Restoration Service
Film/Tape Restoration
Comprehensive support for broadcasting, production, local government, and corporate archives, from deterioration diagnosis to restoration, digitization, and long-term preservation
*We also handle home videos and personal collections.
When working with irreplaceable original films and master tapes, the key concern is not simply whether playback is possible, but how safely and reliably digitization can be carried out without causing damage.
Primary Clients We Serve
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Broadcasting stations and program production companies
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Government agencies, public institutions, and archives
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Corporate archives and research institutions
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Educational institutions and cultural organizations
Key Features of Our Professional Workflow
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Pre-playback condition assessment and cleaning as a standard process
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Strict confidentiality and careful handling of one-of-a-kind master materials
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Professional playback and digitization equipment selected according to deterioration level
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Digitization designed for long-term archival preservation
Our Proprietary Process for Tape Media
At Japan Horizon, all video tapes are heat-treated (baked) and cleaned before playback and digitization, without exception.
If tapes are played without this process, invisible mold, binder degradation, or tape sticking—which cannot be detected visually—may cause tape breakage during playback, resulting in irreversible damage.
In fact, we frequently receive tapes that were previously processed by other companies and suffered breakage, making restoration extremely difficult.
For this reason, we incorporate this treatment as a standard preventive process to avoid accidents before they occur.
Because this process requires time, expertise, and cost, not all service providers perform it. However, when handling archival materials and irreplaceable masters, it is an essential step and one of our core strengths.
Before any playback, we conduct a material condition assessment and apply the most appropriate treatment based on the tape’s condition.
The risk of deterioration increases depending on the storage environment.
Film and magnetic tape are media that are easily affected by the storage environment and aging.
In Japan's hot and humid climate, mold and vinegar syndrome are likely to occur, but materials that have been stored in an appropriate environment may remain in good condition. Since it is difficult to judge by appearance alone, it is important to check the condition before restoring.
Typical deterioration symptoms: magnetic tape
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Mold growth
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Tape adhesion and peeling
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Dropouts and signal degradation
Typical deterioration symptoms: Film
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Mold growth
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Acetic acid odor (vinegar syndrome)
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Shrinkage, deformation, rippling, solidification
If you experience any of these symptoms, it is extremely dangerous to attempt to play the product yourself. Please consult us beforehand.
Standard process before digitalization
All video tapes are heat treated and cleaned before being played.
We thoroughly implement preventative procedures to prevent accidents as standard procedures.
Heat treatment (baking treatment) is carried out
Cleaning equipment for D1 and D2 tapes
Cleaning equipment for 1 inch tape
What is tape deterioration over time?
Tapes stored for an extended period may experience issues such as sticking or mold formation due to the deterioration of the magnetic binder. In some cases, playback may become impossible. Even if playback is successful, it could lead to deck malfunctions, such as damaging the heads.
Please watch the video to see the sticking issue
How the tape sticks
This happens after just 30 seconds of playback!
Media deterioration over time can lead to tape breaks and VTR failures.
Unique diagnosis of deteriorated film
Some films stored for long periods of time may develop a deterioration accompanied by an acetic acid smell (vinegar syndrome). Acetate-based films, in particular, often shrink and become brittle depending on the storage environment.
At Japan Horizon, we perform our own diagnosis based on the condition of your film, and propose a solution and quote. Please feel free to contact us even if you are unsure of the condition of your film.
8mm film restoration examples
Microfiche repair case
Inappropriate environment
Film is sensitive to high temperature and humidity, so without proper management, TAC base undergoes hydrolysis due to moisture in the air, leading to the generation of acetic acid and causing the occurrence of vinegar syndrome.
Improper Handling
Handling film roughly can result in perforation breakage, scratches, or dirt on the film. Therefore, it is important to handle it with care and caution.
Improper Repair
When films are joined with cellophane tape or similar materials after they have been cut, the adhesive on the tape may cause discoloration or stickiness in the film.
Maintenance
Due to the characteristics of film, long-term storage is difficult and regular maintenance is required. If you can't keep it in a cool, dry place, it will definitely start to deteriorate.
Cleaning needs
We can repair and clean all types of media.
Tape cleaning and video restoration at an early stage are the secret to maintaining cleaner video.
If there is any sticking on the old films or tapes, please refrain from playing them before cleaning. Our company performs heat treatment and cleaning before digitization, reducing digital noise and allowing for a more beautiful digitization of the footage.
We recommend digital video restoration for scratches and wrinkles that cannot be removed even with cleaning.
We use various image correction systems, such as Snell's Archangel Ph.C-HD, to repair dust and deterioration that cannot be removed by cleaning the media.
Real-time automatic image quality correction removes dust noise, scratches, dropouts, etc.
Film grain noise and flicker can also be removed.