Using the free Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve for DCP mastering. (updated)

Is the free Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve  grading/color correction software usable for DCP mastering?

-Easydcp integration
You can buy the Easydcp plugin that can export a finished DCP. Read more in this post.

Kakadu DCP encoder
To use the built-in DCP Kakadu encoder you need to buy DaVinci Resolve Studio. Read more in this post

-12 Bit monitoring.
Desktop Video 10.1.3 adds dual link 3GB HD-SDI 12 bit monitoring in Resolve 11 with Decklink 4K extreme and the BlackMagic Design UltraStudio 4K.

Example Resolve DCP workflow
RAW camera footage is run through these steps in the Davinci 32 bit color engine to make the DCP:
-debayer
-convert colors to Rec.709/P3
-use the built-in Easydcp color transformation from Rec.709/P3 to X´Y´Z
-encode a DCP that can be used in cinemas with the Easydcp plugin.

Running Resolve
You need at least 8 GB of ram.

Using the Easydcp plugin
-Example. You can crop the top and bottom of 1920 x 1080 material and scale it to get it to fit inside Flat 1998×1080.
-Example. You can add black pillarboxing to 1920×1080 to fit it inside Flat 1998×1080.
-Example. You can crop the top and bottom of 2.35 letterboxed 1920 x 1080 and scale it to get it to fit inside Scope 2048×858

-If the source is 2.5 K you will get better quality rendering to 2K directly instead of rendering to HD sequences and then upscaling them.

-The easyDCP Resolve encoder will apply the correct color transform according to the setting in “Timeline Color space” in “Project settings – Color Management”.  P3 D60, P3 D65, P3 DCI, Rec 709 2.2, Rec709 2.4 fits inside the current DCI X´Y´Z´ color space. You can use different gamma values like 2.2, 2.4 or 2.6.

Example: If you use a Blackmagic Cinema Camera to rec 709 3d LUT you choose the rec 709 2.4/2.2 setting. Easydcp plugin will then use the rec 709 2.2/2.4 to XYZ matrix. If you choose DCI X´Y´Z´, no color matrix will be used.

-You can use subtitles.

-You can open encrypted DCPs and make encrypted DCPs.

-You can make SMPTE DCPs with 24 and 25 FPS,  and Interop DCPs with 24 FPS

-You can open and play DCPs in Resolve.

Using external DCP software:

You can export 16 bit RGB TIFF sequences.

These can be converted in Easydcp Creator and other software.

3 thoughts on “Using the free Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve for DCP mastering. (updated)”

  1. Hi Knut,

    I´m wondering weather or not to get the stand alone version of Easy DCP. Now that the plugin is been released, i´m starting to think that it would be enough for DCP mastering, but after speaking with Easy DCP representatives, i haven´t got any clear answer about the differences between the stand-alone and the plugin. I´m worried about the limitations on CPL editing, versioning, subtitles, dolby 5.1, 7.1, stero, etc.
    Im running resolve full license on a dual bootable pc/hackintosh, and im thinking that if there´s no real difference between having stand-alone or plugin, i would be better off having two plugin license in different work stations rather than have a single computer with both stand alone and plugin (that a limitation easyDCP has).

    Thanks!

  2. Knut Erik Evensen

    If you intend to make supplemental packages with different subtitles or make complex DCPs with logo reels you could get the standalone/plugin combo.

  3. Hi,
    one difference is that the plugin uses cpu for rendering. The stand alone easyDCP, under Windows does render with gpu. Thats what the friendly representative told me on the phone.
    saludos
    peter

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.