FAQs - How to Order Video Clips and Still Photos

 

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How do I order video clips, "screeners", or still images, and what does your License Agreement look like?

Use CriticalPast to find and order video footage, screeners, and still images easily and quickly. 
We license royalty-free, worldwide, in perpetuity, for all media.   See sample License Agreement here.

1. Use the Search feature to find clips. Click on any result.

2.  View the video. Pricing for each video is listed at the base of the video player.  If desired, view the still photo images below the player.  You may click the "View large photo" link below any still image to see a larger, higher resolution version of that photo.

3.  Need a full-resolution video for your edit? Click the "Download Screener" button below any video to download a full-resolution, timecoded screener right away for free. Or click the "Add to Lightbox" button to save the item to a lightbox.  The lightbox allows you to hold clips and images for future consideration. You may access your lightboxes by clicking on "My Lightboxes" from any page.

4.  To order: Open your lightbox and select the items you want. Then click the button "Order Screeners" or "Order Masters" (or "Add to Cart" if you are ordering still images). You will be prompted to choose the format you desire for the items in your order. For video clips you may select broadcast-ready professional clips or full-resolution screeners. A variety of codecs and framerates are available. For still photo images we offer JPEG files.

5.  Checkout securely to complete your order.  "Screeners" are available at no charge to registered users.  For unmarked, broadcast-ready files, we accept major credit cards, PayPal, or payment via bank wire or Wise -- contact us for bank wiring details. A printable license agreement is presented to you before you remit payment online.  See sample License Agreement here. Orders placed online are ready for download in less than one hour, day or night.


 

What is a "Lightbox" and how do I use it?

A lightbox allows you to hold clips and images for future consideration. You can create different lightboxes for different projects, manage their contents, and share them with friends and colleagues.

Click the "Add to Lightbox" button below any video or image on CriticalPast to add it to a lightbox.

To see and manage your lightboxes, click the "My Lightboxes" button in the red navigation area atop any page on CriticalPast.  In the "My Lightboxes" area you can you can view and manage the contents of your lightboxes, name and describe your lightboxes, and send lightboxes to friends.

When you click "View & Add to Cart" to see the contents of a lightbox in the "My Lightboxes" area, you can choose any items in the lightbox and then order screeners or masters. You can also enter notes about specific clips and images for future reference.  These notes are included when you use the "Send to friends" feature to send a lightbox to colleagues via e-mail.

If you are registered and signed-in on CriticalPast, you may create multiple different lightboxes and the contents of each is saved automatically so you can access your lightboxes anytime, from any device.

If you are a guest user (not signed-in) you have a single "Guest Lightbox".  Please note that the contents of the "Guest Lightbox" is not saved across your sessions.  We recommend that you register with CriticalPast and sign-in so that your lightbox contents will be saved.


 

In what forms do you offer video clips, and how are they priced?

We license by the clip, not by the second.

We offer video clips in High Definition (HD).  All files are available in the following formats:
1. Full-resolution, broadcast-ready Master clips.
2. Full-resolution "Screener" clips.

Following is a description of each format:
1. Full-resolution, broadcast-ready Master clips
These clips contain no markings.  They are priced between $95-$295 depending on clip duration and format. Pricing includes licensing and delivery of the media via download. There are no additional fees or minimums. In high definition (HD), we offer both ProRes and XDCAM files in several different frame rates.  The ProRes files are usable in both PC and Apple/Mac systems.  The XDCAM files are more restricted in compatibility and are designed primarily for input to Avid and Vegas edit systems, although they should also import into other edit systems equipped with special options.  The 1080x1920 24p, 30p, and 60i files are generally used by those editing programs to be broadcast in the U.S., Canada, Japan, or Brazil, while the 1080x1920 25p and 50i files are more common in Europe and the rest of the world.   The "i" and "p" designations for these files denote either interlaced or progressive scanning of the image.  Codecs delivered include your choice of ProRes or XDCAM for HD files. ProRes masters are delivered using Apple's ProRes 422 codec, which is 10 bit with an average data rate of 147 megabits/second.  XDCAM is delivered using Sony's  HD422 codec, which is 8 bit with a constant data rate of 50 megabits/second.

2. Full-resolution "Screener" clips
Free "screener" clips are ideal for quality evaluation and edit approval.  "Screener" clips are rendered at full resolution, and are different from full price Master clips only in that they they have timecode and our logo burned into the image.
 


 

In what forms do you offer still photo images, and how are they priced?

We offer still images as downloadable JPEG files 1382x960 pixels in size for USD $30 (Premium License), $20 (Standard License), or $5 (Personal use only). Most of our images comply with a printing standard of 300 dpi at a little over 4x3 inches.

To judge the subjective quality of any still image, click the "View large photo" link below the image thumbnail.  The "Large Photo" images are presented on the website at 760x528 pixels.  That is a lower resolution than the 1382x960 pixel images we deliver in fulfilling your order, but it can help you judge the resolution and quality.  The subjective quality of archival footage can vary widely, so always choose carefully.  If the quality of the still image does not meet your needs when you view it at "Full Size" on CriticalPast.com, do not expect the subjective quality of the photo to be markedly improved when delivered to you in full resolution form.


 

How do I search the collection?

To Search the collection:  Enter your search term(s) in the search input field and then click the red "Search" button.

Are you getting too many search results?  Follow tips to narrow your search:

Tip 1:  Use Search Operators:
Apply search operators like + - " " ( ) * to direct your search more precisely.  Here are some examples:

  • Enclose your search terms in double quotation marks (") to search only for exact matches to your exact terms in the order you entered them.

    Example:  Bowling Ball...would yield all results that have either Bowling Ball, Bowling, or Ball.
    But:  "Bowling Ball"...with quotation marks....would yield only results that include the two words Bowling Ball together and in that order.

  • Use a plus symbol (+) to limit the scope of the search.  Include a space before the symbol, but do not add a space after the symbol.

    Example:  Roosevelt Democratic Convention...yields results that include any or all of those 3 words.
    But:  +Roosevelt +Democratic +Convention...yields only results that include ALL 3 of those words.       

    Example:  +farm +tractor   ...yields only results that contain both the word farm and the word tractor.

  • Use a minus symbol (-)  to represent NOT. Include a space before the symbol, but do not add a space after the symbol.

Example: +farm -tractor   ...yields results that contain the word farm but not the word tractor.

  • Use parentheses to help you find synonyms for your search terms, without having to run many separate searches:

Example:  Say you want to find a press conference by President Eisenhower in 1957.  Entering simply     Eisenhower 1957     yields too many results.  Try instead:     +eisenhower +1957 +(press media reporter)
This approach has two benefits:  1) It yields a small, focused result list; 2) It will find clips that express the idea of a "press" conference in different ways, using synonyms such as "media" and "reporter".  The search engine interprets this entire search term as:
Must include Eisenhower, must include 1957, and must include any of the words press or media or reporter.

  • Use a tilde symbol (~) together with double quotation marks for proximity searches:  This allows you to search for occurrences of two specific words appearing physically close to one another in clip titles and descriptions:

Example:  Say you want to find clips that show pilots inside airplane cockpits.  If you simply enter     Pilot Cockpit     you get too many results because the search system is giving you every clip that includes the word "pilot" and/or the word "cockpit", and those two words might not appear close to each other in the clip description.  Try instead:     "pilot cockpit"~5     Now you will only get results where the word "pilot" is found within 5 words of the word "cockpit" in a clip title or description.  This narrows the results significantly.  You can change the proximity number as desired.  A 3 would yield fewer results than a 7.
You could even combine that search with other search terms to find exactly what you are looking for.  For example you could add a specific aircraft name.
Example:    +("pilot cockpit"~5) +"B-24"      yields only clips that include B-24 aircraft and also where the two words "pilot" and "cockpit" are found within 5 words of each other somewhere in the description or title. 

  • Enter the asterisk (*) as a wildcard to find alternative spellings.

Examples:
patent* retrieves patent, patents, patented, patentable, etc.
 behavi*r retrieves behavior as well as behaviour.
wom*n retrieves woman as well as women.


Tip 2:  Use the "Refine Your Search" tools:
After your search results are displayed, you may further narrow the results by clicking one or more "Refine Your Search" choices, located to the left of your search results.  These help you quickly narrow the pool of results based on decade, location, color, or sound.

Tip 3:  Use the "Advanced Search" features:
You may access Advanced Search features by clicking on the "Advanced Search" link, located to the right of the main "Search" button.  To close the Advanced Search panel, click the "Advanced Search" link again.


 

May I submit a correction or more information about a video clip?

Yes, please do!  You may submit corrections and additions to the information we display about any video clip. If you have specific interests or expertise that can help enrich the clip details, we welcome your improvements!  A small percentage of clips in the collection came to us with little or no historical records.  This has made some of them difficult to describe.  Your observations and contributions are always appreciated in making any clip description as complete and accurate as possible. 

To submit an update, please visit CriticalPast through your computer (this function is not supported on our mobile version).  Go to the clip's page on CriticalPast.com, and then click the "Edit Now" link. A window will appear where you can see and edit the clip details. Our editors will review your recommended changes and then post an updated version. Please understand that we may need to edit your submission for length, grammar, style, or content. When submitting an update, please provide details that pertain to that specific video clip only. Thanks for contributing!


 

What is the difference in quality between clips I view on the website and clips I order?

The full resolution professional clips that you order from CriticalPast will always look better than the same clips viewed on the CriticalPast.com website, because the clips on our website are optimized for quick and easy playback at a variety of connection speeds; not for high resolution viewing.

The following two video clips can help explain the difference between the low-resolution preview clips you see on the CriticalPast.com website, and the higher resolution media that we deliver in fulfilling orders for both unmarked master footage and full-resolution "screeners".  You may wish to view each of these at full-screen (click the icon in the lower right corner of the player) to better evaluate the differences in quality.  The first clip shows the low-resolution preview quality that plays on the CriticalPast.com website.  This is a compressed standard definition file in archival 4:3 aspect ratio.  The second clip shows the same video clip, but at higher resolution in HD 24 fps.  The quality of this second clip is closer (but still a bit lower) to the quality of what you would receive if you placed an order for a screener of that clip in high definition format.  "Screener" clips are the best way to discern the absolute quality of a given clip, and are offered at no charge for registered users. Screener clips are rendered at full resolution in the broadcast quality format and frame rate that you choose. They have timecode and our logo burned into the image, but are otherwise like the final master clips. This makes them ideal for quality evaluation, and for use in rough-cut edits.

Sample low-resolution preview clip as seen on CriticalPast.com:


 

 

 

 

 

Same clip in high definition, nearly full resolution, similar to a 1920x1080 24p screener version:
(Note:  This clip shows the CriticalPast logo and timecode because it is simulating a "screener" clip.  Full price master clips you order contain no marks.)

          

 

 

 



 

What is the native resolution of your media? Can you deliver media in high resolution?

Our primary video files are 1920x1080 progressive clips at a frame rate of 23.98 fps.  The entire collection is film backed other than some material from the 1970s-present that was never shot on film.  We are constantly re-transferring parts of the collection using the latest equipment available, and can re-transfer any clip on demand at additional cost.

Because early motion picture films are natively 1440 x 1080 in HD, we configure master clips with the film image "pillar boxed" with black on the left and right within the 1920 x 1080 HD frame. In the edit suite, this image can be zoomed in to fill the frame completely, if desired.  We offer clips in several different frame rates and standards.  Codecs offered include your choice of XDCAM or ProRes.    XDCAM is delivered using Sony's HD422 codec, which is 8 bit with a constant data rate of 50 megabits/second.  ProRes is delivered using Apple's ProRes 422 codec, which is 10 bit with an average data rate of 147 megabits/second.

The subjective quality of archival footage can vary widely, so we recommend downloading our free full resolution screeners for rough cuts before committing to a master clip order.  Screener clips have our logo and a semi-transparent timecode in the center of the image, but are otherwise like the final master clips.  This makes them ideal for quality evaluation before licensing.


 

Do purchased video clips and still images contain watermarks?

No. "Master" clips are unmarked, full-resolution, and broadcast-ready.

Full-resolution "Screener" clips, for preview purposes only, have a timecode burned into the center of the image, and also contain our logo.


 

How long will it take me to download a full resolution video clip?

Your download speed is highly dependent on the speed of your internet connection.  In areas of the world where prevailing bandwidth is higher, customers may experience faster speeds. When downloading, we recommend that you use a wired, Ethernet connection rather than Wi-Fi due to large file sizes.


 

Are any still images available other than the ones seen under each video clip?

The still images shown on the website were pre-rendered at a cadence of one for every second of footage run time. No other still images are available at this time.


 

What are your cancellation and return policies?

Cancellations:
Our systems begin processing your order, automatically, as soon as it is received.  Items for download are typically delivered in minutes.  If you need to cancel your order, please Contact Us as soon as possible.  Staff are available 9:00am - 5:30pm Eastern Time USA (GMT-5:00), Monday through Friday, to receive your requests. We cannot cancel your order if it contains downloadable items that you have already downloaded.

Returns:
Due to the nature of our product, all sales must be final except in the case of defective media, such as a corrupt file, or broken or damaged file storage media that we provide to you.  We will accept returns for a 100% refund or exchange -- your choice -- in the unlikely case of defective media.

Archival content varies widely in subjective quality, so always choose carefully.  A good way to judge the visual quality of a video clip is to download a screener.  Screeners are offered at no charge for registered users.  Screeners are full-resolution, like the masters, so they are ideal for quality evaluation and use in rough-cut edits.  To judge the visual quality of still images, click the "View large photo" button below any of its thumbnail images.  "View large photo" displays a higher resolution image.  If the visual quality of a particular still image does not meet your needs when you view it in large size, do not expect the video or photo image to be markedly improved when delivered to you in full resolution form.
See also:  What is the difference in quality between clips I view on the website and clips I order?

Please make sure you have requested the correct clip or still image when ordering. The exact media file name is displayed beside each item in your Shopping Cart.


 

When can I download the files I have ordered?

You will receive two e-mails at the e-mail address you specified during Checkout. The first e-mail is your Order Confirmation.  The second email will include Download Instructions, and will be sent as soon as your files are ready for download.  Orders are ready for download within one hour, day or night.  If you are a registered customer you can track your order status at any time by visiting the "My Account" area.

Your download remains available to you for two weeks after your order date.


 

What are the sources for the CriticalPast collection?

The CriticalPast collection is sourced directly from declassified U.S. government films and then professionally telecine transferred.  The collection comes from the public domain holdings of many different federal departments and agencies, including the U.S. Army, Air Force, and Navy, the Department of Defense, Department of Agriculture, and many others. Films and collections specifically gifted to the U.S. government and people, such as the Ford and Universal Newsreels collections, are also represented.

For all orders of unmarked full-resolution clips, we provide the exact U.S. government source ID number for each clip in your order on the post-payment License Agreement. This serves as a detailed assurance that the content is U.S. government derived.  U.S. government films are a favored source of material for productions because they are generally free from complex rights issues.  When films are declassified or willed to the American people, they are sent to central repositories, most notably the U.S. National Archives, for storage. Our researchers are experts at acquiring pertinent footage from within these repositories.


 

Do I own the rights to the video clips and images that I order?

Unmarked video clips are licensed to you for use in your production, subject to the terms of our License Agreement.  The License Agreement is made available to you for review during the Checkout process, before you submit your order. Registered users may visit the “My Account - Order History” area any time to review or print their license for any order.
Please click here for more information and to see a sample License Agreement.


 

What are your Terms and Conditions?

Our Terms and Conditions agreement can be seen here:  Terms & Conditions.  They deal chiefly with your usage of the CriticalPast.com website.

This is different than our License Agreement which governs your use of Media licensed from CriticalPast.


 

What is your Privacy Policy?

Please see our Privacy Policy here:  Privacy Policy


 

What does your License Agreement look like?

Please visit our License Agreement page here:  License Agreement