The original camera negative may have been scratched or picked up dirt over time and can't just be re-printed - the solution is to digitally reproduce the picture that the negative contained in the first place, so the act of restoring is to attempt to take the image as is and remove any dirt/marks etc.
4k is really just the best technology available to consumers to watch it on.
Interestingly, when Blu Rays first came out they used a process called DNR (digital noise reduction) on images, which automatically detected any "noise" (scratches etc) in the film and removed them. This was a particularly dangerous method since there were cases when scenes of rain were altered so that there was no rain, as the DNR software had incorrectly identified the rain as "noise". Nowadays it's a more manual process I believe.
(, Sun 13 Aug 2017, 20:47, Share, Reply)
Noisy sand
I can guess that sand storms would also appear as something to "clean up" to an automated DNR software. This is why this restoration is so good.
I have the Bluray of this restored Laurence of Arabia. Stunning work.
What I find interesting is this now gives a better image than in the original cinema. Omar Sharif's epic entrance is stunningly clear on my 1080p TV screen. That's the bit when he comes charging across the desert on his horse - starting off in the far far distance.
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Batter Pudding Hurler is a figment of your imagination, Tue 15 Aug 2017, 13:56,
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