AJA KONA 3G Instruction Manual download pdf (Page 131)

Introduction

This chapter provides a simple overview of 2K workflow and how the KONA 3 can be used

as an integral part of it.

Overview of 2K and Its Uses In Digital Cinema

2K is a term, like SD and HD, used to describe a particular image size and quality of data. 2K

data exceeds our pre-existing television broadcast standards for both SD and HD and is

therefore most commonly associated with traditional cinema and the emerging digital

cinema initiative.

As a point of reference, HD is commonly referred to by the 1920x1080 or 1280x720 pixel

frame sizes. 2K, like HD, is commonly defined by two basic frame sizes. When working with

data for eventual cinematic projection, FX work or digital intermediate purposes, 2K is

usually defined as 2048x1556 pixels. This size represents the “full” size of the 35mm film

between the sprockets. Therefore the result, 2048x1556 pixels, appears as a 4x3 image

when compared to an HD image which is typically 16x9. In 2K, other images sizes can be

derived from this 2048x1556 source by taking a cropped portion of the image for use or via

scaling of the image. For a traditional cinematic projection scenario, the final delivery of this

2048x1556 data is onto 35mm film. The film then undergoes photochemical and

mechanical processes before the image (digital image) reaches the screen.

The other common size attributed to 2K is 2048x1080 and this is the standard to which

digital cinema currently adheres. Most digital cinema projectors have this 2048x1080 image

size as a supported resolution and in many cases, as a maximum resolution.

So the first obvious advantage of working with 2K images as opposed to HD images when

considering a traditional cinematic path is the size of the image that can be generated,

worked with, and ultimately projected. Some will argue that a better choice for cinematic

work is a 4K resolution. Certainly this is true, but this requires double 2K's already large data

requirements to be handled and therefore is beyond the scope of nearly most modern

equipment be it scanners, storage or projectors. To be fair, some 4K and beyond resolution

already being performed for select feature films and even then

for select shots in many cases. Perhaps in the future 4K will

supplant 2K as HD has SD but that day seems to be quite distant

so for now a large body of the motion picture community has

settled on 2K as a high quality image size.

2K Color: More Like Film than Video

2K images, like SD and HD images, can come in 8 bit, 10 bit, 12 bit, 16 bit, and

other sizes. But most commonly, 2K files are written in a 10 bit Log RGB or RGB

format. This provides for 1024 gradations of a given color in three equivalent

Appendix C: Working with 2K Workflows

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AJA KONA 3G Instruction Manual Page 131