System for optimizing the display and rendering of digital images for digital mastering

A color grading system for color grading digital image signals originating from scanned motion picture film, said system comprising:

• a parameter generator for storing parameters for replicating the appearance of a plurality of standard motion picture films;
• a processor for applying tone scale and colorimetry for a selected motion picture print film to the digital image signals, thereby generating processed image signals having an appearance corresponding to the motion picture print film, said processor further applying a projector specific transformation to the processed signals, thereby providing transformed signals that are optimized for the gamut of a specific projector;
• and
• a digital projector having the characteristics of the specific projector for displaying the projector transformed signals.

A digital rendering system for generating a digital master from digital image signals originating from scanned motion picture film, wherein the film was pre-visualized in a color grading operation on a digital display device as modified by display specific transforms, said system comprising:

• a parameter generator for storing look up table entries for replicating the appearances produced by a standard motion picture print film and adjustments applied to a standard appearance to obtain a creative effect;
• a 3-dimensional look up table for applying selected look up table entries from the parameter generator to the digital image signals, thereby generating processed image signals having an appearance produced by a standard motion picture print film and adjustments applied to a standard appearance to obtain a creative effect;
• and
• a writer for generating a digital cinema distribution master from the processed image signals, whereby the digital master is intended for digital projection and the appearance is rendered into the stream of processed image signals devoid of display specific transforms that were applied during the color grading operation.

A digital rendering system for generating a digital master of digital image signals originating from scanned motion picture film in accordance with a user's specific creative directions, said system comprising:

• a parameter generator for storing look up table entries for replicating the appearance produced by adjustments applied to a standard appearance of a motion picture film to obtain a creative effect;
• a 3-dimensional look up table for applying selected table look up entries to the digital image signals, thereby generating processed image signals having a specific creative appearance corresponding to a user's directions;
• a writer for generating a digital master from the processed image signals;
• and
• a film recorder for reading the master and recording images corresponding to the processed image signals on motion picture film, whereby the creative appearance is rendered into the tone scale and colorimetry of a specific motion picture film by printing the processed digital image signals onto a specific motion picture print film.

A method for processing digital image signals originating from a motion image source, said method comprising the steps of:

• color grading the digital image signals by pre-visualizing a “look” that can be applied to the digital image signals, wherein the “look” includes at least one of appearances produced by either a standard motion image source or adjustments applied to a standard appearance to obtain a creative effect, said color grading comprising the steps of
• (a) storing parameters for a plurality of “looks” corresponding to one or more standard image sources or creative effects,
• (b) applying one or more selected parameters to impart a pre-visualized “look” to the digital image signals, thereby producing color graded signals that include the pre-visualized “look”, and further applying transforms to the digital image signals that are specific to a particular display device, thereby producing color graded signals that include the pre-visualized “look” and the display specific transforms,
• (c) displaying the color graded signals as modified by the display specific transforms;
• and
• digitally rendering the digital image signals pre-visualized for a certain “look” into a digital master, wherein the certain “look” includes at least one of said appearances produced by either a standard motion image source or adjustments applied to a standard appearance to obtain a creative effect, said digital rendering comprising the steps of
• (a) applying one or more of the parameters selected by the parameter generator for the pre-visualized “look” in order to impart the rendered “look” into the digital image signals, thereby producing rendered digital image signals that include the rendered “look” but are devoid of display specific transforms., and
• (b) producing a digital master from the rendered digital image signals.