1/09/2013

Taking A Glimpse At What Digital Intermediate Is All About

By Nolan Tornes


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.

Like what the name says, it involves the digitizing of a film. It is scanned to become a digital file stored on a computer. The editor's main tool is a computer, in contrast to the various chemicals and other instruments necessary for laboratory processing. Once finished, the product of the editing is then once more printed onto film.

There are numerous advantages that DI brings, and one of them is it prevents the lowering of resolution. The traditional approach involves the downgrading of a negatives resolution when being turned into projection print. On the other hand, the digitized alternative keeps the film's resolution intact. In short, DI is a lossless form of motion picture processing.

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 is true for lowering or increasing the contrast. Such may be done on certain areas only where the ratio of color luminance has to be fiddled with. DI also allows for the attainment of a more uniform look in terms of lighting. Scenes with varying lighting setup or shot at different times of the day may be edited for the sake of conformity.

DI may be used to improve or throw in some special effects to enhance a particular scene. This approach is very good at composting, making it possible to add or remove scene elements even without the reliance on green screen techniques. All of these adjustments may be done at the same time, whether on a single frame of throughout the entire film.

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.




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