Unfortunately, old films were often not properly stored, so fading and deterioration are significant problems. And the visual quality of films made for television decades ago often isn't up to today's standards, let alone tomorrow's high-definition standards. Digital restoration involves scanning film to convert each frame into a digital image. The images can then be displayed on a computer screen and manipulated by an artist who uses a mouse or digital pen and tablet. The images are then re-recorded on film.
Digital restoration is presently time consuming and expensive.
A feature film typically has 200,000 frames and each frame can require up to 50 megabytes of storage. About 15 frames per hour can be restored with current technology. Corporations that restore films using digital techniques are trying to automate routine tasks, like repairing spots and scratches. According to the Times , digital restoration is being criticized for taking the historical context out of old films. And even at 50 megabytes per frame, digital restoration can't duplicate the richness of film.