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Moving Images

Film Deterioration

Most film-based moving images are unstable in some way. Cellulose-nitrate base materials found in some early films will destroy the image as they deteriorate, as in this example.

Films on cellulose-acetate base materials will give off acetic acid as they deteriorate, a condition also known as 'vinegar syndrome'. This will cause the film to shrink and distort, making it difficult to copy.
	from Children and animals [at Aberthau] in garden, ca 1930, MI-43. Cellulose acetate.

	Colour films will fade. Some types of colour processes fade more quickly than others. All of them will fade even if stored in the dark.
from Our People at Play, ca. 1930-1950, MI-103

Film Preservation


Films are carefully inspected, measured, assessed and repaired . . .	. . .transferred to stable plastic cores and cans	. . . and finally stored in our freezer vault to stop their deterioration

Access

Access is provided in our Reading Room to DVD-quality copies of all digitized films regardless of copyright status.

Access is provided on the web to low-resolution copies

in the public domain
which are City of Vancouver copyright
for which the copyright owner has given permission for low-resolution web access

from Our People at Play, ca. 1930-1950, MI-103

Purchase

Copies may be purchased in Digital Betacam, MPEG2 file or video DVD formats. Our Moving IMages FAQ answers more detailed questions about films and purchasing.

from Reservoirs in the Sky, ca. 1956, MI-21

Donations

	The Archives welcomes donations of films which document the history of Vancouver. We have equipment on site for gentle viewing of delicate film originals. Donors may obtain a DVD copy of the donated film, subject to copyright restrictions. For more on donating to the Archives, see Anything to Donate?
from Granville Street Bridge, reel 3 / Lew Parry Film Productions, 1954, MI-4