Understanding Digital Cinema

Digital cinema refers to digital adoption of new digital technologies in the film industry to digitally transfer or encode moving images as against the conventional use of reels, which include 35mm film. It is, however, different from computer-based and virtual reality video games that are often called digital video games, because in digital video games the player controls the action through interaction with a computer program. Digital cinema, on the other hand, refers to the actual conversion of an existing film to digital format using special devices such as special digital cameras, or by digital manipulation of existing film negatives. This digital process of conversion is known as digital video production (DVR).

Though the term digital cinema itself seems vague, it actually refers to any form of digital communication, including films, television, and music that have been encoded in some form of digital signal and can be decoded by a compatible digital computer. With the acceptance of digital information into mainstream entertainment, a new medium has emerged, which is capable of providing the experience of viewing a film in the cinema and transferring it to a different medium. The rise in digital cinema has, therefore, broadened the clientele for the cinema exhibitor, who can now offer a full range of services to suit clients' needs in terms of format, size and equipment.

One of the major barriers to entry in this new market was the assumption that large format digital cinema systems would be indistinguishable from 35mm film prints, which relied heavily on photographic processing techniques and post-production processing. However, technological developments and research over the past three decades have led to significant improvements in the quality of digital cinema, especially in the area of digital video capture, image processing, display and clarity. The emergence and adoption of digital cinema have also meant that large format projectors are now commonplace in most public places. In fact, there are now "3-D" projectors available for use in educational and museum applications.

The key elements in terms of digital cinema technology include: high dynamic range (HDR), extended range capability, progressive scanning, optical zoom, panning, sound management, video recorder, computer-assisted television monitoring and movie playback. The most recent development in this field is the High-bandwidth Digital Video Recorder (BDVR) technology, which has significantly improved the quality of captured images. A major advantage of using BDR, which is able to capture a full motion scene in one take, is that a cinematographer can directly record the action and then edit together the final cut, without needing to wait for the arrival of an extra camera.

Another element of digital cinema technology that is being implemented is the HDCP (High Definition Digital Copy), which is intended to replace the old SCRAM (Secure Digital Copy) technology. HDCP is capable of transmitting a large amount of data, with greater speed than SCRAM. This allows users to transfer the same amount of data from different sources, whilst providing greater clarity. Digital cinema capture also requires the use of a digital video recorder (DVR). DVR's record the entire movie in a digital format, which is then stored on a hard drive. This is useful for film-makers who wish to preview the movie prior to making the decision to edit it.

There is also a trend within the production industry towards digital cinema equipment, rather than traditional film cameras and other digital devices. In the UK, studios and production companies are adopting digital video as a means to capture media. The UK film Council, the National Association of Platform Manufacturers, the Visual Effects Society and the British Film Institute are working on a Digital Real-Time Service (DRS), which will enable digital cinema operators to deliver high-quality services to clients. DRS will allow directors to see their media on a standard PC or a new digital network interface. Companies are expected to introduce the service in their studios by the end of 2021.