Technical Introduction to Digital Cinema (D-cinema)

A 1-day seminar presented by Charles Poynton

See the seminar announcement.

Syllabus

Morning:

Image fundamentals

• Lightness terminology
• contrast and contrast ratio
• viewing conditions
• image quality
• the relative nature of lightness sensitivity; logarithms
• chromatic adaptation and white balancing
• end-to-end gamma
• image data adjustments based upon display surround and contrast ratio

Image formats

• SD, HD, 2K and 4K
• visual acuity, viewing angle, and resolution requirements
• frame rate requirements
• video and file-based (data) approaches

Optical formats

• ²/₃-inch (HD) format, and beamsplitter (prism) cameras
• Super35 (⁵/₃-inch) format
• depth-of-field, picture angle, and MTF considerations
• mosaic (Bayer) sensors

Colour data formats

• Perceptual attributes of colour (value, hue, and saturation)
• additive and subtractive colour
• colour sensing and reproduction methods
• linear, logarithmic, and video (power function) laws
• image coding: linear RGB, nonlinear R'G'B', Rec. 709, sRGB, Y'C_BC_R, log RGB, Panalog; CPD/DPX, OpenEXR
• colour transforms and conversion
• chroma subsampling

Afternoon:

Digital cinematography

• Cameras and their characteristics: Sony F900, F950, and Sony/Panavision Genesis, ARRI D-20, Thomson/Grass Valley Viper, DALSA Origin, and emergent cameras
• on-set previsualization and look management
• colour decision lists
• gamma, black gamma, knee point, and knee slope controls

Storage and processing

• Video recording
• data recording
• video and IT-based interfaces

Colour correction and timing/grading

• Choice of coding system and gamut
• integration of CGI and visual effects
• "Printer points"
• colour characterization and calibration
• lookup tables (LUTs)
• ICC colour management and ICC profiles
• colour grading and approval prior to film recording

Mastering

• DCI standards
• the concept of the reference projector
• XYZ^1/2.6 colour data coding
• JPEG2000 compression
• colour gamut and gamut mapping issues

Display

• Direct-view display technologies (CRTs, LCDs, plasma)
• projection technologies (LCoS, SXRD, DLP, D-ILA)
• D-cinema projectors
• projection primaries
• colorimetric matching
• appearance matching
• gamut issues

Film scanning and recording

• Sensitometry and film gamma (D-log E curves)
• optical density
• film scanning equipment (telecine, Imagica, ARRISCAN, Northlight)
• film recording (ARRILASER)
• Cineon/RP 180 printing density

Charles Poynton - Courses & seminars
www.poynton.com/notes/events/
2006-05-10