Report: Project 4K77 Internet Archive Preservation Project 4K77

The project was spearheaded by a group of enthusiasts known as Team Negative1 (TN1). Their primary goal was to bypass the official "Special Editions"—which began in 1997 and introduced controversial changes like the "Han shot first" alteration—and restore the film to its photochemical roots.

The Solution: Enter 4K77

4K77 is a "Despecialized" restoration. Unlike fan edits that simply splice together various sources, 4K77 was built from the ground up using original film reels.

Unlike a fan edit (which splices in deleted scenes or changes music), Project 4K77 is a preservation. It is a 4K resolution, 16-bit scan of an actual, honest-to-goodness 35mm celluloid print of the 1977 theatrical cut of Star Wars. The specific print used—dubbed the "Technicolor dye-transfer print"—was struck in 1977 for a theater in California. After decades in a collector’s storage, it was loaned to a non-profit group called Team Negative 1.

Enter the Internet Archive.

Step 4: Audio Sync

Project 4K77 includes multiple audio tracks: