
- 5.0 fps @ 6K, 4K resolution. AXT monochrome HDR mode *
- Manually triggered frame-by-frame single-step film transport

Shuttle speed

- 35 mm: variable, 0.3 m/s up to 2 m/s, automatic End-of-Reel detection
- 16 mm: variable, 0.3 m/s up to 1 m/s, automatic End-of-Reel detection
- Archive mode: Infinitely adjustable from 0.01 m/s up to 0.3 m/s

Shrinkage

- Pin registration – Sprocket Mode: up to 0.4%.
- Pinless – Sprocket Mode: from 0.4% to 3.5%.
- Pinless – Sprocketless Mode: > 3.5%

Downsample filters

- Optimized filter algorithm for print film, intermediate and camera negative film
- User-adjustable from crisp to soft (independent for RGB)

File formats

- TIFF 16-bit / DPX 16-bit / DPX 12-bit / DPX 10-bit / Cineon 10-bit
- Mono channel Black & White DPX and TIFF files
- TIFF 8-bit (proxies only)

File output standards

- Raw linear sensor output
- Logarithmic conversion for negative film, parameterized for color gains and base offset (Kodak Cineon Standard)
- Rec709 / Rec2020 print film conversion LUTS
- Custom conversion output LUTs

Color calibration

- Status M density, printing density, custom matrix
- ARRISCAN XT print and reversal film scanning mode

Proxies

- Independent proxy file output with variable file formats, variable pixel aspect ratios and resolutions, variable frame positioning and magnification, cropping and padding

Keycode reader

- Enables display and storage of KC from 16 mm and 35 mm film, scanning from KC lists, automated film calibration selection and splice detection

Analysis tools

- Full resolution preview scan area (switchable RAW sensor signal and output file including geometry and conversion settings)
- Live Scopes: Waveform and histogram, X/Y-line profiles, pixel prober, tonal curve and gain editor
- Live scan preview
- Live stabilization histogram

Quality control

- Fast and precise machine and film calibration routines
- Geometry calibration using custom etched-high precision glass plate
- ARRI Quality Analysis (AQUAmat) software for system quality check

Workflow

- GUI and script-based job management
- Customizable EDL importer
- Keycode based scanning
- Full Reel scanning
- Automatic film calibration selection
- GUI and script-based job management
- Calibration Tools
- ALE / FLEX exporter
- SQL database and XML import / export functions

User interface control

- Multiple GUIs on local touchscreen and external PCs via standard network connection
- Interactive job editor
- Fast and automatic grey balance and base calibration
- Archive GUI for safe and gentle film transport, disabling the pin etc.
- Touchpanel: Convenient scanner control directly at the machine. 1024x768 resolution touch screen for display of GUI from host computer
- Post jobscripts

Archive software features

- Manually triggered frame-by-frame scanning
- Live preview in shuttle mode
- Pinless scanning modes with all ARRISCAN gates
- Variable winding speed
- Slower transport acceleration speed
- Reduction of film tension
- Soft transport step speeds from 200ms to 2s, adjustable on the fly
- Fixed scanning speed for wetgate operation
- Framing correction during job execution

Optical image registration

- Built-in optical image stabilization based on perforation position
- Stabilization live histogram to visually control the correction process

Optical Sound Decoding System (option)

- Stand-alone Optical Sound Decoding System for 16 mm and 35 mm variable area and variable density sound tracks
- ARRI certified Hardware & Software (PC, Audio Mixer, Audio Monitors etc.)
- Real-time off-line processing and real-time audio playback from image files with on-the-fly parameter adjustment and WAV file export

Infrared-cleaner (option)

- Software license providing an improved RAW IR-Channel
- Linux based ARRI version from HS-Art DustBuster+ running on Host PC
- Command-line interface for automated post-scan dust & scratch repair

Sprocketless transport (option)

- Scanning of non-standard and severely damaged film material
- Rubber replacement for transport sprockets and loopbuilders to accommodate repaired and badly spliced film

Wet Gate System (option)

- Includes Wet Gate Tower for liquid handling and regulation of compressed air and vacuum
- Modification kit for ARRISCAN to mount wet gates
- Pinless 35 mm and 16 mm pin-registered wet gate
- Additional wet gate drying unit

Networking & file transfer

- Direct connection to SAN via FC (StorNext, CXFS)
- 4-port 1 GBase-T NIC onboard
- 2-port 10 GBase-T NIC with Intel® X550 controller
- 2-port 16 Gbit Fibre Channel (option)
- 2-port Fibre Ethernet (option)
- Direct support of ftp protocol BrightClip enabled

Host PC

- Integrated industrial grade Linux workstation
- Operating system: CentOS-7
- 2x USB-3
- NVIDIA Quattro P4000 graphics card
- 24 TB (3x 8TB) SATAIII internal Raid

Remote PC OS

- Windows 10 Professional

Physical dimensions

- Size: 120 x 70 x 180 cm (L x W x H)
- Weight: approx. 370 kg

Operating environment

- Air-conditioned and dust free
- Minimum size: 3m x 3m

Room requirements

- Constant temperature 17 - 23 °Celsius (fluctuation +/- 1°)
- 45% to 55% rel. humidity

Electrical requirements

- Input voltage: 110V - 240V switchable
- Frequency: 50Hz/60Hz switchable

Power consumption

- Power input: 850 Watt at 230V