Polar HQ
Polar HQ – The Unique Solution for Fragile and Damaged Film Polar HQ is a versatile scanning platform designed for a wide range of applications, with a primary focus on high-quality archival film digitization. It is a pioneering solution making it possible to scan the unscannable. Equipped with a variety of archive-specific options, Polar HQ offers the ideal setup for handling fragile and sensitive film materials. At the core of Polar HQ lies the adaptable Smart Motion Gate, featuring a customized skid and pressure plate engineered for the precise handling of damaged or delicate film stock. The system supports a variety of interchangeable format kits for different types of film condition for the 8mm, 16mm, and 35mm film formats, ensuring maximum flexibility across projects. Delivering native 8K resolution without the need for micro-scanning, Polar HQ excels in mastering and remastering workflows, producing true 4K and 8K deliverables. Its precision mechanics and advanced imaging technology guarantee safe, accurate digitization even for compromised film materials. Developed in collaboration with leading film archives, Polar HQ can digitize film rolls that conventional systems are unable to process - setting a new standard for archival film scanning.
Case Studies:
The Swedish Film Institute: Recovering OCN of Ingmar Bergman's Wild Strawberries
The Swedish Film Institute employed Polar HQ to recover the original camera negative of Ingmar Bergman’s Wild Strawberries (1957); despite missing perforations and width shrinkage, the scanner completed a stable, four-hour transfer that eliminated the need for extensive manual restoration.
Archivio Luce (Cinecittà): Digitizing multiple severely damaged film reels
Archivio Luce (Cinecittà) in Rome used the Polar HQ scanner to digitize multiple severely damaged film reels, including a 1938 animated title previously considered too fragile to handle.