American Cinematographer - October 1984 - 113

For
instructed

''noise,''

pinges

example, the computer is
recognize and eliminate

Porta-Brace™ Production Case

radio interference, that im¬

the telemetry. During this
the computer also "looks at"
the image areas surrounding the parts
of the picture affected by the noise,
decides what they should look like and
makes the necessary alterations. This
type of image processing is being used
upon

process,

for

number of scientific purposes-

interpreting telemetric data transmitted
by orbiting weather and surveillance
satellites, for example. Digital image
processing is also proving to be a very
powerful tool for astronomers surveying
the skies from Earth-bound telescopes.
Noise reduction techniques
comparable to the processing of images
from outer space are available as a
means of cleaning up video images.
Once it became possible to store a digi¬
tized version of a complete frame of
a "buffer" or frame store (as
opposed to storing just a single line of
picture information), it then became fea¬
sible to compare adjacent frames and

new

idea for

carrying production accessories.
Designed for video and film

this line
will carry a
very large, well-organized array of accessories.
of reinforced cordura

video in

K and H

Products, Ltd.
Box 246, North Bennington
Vermont 05257

(802)442-9118

detect noise. Since video noise is gener¬
ally the electronic equivalent of a light

nylon

crews,

cases

These cases are constructed on a metal frame
with hardboard and foam walls. They won't
sag or collapse under very heavy loads. Three
sizes are available. Case pictured above is 27"

long. Contact

your

dealer

call.

speck in the image which occurs only in
a single frame (or field), it is possible to
remove it by adjusting the brightness
level of any pixel that differs signifi¬
cantly from the corresponding pixel in
the adjacent frames. It takes some fairly
sophisticated programming to dis¬
tinguish between differences due to
movement within the frame as opposed
to noise, but it can be done to a degree.
Many companies manufac¬
video noise reduction units, some
of which also perform other image pro¬

ture

cessing functions such
tion

unit,

as color correc¬
time base correction. One such

Sony BVX 30 Image Processor is
by Du Art Film Laboratories in
conjunction with their Rank Cintel tele¬
cines as a means of reducing film grain
in a film-to-tape transfer. Since grain is
a random pattern in an image which
changes with every frame, it can be
distinguished from the image itself.
Using a video noise reduction system in
conjunction with a telecine makes it
possible to reduce the visibility of the
grain when it is transferred to tape. The
system works best with film shot at 30
fps, but it can also be applied to film
shot at 24 fps and will often produce a
marked reduction in the visibility of
used

Hollywood,

Athens, Tokyo, Lagos, Rio, Tel-Aviv, Reykjavik, Sydney, Toronto,

Geneva, Hong Kong, London - just some of the centres worldwide where our graduates are
making films.
Students from over thirty different countries come to the heart of London's West End to
take our two year Diploma Course. Experienced professionals teach all aspects of film
making - covering studio feature and location documentary productions in 16mm and
35mm.

Teaching of scriptwriting, direction, camerawork, sound recording, editing etc. ensures a
high degree of professionalism. And it must do - Governments, T.V. Networks and
Educational Foundations have been

sending personnel to

for training for

over

twenty

years.

This intensive Course, demanding hard work and committment, produces over twentyfive films each term
many students working on more than one production.
There are fresh intakes in January, April and September.
-

Contact: The Administrator, London International Film School,
24 Shelton Street, London WC2H

Department AC2

9HP, England. Telephone (London) 01-8360826

111

American Cinematographer - October 1984

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