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Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about Digital Pickle and its services. Please don't hesitate to contact us by telephone or email.
General Questions
• How long will it take to process my order?
[September 2008] Our current project lead times are:
• Photos, Slides, Negatives --- 5-10 days
• Audio ------------------------------- 1 week
• Video ------------------------------- 1 week
• Film -------------------------------- 10 days
These times are for average consumer order of consumer media.
Please call us for professional and/or large orders.
• Why not digitize my photos, videos, audio and film myself?
• What can you digitize?
We can digitize virtually every type of still images (photos, negatives, slides), every type of video (every consumer type, most professional formats, and all international formats such as PAL and SECAM), and 8mm and 16mm silent and sound films. We also digitize audio cassettes, reel-to-reel audio tapes, and vinyl records.
• How safe is it to mail my photos & videos?
The reliability of couriers like FedEx and UPS is extremely high. We've received and processed thousands of orders from all over the country, and we've never had a case of a lost parcel. If you're still concerned, send it to us by overnight express. We'll receive your package the very next morning. The return trip won't be nearly as worrisome because we'll keep a safety copy of your digital media.
• What area does your pickup & delivery service cover?
Our coverage extends to most of the San Francisco Bay Area and to a large area in the Los Angeles metro area. Please click on San Francisco Bay Area or Los Angeles Metro for contact info and pickup and dropoff locations and maps.
• Where is the actual work done?
We conduct all services in-house. We do not off-shore your project!
• What about discounts?
Discounts are available for large orders and they are determined on a case-by-case basis.
Special discounted rates are also available to our partners, to educational institutions, and to active duty members of the uniformed services.
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Photo Scanning & Restoration Questions
• How much does scanning cost?
It depends on which resolution and options you choose. Economy scanning starts at just $0.29 per photo.
• Can you scan photos in albums?
Yes. We can. There is an additional charge for "album access" of $0.25 per image to remove and replace the photos. In some extreme cases, the charge may be doubled - for photos that are attached to the albums in a difficult manner.
• What’s the difference between Economy and Regular scanning?
Both use the same equipment and produce the same high quality scans. However, Regular scanning includes a detailed finishing process (rotation to the correct orientation, de-skewing, cropping, color-correction, and quality checking). Economy scanning is a good option if you’re proficient with computer multimedia editing software and intend to manipulate and finish the images yourself. See the difference.
• Do I really need CleanScan?
We recommend using our CleanScan service to remove scratches and dust particles on slides and negatives of any age. CleanScan applies a sophisticated optical technology that "sees through" dust and scratches to produce an almost flawless digital image.
If CleanScan is not applied, you will get some evidence of scratches and dust particles on negatives and slides. This is caused by the development process, and by the use of plastic sleeves, among other things.
Please note that CleanScan DOES NOT work for black & white negatives and slides!
This means that you can expect some scratches and dust particles (electrostatically clinging to the film that our cleaning process cannot remove) to be evident. These can all be removed easily by us through retouching them using Adobe Photoshop at an additional cost using our restoration service.
• How much does photo restoration cost?
Photo restoration is billed on a prorated hourly basis of $60. Light damage costs only a few dollars per photo, while severe damage costs $15 or more per photo. Learn more about photo restoration.
• Which resolution do I need?
It depends on how you intend to use the images. Standard resolution is suitable for slide shows, email & web applications, and photo-quality printing without enlargement. High resolution is best for archiving and enlarged printing. Pro resolution is for large format printing and high-end graphics work. Learn more about resolution.
• What's the difference between putting my images on CD versus DVD?
A DVD stores almost 7 times more data than a CD (4.7 GB versus 700 MB).
• How will the image files be organized on my CD/DVD?
We organize your files and folders to reflect the way your physical media is organized, i.e. by roll of negatives, carousel of slides, etc. For example, if you have an album of photos called "Italy 1995", w e'll place all those images in a folder called "Italy 1995" and name the files "Italy1995-001", "Italy1995-002", and so on.
• Will I be able to view my images and play them on a DVD player?
Yes, many of the new DVD players are JPEG-compatible, which means they can display image files directly from your CD-ROM. However, this option is not universally compatible and does not allow for addition of music or interactive features. For that you will need our playable DVD Slide Show.
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Regular Vs. Economy Scan
Both options use the same equipment and produce the same high-quality scans.
However, in Regular Scan we perform the following finishing procedures:
• Image rotation to the correct orientation
• De-skewing (leveling the image)
• Cropping any visible border effect
• Color correction
• Detailed quality check
Economy scanning is a good option if you’re proficient with computer multimedia editing software and intend to manipulate and finish the images yourself.
See the difference between Economy and Regular scanning.
Resolution Table
| Original Media |
Scanned Resolution
(pixels per inch) |
Digital Image |
| Type and Size |
MegaPixels |
Max Print Size (photo-quality) |
JPEG File Size (MB) |
TIFF File Size (MB) |
| Photo Print |
3.5"x5" |
Standard (300 ppi) |
1.6 |
3.5" x 5" |
0.5 |
5 |
| 4"x6" |
2.2 |
4" x 6" |
0.7 |
6 |
| 5"x7" |
3.2 |
5" x 7" |
1.1 |
10 |
| 3.5"x5" |
High (600 ppi) |
6.3 |
7" x 10" |
2.1 |
19 |
| 4"x6" |
8.6 |
8" x 12" |
2.9 |
26 |
| 5"x7" |
12.6 |
10" x 14" |
4.2 |
38 |
35mm Negative
(1" x 1.5") |
Standard (1500 ppi) |
3.0 |
5" x 7" |
1 |
9 |
| High (2500 ppi) |
8.4 |
8" x 10" |
2.8 |
25 |
| Pro (4000 ppi) |
21.4 |
12" x 18" |
7.1 |
65 |
APS Film
(0.65" x 1.2") |
Standard (1700 ppi) |
2.3 |
4" x 6" |
0.8 |
7 |
| High (2500 ppi) |
4.9 |
6" x 8" |
1.6 |
14 |
| Pro (4000 ppi) |
12.5 |
10" x 14" |
4.2 |
38 |
35mm Mounted Slide
(1" x 1.5") |
Standard (1500 ppi) |
2.8 |
4" x 6" |
0.9 |
8 |
| High (2500 ppi) |
7.7 |
8" x 10" |
2.6 |
23 |
| Pro (4000 ppi) |
19.6 |
12" x 18" |
6.5 |
59 |
Medium Format Film
(2.25" x 2.25") |
Standard (1000 ppi) |
5.1 |
6" x 8" |
1.7 |
15 |
| High (2000 ppi) |
20.3 |
12" x 18" |
6.8 |
61 |
| Pro (4000 ppi) |
81.0 |
18" x 27" |
20 |
180 |
Large Format Film
(4" x 5") |
Standard (600 ppi) |
7.2 |
8" x 10" |
2.4 |
22 |
| High (1000 ppi) |
20.0 |
12" x 18" |
6.7 |
60 |
| Pro (2000 ppi) |
80.0 |
24" x 36" |
26.7 |
240 |
Default Color Space: sRGB
Available Formats:
8-bit JPG (default)(file sizes are in the table above)
16-bit JPG (files sizes are 2X the 8bit size)
8-bit TIFF (file sizes are in the table above)
16-bit TIFF (files sizes are 2X the 8bit size)
and low compression JPG (Photoshop quality level 12) with file sizes approximately half that of 8bit TIFF.
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DVD Slideshow Questions
• What is a playable DVD Slide Show?
It’s a slide show created in the form of a DVD movie. It is compatible with almost all DVD players and can be controlled just like a movie (i.e. pause, fast-forward, etc.). You can also add music and customize it with a variety of interactive features. Up to 1,000 images can fit on a single DVD disc. Learn more about DVD Slide Shows.
• How much does it cost to make a DVD slide show?
It depends on the number of images and the level of customization. A slide show with up to 250 images starts at only $75.
• Can you make a slide show using my digital files?
Yes, simply mail us your photo CD or upload your images to our server.
• What’s involved in adding music?
You decide what music to add and where to place it. For copyright reasons you must either send us original retail CD’s or allow us to download (purchase) your selection of music on-line.
• How much music should I send you?
We recommend about one minute of music for every 10 images.
• Will I be able to review the slide show before it is burned to DVD?
Yes, we send you a link to view a web version of your slide show. After we have your approval we burn the DVD disc and ship it back to you along with your original materials.
• Will the DVD be compatible with all DVD players?
We use DVD-R format, which is supported by almost all DVD players.
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Video Tape Transfer Questions
• How much does it cost to transfer video tapes?
• Does your process involve video cleaning?
Yes, our transfer process employs an advanced filtration system that reduces noise, minimizes jitter, and ensures perfect frame synchronization.
• How much video fits on a DVD disc?
2 hours at the highest quality. It’s possible to squeeze in more at the expense of video quality, but we don’t recommend it.
• What video tape formats do you accept?
VHS, S-VHS, VHS-C, Betamax, Betacam, Video-8, Hi-8, Digital-8, mini-DV, Laserdisc, and DVC-Pro
• Can I combine multiple video tapes to create a single DVD?
Yes, but there is a charge of $15 for each additional source tape.
• What is a navigation menu and chapters?
A navigation menu pops up as soon as you insert the DVD disc and also when you press the “menu” button on your remote control. It allows you to advance to any chapter, which is a designated point in the movie (selected by you).
• Will I be able to edit the video myself?
You can edit your video by copying the *.VOB files to your hard drive and renaming them to *.MPG. However, if you plan to do any serious editing it is best to use uncompressed files (AVI). We can provide these on mini-DV, DVD-ROM, or better yet an external hard drive. We can also provide uncompressed video in MOV and WMV formats.
• Will my DVD be compatible with all DVD players?
We use DVD-R format, which is supported by almost all DVD players.
• Will anyone watch my videos during transfer?
No, the transfer is done automatically by dedicated equipment. However, we will need to glance through parts of your video for quality control and in order to install certain features.
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Film Transfer Questions
• How much does it cost to digitize my film?
It depends on which options you choose, but regular transfer is priced at $0.25 per foot, which works out to $12.50 for a 50-ft reel.
• What process do you use to transfer film?
We use an all-digital, frame-by-frame, aerial-capture process with a 3CCD camera. This method produces the highest possible video quality, with the exception of film scanning, which is usually cost-prohibitive. Learn more about our process.
• What film formats can you transfer?
8mm, Super 8mm, and 16mm. We transfer optically- and magnetically-recorded sound.
• What is involved with sound film?
We transfer both optically- and magnetically-recorded film audio. We optimize the sound quality by controlling the gain and reducing the noise. The audio is then seamlessly integrated with the video.
• What format will my digital video be in?
Your film will be transferred to a high quality DVD-R disc that is compatible with almost all DVD players. We also recommend that you preserve an uncompressed master copy of your film. We usually provide these on master-grade mini-DV tapes.
• How much film fits on a DVD disc?
• Will my playable DVD be compatible with all DVD players?
We use DVD-R format, which is supported by almost all DVD players.
• Will anyone watch my film during transfer?
No, the transfer is done automatically by dedicated equipment. However, we will need to glance through parts of your film for quality control and in order to install certain features.
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Film Tables
| 8mm Film |
| Reel Diameter |
Film Length |
Play Duration (approx.) |
AVI File Size (uncompressed) |
MPG File Size (compressed) |
| 3" |
50 ft |
4 minutes |
800 MB |
150 MB |
| 4" |
100 ft |
8 minutes |
1.6GB |
300 MB |
| 5" |
200 ft |
16 minutes |
3.2 GB |
600 MB |
| 6" |
300 ft |
24 minutes |
4.8 GB |
900 MB |
| 7" |
400 ft |
32 minutes |
6.4 GB |
1.2 GB |
| - |
750 ft |
~ 1 hr |
12 GB |
2.3 GB |
| - |
1500 ft |
~ 2 hr |
22 GB |
4.6 GB |
| 16mm Film |
| Reel Diameter |
Film Length |
Play Duration (approx.) |
AVI File Size (uncompressed) |
MPG File Size (compressed) |
| 3" |
50 ft |
2 minutes |
400 MB |
75 MB |
| 4" |
100 ft |
4 minutes |
800 MB |
150 MB |
| 5" |
200 ft |
8 minutes |
1.6 GB |
300 MB |
| 6" |
300 ft |
11 minutes |
2.2 GB |
420 MB |
| 7" |
400 ft |
15 minutes |
3.0 GB |
600 MB |
| 8" |
600 ft |
23 minutes |
4.6 GB |
900 MB |
| 9" |
800 ft |
30 minutes |
6.0 GB |
1.1 GB |
| 10" |
1000 ft |
38 minutes |
7.5 GB |
1.4 GB |
| 11" |
1200 ft |
45 minutes |
9.0 GB |
1.7 GB |
| - |
1600 ft |
1 hr |
12 GB |
2.3 GB |
| - |
3200 ft |
2 hr |
24 GB |
4.6 GB |
• Default Video File Formats:
Uncompressed AVI with DV (NTSC) Compression
Referred to as ‘uncompressed’ because of lossless image quality.
Compressed M2V/WAV (mpeg file with separate audio file) with Ligos MPEG Compression
Bitrate is 4 Mbits/sec (can be set higher for videos shorter than 2 hours)
720 x 480
• Other Available File Formats: Quicktime MOV, Windows Media Player WMV,
Real Media Player RM
• Please note the newer versions of Mac video editing software (iMovie) do support AVI.
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