Posted by J on 12/20/05 03:28

"afiggatt" <afiggatt@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:mtSdnWnJWe_XrzrenZ2dnUVZ_tWdnZ2d@adelphia.com...
>J wrote:
>> When will, say Star Trek, DVD sets be re-released in high definition
>> versions? I'm assuming it will happen, except maybe for TNG, but
>> especially for ENT.
>>
>> For old non-film stuff, effects in TNG for example, what was the original
>> storage medium? Was it rendered and/or stored in anything more than NTSC
>> resolution.
>
> Depends on the show, what technology they used for special effects and
> whether the show was edited on film or video. TV shows from the 1960s and
> 70s were mostly shot & edited on 35 mm film. These could be redone in HD
> if good quality 35mm masters still exist. See Hogans Heroes and Charlie's
> Angels on HDNet for example.
>
> But by the 80s & 90s, a lot of shows were still shot on 35mm (and still
> are), but the editing and special effects stuff was done on video. TO
> create an HD version, they might have to go back to the original 35mm film
> and re-edit it from the 35 mm originals. Expensive to do this. If the
> special effects were done on SD video - as I gather TNG was - then they
> would have to redo the special effects in HD if they want it to look good.
> Even more expensive and unlikely to be done anytime soon except maybe for
> the most popular shows.

Thanks for replying. As a slight aside, TNG at least season 5, has this
issue with the fx: they look really good and contrasty but the live action
is washed out and soft. Probly indicates that they did throw away the film.
Not sure tho since I haven't seen the other seasons & I think they're
better.

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