Return to Glossary Index Restoration Processes
Image Stabilization
Core Term Definition
Digital tracking and alignment of frames to eliminate mechanical bounce, weave, and jitter from historical film gates.
Technical Analysis & Context
When film sprocket holes are worn or shrunk, or when a camera's gate is mechanically unstable, the projected image bounces up and down (jitter) or weaves side to side (weave). Digital stabilization software tracks prominent contrast features in the image frame and aligns them to a stable center.