No, it’s not actually this bad, but the fan remasters I have seen definitely suffer from the usual AI “upscaling” issues like smooth skin, weird text, etc. What is the best quality these shows can actually be found in?

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AI disclaimer: If it’s not obvious, the punchline at the bottom is an AI-generated image. I found it by browsing already-generated Trek-themed AI images. I believe this post fits the AI rule on this community, but I understand if not. My first idea for the punchline was to run a photo of the DS9 cast through a 2015-ish Deep Dream model or whatever (the kind that makes nonsense like this), but apparently that’s no longer a thing.

  • drrodneymckay_@sh.itjust.works
    6·
    6 hours ago

    The problem I’ve heard is that DS9 and VOY were shot directly to tape, and not film. This means that there is not a high resolution source to rescan. Another problem is that apparently the studio did not maintain an as shot copy before sfx. So even if it was possible to start with a studio quality master tape for the best source possible, you don’t have a clean version to reapply effects to.

    ENT was shot in HD with an updated workflow as Broadcast TV standards had evolved.

    • data1701d (He/Him)@startrek.websiteEnglish
      5·
      5 hours ago

      Not quite. The base footage was all 35mm; they were just transferred to tape when doing the editing and VFX shots.

      It is very much possible to remaster DS9 at the very least - they did a few select scenes for the documentary “What We Left Behind”, complete with re-rendered CG effects, as the assets still existed on VFX artist’s computers.

    • aeronmelon@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      5 hours ago

      Deep Space Nine and Voyager were definitely filmed using 30mm film. Most of Star Trek in the TNG era was (even a lot of Enterprise):

      https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Panavision

      This included a lot of model shots. Deep Space Nine used only model shots until switching over to CG ships and CG-enhanced model shots during the Dominion War arc. Voyager was the first series to use CG models extensively throughout, but many stock shots of Voyager itself were done on film:

      I think what you heard about tapes might be due to Paramount releasing these shows directly into syndication during a time when TV stations were switching over to digital equipment. They probably sent tapes to the various stations instead of actual reels of film.