What is Digital Cinema Package format?

A Digital Cinema Package (DCP) is a collection of digital files used to store and convey digital cinema (DC) audio, image, and data streams. The composition consists of a Composition Playlist (in XML format) that defines the playback sequence of a set of Track Files.

How do you make a digital cinema package?

In simple terms, it goes like this:

Export your film as a 16-bit TIFF sequence.
Use free, open source DCP software to convert the TIFF sequence into JPEG 2000.
The DCP software then wraps the video (JPEG2000) and audio (WAV) in to MXF files.

What format do movie theaters use?

A DCP or Digital Cinema Print is the modern version of the old “35mm film reel”. It is the format movie theaters use to project feature films and trailers. Over 90% of the theatres in the world now screen from DCPs. If you’ve seen a movie in a cinema lately – it was likely from a Digital Cinema Print.

Why are DCP files so large?

DCP’s use variable JPEG2K compression which means there’s no real “lower limit” on file size. The more you compress a film, the smaller it will be – but also the lower quality the image will be. There’s no agreement on “best practice” for minimums – even among major movie studios.

Why is a DCP necessary?

Originally designed for the military, the DX-115 is now used by the film industry in D-Cinema for its proven reliability and sturdiness. Certain film festivals and facilities require this drive for DCP delivery and it is highly recommended for feature films formatted in 4K, 3D or High Frame Rates.

Can you convert DCP to MP4?

t is possible to convert unencrypted DCPs to H. 264 MP4 (or other types of video files). You then need to create a file called dcp2mp4.

What resolution is DCP?

The resolution of a DCP in a Flat (1.85) container is 3996 x 2160 or 1998 x 1080. The resolution of a DCP in a Scope (2.39) container is 4096 x 1716 or 2048 x 858.

What resolution do cinemas use?

The majority of theatres in developed countries use 2K digital image projection. That’s a container with a resolution 2048 x 1080, though the full area isn’t used except in some IMAX Digital presentations. Typically an “Academy Flat” 1.85:1 movie will be 1998 x 1080, and a “Scope” 2.39:1 movie will be 2048 x 858.

Do theaters use 4K?

Many theatres now have 4K projection, which follows the same concepts except at four times the total resolution; the container is 4096 x 2160, Academy Flat movies are 3996 x 2160, and Scope movies are 4096 x 1716. The majority of theatres in developed countries use 2K digital image projection.

What is the normal file size for a movie?

Typically, downloaded standard definition Digital Movie files take up approximately 1-2 Gigabytes of space, and high definition files can take up to 2-4 GB. Bonus features can double these space requirements.

How big is a 4K DCP?

If there’s anything that a 4K DCP does better than a 2K DCP, it’s take up space on a hard drive. The maximum bitrate for a DCP allows for data rates to reach up to 2GB/min of run time. It’s not uncommon for feature length 4K DCPs to exceed 200GB in size.

What is Digital Cinema Package format?