Digital Intermediate or DI is a type of motion picture processing. Although before it was mostly associated with sci-fi movies teeming with special effects, these days it's been proven to be applicable to just about any film genre. With the numerous advantages it has over the traditional processing done at the laboratory, it's no wonder DI has been grabbing attention.
This involves the digitizing of the film, just like what it's called suggests. To become a file stored digitally in a computer, it has to be run through a scanner. The main tool utilized by an editor is a computer rather than the reliance on chemicals and a few other instruments at the lab. Once through, the finished product is then printed back onto film.
One of the many advantages DI offers is it doesn't reduce the film's resolution. In the traditional method, the original negatives resolution has to be downgraded to end up as a projection print. The digitized approach, however, allows the retention of a film's original resolution. In other words, it's an alternative to laboratory processing that is lossless.
With the frames digitized, DI offers an editing approach that is very flexible. As mentioned earlier, it is no longer limited to movies containing special effects. Mastering digitally allows for so many things, and in ways that are more flexible. For instance, color correction is carried out by the pixel, permitting the editor to skip those parts that require no adjustment.
The same thing can be said for correcting the contrast. It's possible to tweak only certain portions that require the increasing or decreasing the ratio of the darkest and lightest colors. Lighting can be made consistent by DI. Conformity may be achieved for scenes with varying lighting conditions, like those shot at different times.
Needless to say, DI also allows for the addition or enhancement of special effects. It enables better composting even without the use of green screen techniques during shooting, making it possible to add or eliminate certain scene elements. These various adjustments and more may be done one after the other, either on a single frame or on every one of them.
One of the cons of Digital Intermediate is the cost that goes with it. However, the price tag can be expected to drop as computers get more and more powerful. Also, the mushrooming of post-production studios can make it more affordable to all, whether big-budgeted movies or independently made ones.
This involves the digitizing of the film, just like what it's called suggests. To become a file stored digitally in a computer, it has to be run through a scanner. The main tool utilized by an editor is a computer rather than the reliance on chemicals and a few other instruments at the lab. Once through, the finished product is then printed back onto film.
One of the many advantages DI offers is it doesn't reduce the film's resolution. In the traditional method, the original negatives resolution has to be downgraded to end up as a projection print. The digitized approach, however, allows the retention of a film's original resolution. In other words, it's an alternative to laboratory processing that is lossless.
With the frames digitized, DI offers an editing approach that is very flexible. As mentioned earlier, it is no longer limited to movies containing special effects. Mastering digitally allows for so many things, and in ways that are more flexible. For instance, color correction is carried out by the pixel, permitting the editor to skip those parts that require no adjustment.
The same thing can be said for correcting the contrast. It's possible to tweak only certain portions that require the increasing or decreasing the ratio of the darkest and lightest colors. Lighting can be made consistent by DI. Conformity may be achieved for scenes with varying lighting conditions, like those shot at different times.
Needless to say, DI also allows for the addition or enhancement of special effects. It enables better composting even without the use of green screen techniques during shooting, making it possible to add or eliminate certain scene elements. These various adjustments and more may be done one after the other, either on a single frame or on every one of them.
One of the cons of Digital Intermediate is the cost that goes with it. However, the price tag can be expected to drop as computers get more and more powerful. Also, the mushrooming of post-production studios can make it more affordable to all, whether big-budgeted movies or independently made ones.
About the Author:
Nolan Tornes likes writing about video production. For additional information about digital intermediate processing, or to find out more about color grading workflow, please go to the DigitalSystemsMedia website now.
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