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Development and Application of AI-based 5G+4K/8K Intelligent Restoration System for Celluloid Film Digital Imaging
2025-01-15 ICCSD

Since the debut of China's first celluloid film, "Battle of Dingjunshan" (filmed in 1905), Chinese cinema has traversed a century of history. As a cultural carrier that records important information such as the history, culture, society, politics, military, and diplomacy of various periods in the country, films are an essential component and precious heritage of national culture, possessing significant historical and contemporary economic value in the film industry.

The old film footage is generally restored using manual Photoshop (PS) techniques or conventional restoration software that requires a significant amount of manual labor. 

A professional team typically takes one year to complete the restoration work, with a minimum direct cost of 600,000 yuan. When using conventional film restoration software for 4K restoration (resolution 4096*3112), the workload is four times that of 2K restoration, and it takes approximately six months for a professional team to complete the restoration of one old film. The annual national allocation for emergency restoration of old films is only 35 million yuan, which can barely cover the 2K restoration of a few dozen precious films each year that urgently need rescue, are relatively classic and are of high artistic value. Only a tiny number of classic films undergo 4K UHD restoration.

This project aims to develop an AI-based 5G+4K/8K Intelligent Restoration System for Celluloid Film Digital Imaging. The platform utilizes the Huawei 5G Video Cloud, which is capable of handling large data capacities, as a testing and experimentation environment for intelligent AI-based restoration of large-capacity celluloid film digital images. It is primarily intended to restore early celluloid films, including old documentaries, archival films, and historical footage, aiming to achieve a high level of restoration from damaged, blurry images to clear, complete ones with restored color and sound. This project seeks to break free from the current industry practices of manual 2K image restoration using Photoshop and the labor-intensive process of 4K restoration using conventional film restoration software. The system uses AI technology to intelligently refine and restore damaged or blurry frames of celluloid film digital images to 4K ultra-high-definition quality, with compatibility for 8K restoration technology. This endeavor aims to revitalize historical films, including documentaries, educational films, and archival footage, contributing significantly to the preservation and cultural inheritance of China's cinematic heritage.

This technology represents a pioneering effort in China and holds significant importance for the preservation and cultural continuity of historical films and imagery. This project focuses on developing AI intelligent restoration technology for celluloid film digital imaging, resulting in a set of intelligent 4K restoration systems for celluloid film digital imaging based on Huawei's 5G Video Cloud (with the capability for 8K restoration). It is primarily applied to the refined restoration of important visual materials such as early celluloid films (old documentaries, archival films, historical footage) in 4K resolution. The AI technology aims to intelligently identify defects such as dirt, scratches, mold, color shifts, blurriness, flickering, curling, and missing frames in celluloid digital images, enabling AI-driven restoration while ensuring stable and efficient output at 4K/8K levels.

This project has developed a globally leading celluloid film digital imaging 5G+AI 4K/8K intelligent restoration system, achieving restoration quality that meets the standards of 4K films. The restoration period has been reduced from the industry standard of 6-12 months to 45-60 days, with over 100 pilot film restoration projects completed. It is capable of typical applications in scenarios such as old celluloid films, documentaries, educational films, and archival footage.

Expert Review

This case utilizes AI technology to achieve intelligent and precise restoration of old film digital images, enhancing them from blurry to clear and restoring color and audio to ultra-high-definition 4K quality. It can also achieve 8K-level restoration, significantly reducing restoration time and costs. This approach has broad application prospects and promotional value. It holds significant importance for the preservation, cultural promotion, and reutilization of old films and historical images.

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The International Center for Creativity and Sustainable Development under the Auspices of UNESCO (Category 2) was approved at the 38th session of UNESCO General Assembly in November 2015. In 2017, the People's Government of Beijing Municipality signed the agreement with UNESCO. ICCSD becomes the world's first UNESCO Category 2 center with the theme of "creativity and sustainable development". With the support and guidance of UNESCO, the Center intends to build the world's high-level international platform that aims at creativity and sustainable development, and includes the functions of research, training, cooperation, communication, demonstration etc. The Center shall become a first-class think-tank gathering talents throughout the world, building a global renowned "laboratory of thoughts" with a focus on creativity and innovation. It shall promote cultural exchanges and cooperation, disseminate and support Chinese enterprises, technology and culture.
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