Kuurne, Belgium.—Mar 1, 2005
Barco reports increased buy in from Post Production Market for 2k DLP Cinema™ projection solutions.
High-end Post Production houses demand advanced DLP Cinema™ projection solutions for their Digital Intermediate (DI) work.
Barco Digital Cinema reports an increased interest by post production companies
for 2k digital projection solutions. In the last few months, several D-Cine
Premiere DP100 projectors, incorporating 2k DLP Cinema™ technology from Texas
Instruments, have been sold worldwide to high-end post production facilities. It
is not just the requirement for color-accurate, high-contrast images - the post
production sector demands software control tools to ensure that digital
projection can reproduce the full color gamut and feel of the final film print.
Barco’s D-Cine Communicator software provides this added value thanks to the
Look-up Table Management feature, enabling direct access and control over
industry standard or proprietary Color, Gamma and 3D Look-up tables. Thanks to
this feature, the post production community can be confident that the projected
images will be accurate, both during the Digital Intermediate grade and the
final 35mm print output.
EFILM, LLC based in the US, is the leading Digital Intermediate company
worldwide. EFILM has recently acquired five (5) Barco 2K D-Cine Premiere DP 100
projectors to enable cinematographers to accurately portray the color and look
of their films on the big screen with razor-sharp, high-contrast, color-accurate
images. Once cinematographers finish enhancing the look of their films using
Barco projectors and special color correction software, EFILM record the images
back to film for lab processing and worldwide distribution. Robert L. Eicholz,
Vice President Corporate Development of EFILM further explains "EFILM takes
pride in providing the best and most accurate color images in the Digital
Intermediate business. We have invested years in developing state-of-the-art
software, procedures, and techniques to accomplish this goal. Only the best 2K
projection can take full advantage of our investment in color science. Our Barco
D-Cine Premiere DP 100's fit the bill perfectly."
Recent films completed using Barco D-Cine Premiere DP 100 projectors at EFILM
include The Passion of the Christ, Spiderman 2, Cat in the Hat, Finding
Neverland, Sky Captain - World of Tomorrow, Peter Pan, and Oceans 12.
Earlier this month two post production houses in Australia, Cutting Edge and
Animal Logic, ordered a Barco D-Cine Premiere DP 100 each, bringing the total
Barco post production installations in Australia to four (4). Frame Set & Match
and Digital Pictures had previously ordered Barco DP 100’s the last quarter of
2004.
Soho in West London, is the heart of the UK’s post production scene with a
wealth of experienced facility houses offering a wide range of Digital
Intermediate solutions to the Film and Commercials sector. Known for its
pioneering work in developing end-to-end digital intermediate solutions for many
years, Soho Images were the first to offer a full sized digital grading suite
based around a Barco DP100 2K projector. “The technology and color management
tools were finally in place to put the final piece in the technology chain. It
is now possible for us to provide a complete service from negative rushes
development, through digital grading at 2K on a full size screen and back out to
35mm. On top of this we can offer full HD screening facilities right in the
heart of Soho” said Paul Collard, MD Soho Images (part of the Ascent Media
Group).
Following this lead, installations have been made at Warner Bros, Cinesite and
most recently Midnight transfer, all of whom intend to offer digital
intermediate grading solutions with high end (2K-6K) scanning, often using
proprietary 3D color cubes designed to match their individual process workflows.
Barco, in partnership with BAFTA (The British Academy of Film and Television
Arts), have recently (22nd Feb 2005) hosted a forum on Image Perfection at the
recently refurbished BAFTA premises in London. The day was a resounding success
and explored issues facing the production community in maintaining a perfect
image from Camera, through Post to Screen. Over 150 leading experts from the UK
post production community were in attendance for the variety of interesting
speakers and champagne reception. A total of eight sessions were hosted by
professionals from all areas of post production to talk on the merits and
evolution of Digital projection.