360 Frequently Asked Questions - From People Like You
Where applicable, courier collection can be very useful – especially where it makes life more convenient for you. This can easily be ordered online.
The process is very simple: Just place an order through the website. Choose the courier collection option where shown. Once you have placed an order, you’ll receive an email with simple, easy to understand instructions on how to arrange your collection. You need simply reply to the email and furnish us with a collection date that is suitable for you.
Meanwhile, just package up your media well in a box and be sure to include your Supaphoto customer order number inside the package. Please ensure that the package is securely sealed and also write our address on the outside of the package. It’s also a good idea to add the return address on the package somewhere for peace of mind.
Thereafter, we will simply book the collection and inform you once everything has been organised.
Yes indeed! It will depend on the total size of your order. Where we save time by doing things in bulk, we like to pass the benefit on.
Yes collect throughout the whole of the UK. Alternatively, you may visit us too so that we can go through the variables together. Just call us in advance to make an appointment at a suitable time please.
We would generally advise using a tracked service to get your photos, film or audio tapes to us – i.e Royal Mail Special Delivery or Parcel Force 24/48
Tip: If your package is large and moreover heavy, it tends to be more cost-effective to organise this through a courier such as DPD, Fedex or UPS.
Digital Files (either by our Cloud Access download service or on a memory stick) are ideal for viewing on computers and TVs. You can also editing a little if desired! A DVD in a presentation case however is ideal for viewing on computers and TVs. They are ideal when sharing with your family. An added security benefit is that you have a physical hard copy of your films as a back-up – not to be underestimated as a benefit for long term archival safekeeping. Choosing both the versatility of a digital files then combined with the safety of a hard copy as a DVD is always best for customers who wish to future-proof their conversions.
Yes indeed but do you would need to express permission in writing from the copyright holder beforehand. Just be sure to contact the copyright holder and let them know you own the original for example and that you want to use Supaphoto Ltd to carry out the conversion of the tape for personal use – It’s highly unlikely that they will say no.
Rest assured that these blank tapes will not be charged. If there are blank tapes, we will either refund any payment made for the units or they will not be charged on your invoice.
No. We do not convert, graphic / sexually explicit content from any of your material, including video tapes, audio recordings, cine film reels, photographs, negatives or slides. This is also part of our Terms & Conditions.
Supaphoto Terms & Privacy Policy
Excellent Question! In rare cases, we sometimes discover that a tape cannot be played or it will do more damage than good to play it without a repair beforehand. In this case, we’d advise you of a course of action on inspection. If it cannot be transferred, we’d refund you for the unit.
Yes indeed! We’ve transferred thousands over the years and it’s only natural that you should ask such a question.
Just click here to see examples of tapes that were transferred using our process.
We are able to convert most types of videotape format with us, including VHS, VHS-C, Video8, Hi8, Digital 8, MiniDV, MicroMV and Betamax to digital/DVD.
We‘re very proud of our video transfers.
We specialise in repairing old video tapes as a supplement to our transfer service. Sometimes they are even stuck in your camcorder machine.
Over almost twenty years, we’ve seen a wide variety of tape issues. From a straightforward VHS tape repair to dealing with sticky tape syndrome, our customers have been overjoyed when we’ve helped them. There are in fact several ways of restoring a video tape and they should all be carried out by professionals really. A lot of damage can be done otherwise. You ideally need to partner with a company that has many years of experience in this field. Our goal is not designed to just extend the tape’s life, but to bring it back to a place where it can be simply played back successfully by you. Of course this also opens the door to the possibility of converting the tape too – a tremendous advantage.
Yes indeed – Just let us know beforehand that you require this at checkout stage in the comment section and mark on your cine reels or package the number sequence please. Happy to help!
We use Digital Telecine Equipment for 8mm and 16mm formats. To the layman, these are machines dedicated for the purposes of transferring cine film. This technology ensures that films are well reproduced without any of the numerous problems associated with the mismatch between modern and past day frame rates. The process delivers generally faithful copies of your precious material as video. We do not aim to be the cheapest but we do aim to be one of the best companies which is reflected in our ever expanding and prestigious client base.
Excellent and very common question! – In short, in most cases, people are pleasantly surprised by how good outcomes are. That’s because of the quality of our processing equipment. Other factors include the gauge (8mm or 16mm (the latter has a larger frame and hence captures more detail) for example), how well your film has been stored, the quality of the original cine camera lens, the light on the day, aperture settings and much more. The good news is that today’s technology can help rectify many of yesterday’s issues! Finally, we’d say that quality is one dimension of value only. Safekeeping your memories is also important. For this reason we always recommend have a digital version along with a hard copy DVD version.
Yes: If you wish to view them in the correct sequence, all reels and boxes must be clearly numbered in advance. Alternatively, we’ll place them in the best date order possible as shown on the reels or packages.
Yes indeed. We will always attempt to scan and return the photos in the same order although from time to time there may be an image out of place. This is sometimes the case where we are required to scan in a certain order according the type of media to get the best results for you. Any photographs provided to us in folders or boxes will be invariably returned in the same container.
Just let us know beforehand that you require this at checkout stage in the comment section and make in clear the number sequence please. We’ll always call you with any questions!
The great thing is that once we’ve converted your images to digital, it’s so easy to have fun organising and editing them. Commonly, customers will want to create their own slideshows, add titles, music, make images lighter, sharper, darker, more saturated etc etc. All of this is made possible by us digitalising them first. You can also of course upload them to social media sites.
The great thing is that once we’ve converted your images to digital, it’s so easy to have fun organising and editing them. Commonly, customers will want to create their own slideshows, add titles, music, make images lighter, sharper, darker, more saturated etc etc. All of this is made possible by us digitalising them first. You can also of course upload them to social media sites.
We specialise in scanning loose photographs and photo albums but also prints, letters, documents, posters, certificates, postcards and even tickets! We also provide professional photo editing and photo restoration services.
We also specialise in scanning 35mm slides, 35mm half frames slides, 110 slides, 126 slides and glass slides. We also scan negative film such as 35mm , 120 film, 110 film, 126 film, 127 film.
In addition, we handle disc film and APS films. Common print brands we are handle – Kodak, Fuji, Agfa, Boots, Ilford & more. Whatever the brand, we’re used to handling them.
Please ensure that your photos do not have sticky blu-tack, sellotape, staples on the back where possible as this may cause problems during scanning and affect your material moreover.
Good question! We’d use several different processes to scan your images and it would depend on what scanning method is best really and any minimum DPI norms they must meet but typically:
Slides: 2400 DPI JPEG
Photo Prints: 600 DPI (Or often higher in the case of smaller images – don’t worry we’ll let you know on receipt ) JPEG
Negatives: 2400 DPI JPEG
Click here to see an example of one our scanned slides
Good question! In most cases our standard level of service will be sufficient. However in some cases, it will make sense to consider our advanced service which will take a little longer and cost a little more but result in a better outcome for your audio tape. If there’s a tape that may merit from such attention, we can advise you and be guided by you in advance.
We are proud to have repaired and restored many hundreds of audio tapes of the years. Typically we see audio tapes that are damaged and broken. Perhaps they are wrinkled, twisted or torn? Sometimes they jam when you have tried to play them. We sincerely hope that they aren’t but if they are, there’s no need to worry. We can help there. We’ll do our very best to rescue your audio tapes. At one end of the spectrum, it could be careful re-splicing that’s needed.
At the other end it could be something more technically demanding such as sticky tape syndrome. Sticky-shed syndrome is a relatively common condition caused by the breakdown of the magnetic tape. Once penetrating the cassette case, it can do a lot of damage if not treated soon enough.
We’ve also seen a similar thing on many occasions with reel to reel audio tape.
We offer this service for most formats of audio – including compact cassette, reel to reel (including ¼ inch tape), compact cassette, vinyl record, audio tape, micro cassette, cassette tape and digital audio tape. We are sometimes also asked to look at recovering audio from damaged CDs, though it is not very easy or possible.
Well, we use CD format which is supported by almost all CD players but there can always be cases where due to a conflict between the player manufacturers that CDs will not play. So although we try our best, we can always promise disc compatibility with your CD player.
We are able to convert most types of audio format with us, including compact cassette, quarter inch reel to reel to tapes, portable dictaphone tapes, DAT, Mini Disc and vinyl to digital/CD.
In general yes! The good news is that you’ll only need to order one memory stick for all of your videos. The only exception will be larger orders but we can advise you. Either way, it will not cost more.
Throughout the UK and Ireland
Very easy, you can simply watch your MP4 files on any computer, phone or tablet and if you own a smart TV, most of the time you’ll have a USB port to plug in a USB memory stick and watch your videos. Sometimes you may prefer to watch them on a phone or tablet or even via our Cloud Access download service
Yep! Very easy – you’ll receive an email with our Cloud Access download service. Once you’ve opened them, you’ll be able to view them easily, safeguard them and even share them! Just call us if you have any questions.
We tend to use tracked Royal Mail to return any small orders. This is a 48H service typically. For any larger orders, we would use either Parcel Force or a registered courier. Once an order is dispatched, we would typically send you an email that includes the tracking information.
Yes indeed – just let us know beforehand that you require this at checkout stage in the comment section and mark on your videos the number sequence please. Happy to help!
Rest assured that these blank tapes will not be charged. If there are blank tapes, we will either refund any payment made for the units or they will not be charged on your invoice.
Opt for an additional set of digital files. Digital files do not fade. Unlike DVDs, they cannot be scratched. They can be easily copied onto other hard drives so that critical backups can be made.
