American Cinematographer - February 1990 - 20

effects. None of the proposed HDTV tele¬
vision systems are adequate for this

High Resolution Electronic Intermediate System

purpose. Modulation transfer function
(MTF) analyses of the film imaging sys¬
tem indicates at least

Film Input

2,000 to 3,000
lines of resolution per picture height are
needed in an image manipulation system
in order to preserve the image quality of
the film."
The most obvious immediate

Scanning Operation

application of such a system is the elec¬
compositing of multiple images.
are others: computer generated
images can be combined with live-action
scenes and electronic "paint" capabili¬
ties can be used to alter film originated
images. In the long run, digital image
manipulation could be used to balance
colors, altercontrast, reduce grain, elimi¬

tronic
There

nate scratches and

dirt, and to enhance

image sharpness. Hunt pointed out fur¬
ther advantages as compared to digital
HDTV systems for creating theatrical film
effects:

utilizes

port the establishment of a high-resolu¬

proprietary technology, including
linear-array sensors,
innovative il lumination system optics and
unique digital signal processing archi¬

tion

tecture.

manager of Kodak's Motion Picture and
Audiovisual Products Division. He fur¬
ther urged conference delegates to sup¬

digital image standard for motion
picture film.
"This proposed electronic in¬
termediate system will allow the bene¬
fits of interactive digital image manipu¬
lation technology without compromising
picture quality or sacrificing artistic in¬
tegrity," he said. "A digital image stan¬
dard for motion picture film would spark
an industry-wide effort to develop the

two advanced CCD

"It was
film to any of the

designed to transfer
proposed HDTV stan¬
dards, including 1050/59.94,1125/60and
1250/50 formats," said C. Bradley Hunt,
director, Advanced Technologies Plan¬
ning, for the Kodak division. "This is
important - in a world with multiple
proposed HDTV standards, film will con¬

hardware and software needed to turn

tinue to be the common denominator for
the international exchange of television

this dream intoa reality duringthe 1990s."

programming," he emphasized.
Speaking of the high-resolu¬

Development of the experi¬
mental CCD HDTV telecine is the result

of

18

an

international research and devel¬

tion electronic intermediate system

experimental peripherals, Hunt noted that
picture industry "is interested

opment effort involving scientists and
engineers at Kodak research laborato¬
ries in Harrow, England, and Rochester,

the motion

New York. The high-performance telecine

ated with

American

February 1990

Cinematographer

and

in
a

utilizing digital image manipulation as
reducing time and costs associ¬

tool for

creating sophisticated visual

"HDTV is a technological
breakthrough, but it had to make image
quality compromises to operate in real¬
time at 30 frames per second. Our pro¬
posed system will process images at
about one frame per second. That's more
manageable for special effects applica¬
tions. The result is a system where no
compromises are necessary."
Hunt explained that the new
system would eliminate the disturbing
motion problem known as "judder." This
is caused by using 30 fps video origina¬
tion to make 24 fps film special effects.
The electronic intermediate system op¬
erates with one-frame input for every
one-frame output. The proposed system,
he believes, will become an increasingly

powerful tool as digital image proc¬
essing and storage technologies evolve.
more

"Future advances in the

use

of

image enhancement technology could
result in superior theatrical release print
image quality," Hunt said. "Moviegoers
would watch release prints in the theater
that are better than the dailies printed
from the camera originals."
Line Doubler
The

Faroudja LD-1 Line Doubler,
expander and motion artifact
processor is the most advanced in its class.
525/625 line, 2:1 interlaced,
59.94 60/50Hz video signals are converted
to 525/625 line progressive scan or
bandwidth

1050/1250 line interlaced

signals, thus mak-
American Cinematographer - February 1990

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