Why Make Trailers in Both Flat and Scope Formats?
There are two formats in cinemas, Flat and Scope.
2K Scope Format (2.39:1)
- Resolution: 2048 x 858 pixels
- Projection settings: Scope mode with corresponding masking
- Display characteristics:
- In constant height theaters: Full width, filling entire screen
- In constant width theaters: Letterboxed (black bars top and bottom)
2K Flat Format (1.85:1)
- Resolution: 1998 x 1080 pixels
- Projection settings: Flat mode with corresponding masking
- Display characteristics:
- In constant width theaters: Full screen utilization
- In constant height theaters: Side masking reduces screen width, enhancing image contrast
Key Points:
- Screen masking not only frames the image but improves perceived contrast
- Different theater configurations affect how content is displayed
- Masking systems help optimize image presentation
- Proper format selection ensures optimal viewing experience
Movie trailers are often created both formats: Flat and Scope. Here’s why:
- Flat Format:
- Flat trailers are typically shown with other Flat-format commercials before the main movie starts.
- Scope Format:
- Scope trailers look best when shown before Scope-format movies.
- They use the full width of wider movie screens, giving a more immersive experience.
Creating Trailers in Both Formats:
- Start by making the trailer in the movie’s original format (either Flat or Scope).
- Then, convert this trailer to the other format.
This approach ensures that your trailer looks good and fits properly, no matter what type of screen it’s shown on or what format the main feature is in. It helps reach a wider audience and maintains the trailer’s visual quality across different theater setups.
Converting a Scope trailer to a letterboxed Flat trailer
Making a Flat trailer from a Scope trailer in EasyDCP Creator
In EasyDCP creator, you can scale most clips using the letterbox options:
- Click on the letterbox icon on the video track.
- Choose Flat and Scale to fit.
The Scope trailer will now be scaled to letterboxed Flat 1.85
You can also choose to burn in the subtitles.
Making a Flat trailer from a Scope trailer in Davinci Resolve Studio
In Davinci Resolve Studio choose
Project settings – Timeline format 1998×1080 DCI Flat 1.85
Check that you use the same frame rate as the original.
Choose Project setting – Color space & Transforms
Choose DCI X´Y´Z´ as the Timeline color space to avoid an automatic color conversion. The colors will look wrong, but this is normal.
Drag the Scope trailer to the timeline. It will be scaled to Flat.
Now you can export a letterboxed Flat trailer. More info on exporting DCPs in Resolve in this post.
Label the Aspect Ratio as F instead S
Use only S and F on trailers according to the ISDCF naming convention.
Making a Scope trailer from a Flat trailer in DCP-o-matic
When choosing DCI Scope as the container, DCP-o-Matic will automatically scale HD and Flat video files to fit inside the 2048×858 Scope container. See this post for more info.
In Scope, HD/Flat will have black padding on the sides (pillarboxed).
