Tutorials Video

AI in Film Restoration: DRS Nova, Phoenix and When a Generated Frame Is Honest

By Infinite Creation · Professional · ~15 min

A 1960s mid-century comic book style editorial illustration showing a film restoration bench with a light box, a scratched film strip, a reel on a rewind arm and a monitor comparing a damaged frame with a clean one, while one person in white gloves holds the strip to the light.

The Short Version

Film restoration repairs damage that time and handling leave behind: dust, scratches, tears, warped film and missing frames. New AI features recreate a missing frame from the frames around it. That is a big gain for an archive and a real risk, because a recreated frame is invention. This guide is for archivists, restoration colourists and post supervisors. It sets out what MTI Film states about DRS Nova and its FrameGen, what the maker of Phoenix states, the hardware one of them lists, and a way to decide how much invention a restoration accepts. We did not test any tool on this page. Each statement about a tool comes from the maker's own page as read on 8 October 2026, or from a trade source named in the Sources section.

Before You Start

A high-quality scan of the original film, which you keep unchanged
The archive's policy on how far restoration goes, or a decision from the rights holder
A workstation matching the maker's listed hardware for a systems-level tool
A way to record each repaired or generated frame

Walkthrough

Separate repair from invention

Removing dust, a scratch or flicker works on what the camera recorded. Recreating a frame builds what was never in the scan. Many archives accept the first without comment and want the second recorded, limited or refused. Set that line with the archive or rights holder before you start.

Read what MTI states about DRS Nova

MTI's page lists manual tools to remove dust, static dirt, debris, scratches and tears and to replace missing frames. It lists Shine and AutoFilter, which automatically detect and repair dust and defects, dewarping for shrinkage and aging distortion, and deflicker, stabilization and grain tools. It describes MTai FrameGen as using generative AI to recreate missing frames from jump cuts and frame slugs, and says version 7.0 replaces highly damaged frames using an interpolation model trained by MTI. It adds that NOVA Paint fixes anomalies with AI generated content.

Check the hardware and the support terms

MTI's page lists Windows 10 or 11, 128 GB of RAM as a minimum and 256 GB recommended, a workstation-class processor, and a graphics card with 16 GB of memory as the minimum. It says FrameGen is bundled with annual support and that failing to renew support limits FrameGen. The tool is sold through resellers, so quotes and demonstrations go through them. We did not request one.

Read what Phoenix's page says, and does not say

When we opened the old Digital Vision address it redirected to Filmworkz. Its page calls Phoenix professional film and video restoration and grading software for hands-on work, with automated repair from DVO Tools. It makes no AI or machine learning statement, and gives no hardware requirements. Do not assume it generates frames. Ask the maker.

Restore a short test sequence and compare to the scan

Run the repair on a short sequence that includes a damaged stretch. Compare each repaired frame with the scan. Mark frames the tool changed beyond dust and scratches. Mark generated frames separately. Show both lists to whoever owns the film.

Document every generated frame

Keep the untouched scan, the restored master and a log that lists generated frames by reel and timecode, with the tool and version. Label the restored version as restored. A future archivist or historian needs to know what in the picture is original.

Watch Out For

Do not fill long damaged stretches with generated frames. The longer the gap, the more the tool invents.
Faces and signs are where invented detail does harm. Check them first.
Topaz Video AI is an option for smaller work. Its page lists over 20 AI models, Mac and Windows, and local rendering.

Knowledge Base

Going Deeper

Restoration is a promise to the original, and AI changes how easily the promise is broken.

Why a generated frame is not a repaired frame

A scratch removal estimates what lay under a mark that covered a few pixels. A recreated frame estimates a whole picture from the ones before and after. The second looks seamless at speed and show the wrong gesture or a blurred face when paused. Archives keep both versions for that reason, so a later restoration starts again from the scan.

What the pages say about use

MTI's page says MTI was recognised by the television academy for using its AI tools in television remastering, and that multiple companies shared restored work. The page gives two different years for the recognition, so we do not repeat either. Phoenix's page lists broadcasters, studios and archives as users and shows logos without saying who uses Phoenix specifically.

Where This Fits

Restoration starts from whatever the camera and the scan captured, and Video Production Fundamentals covers the planning, camera and delivery choices that decide what that is.

FAQ

Q: Is Topaz suitable for archive film?
A: Its page describes upscaling archival video to 4K and local rendering. The upscaling guide covers the risk of invented detail, and an archive should still keep the scan.

Q: Is AI restoration accepted by archives?
A: We found no archive policy to quote. Ask the archive or rights holder.

Q: Does Phoenix use AI?
A: Its page makes no such statement. Ask Filmworkz.

Vocabulary

Frame slug A short run of blank or filler frames inserted where film is missing, so the picture stays in sync with the sound. Restoration replaces a slug with recreated frames or leaves it as a marked gap.

Dewarping Correcting a film frame distorted by shrinkage or aging, so lines that should be straight look straight. It reshapes the picture using tracked points, and too much of it stretches the image.

Interpolation Estimating a frame between two known frames from the movement between them. Smooth motion interpolates well and fast or complex motion produces visible errors such as smeared edges or doubled limbs.

Scan The digital copy of a film made by running the film past a sensor, frame by frame. Archives keep the highest-quality scan as the source from which every later version is made.

Sources

MTI's and Filmworkz's own pages and Topaz's page were read on 8 October 2026. Nothing was tested. Checked 8 October 2026.

MTI Film, DRS Nova. Lists manual and automated repair, dewarping, MTai FrameGen using generative AI to recreate missing frames, version 7.0 replacement of highly damaged frames with an MTI-trained interpolation model, NOVA Paint with AI generated content, FrameGen bundled with annual support, and the hardware requirements.
Filmworkz, Phoenix. Calls Phoenix restoration and grading software, names DVO Tools for automated repair, makes no AI statement and gives no hardware requirements. The old Digital Vision address redirected here.
Topaz Labs, Topaz Video. Lists over 20 AI models, Mac and Windows, local rendering and optional cloud rendering.

No archive or standards body was read for restoration policy. MTI's page gives two different years for its television academy recognition, so neither is repeated. Our earlier notes named Phoenix as used by a national archive, which we were unable to confirm and did not repeat. No page states quality results.