As a studio, our goal is to accurately preserve the creative intent from production through archive. To this effect, we require that our archival assets match the formatting and content of the original timeline. We aim to keep the picture master renders and project files true to the creative workflow, intent and formatting the original Picture Mastering team intended.
Please render the archival assets listed below in their specified format as they were finished.
Non-Graded Archival Master (NAM)
A complete image sequence of the non-color graded, fully conformed and locked picture, including final VFX, rendered in a scene-referred color space* with no output/display transform applied. The entire sequence must be in the archival resolution. At minimum, the archival resolution must include the final delivery active picture area, and must be at least 3840x2160 (UHD) with no masking applied over the image. If approved by Netflix, resolutions lower than UHD may be acceptable.
- Acceptable file formats are one of the following:
- Uncompressed 16-bit OpenEXR (.exr). ACES projects must be delivered in this format, per SMPTE ST 2065-4.
- Losslessly compressed 16-bit OpenEXR (.exr).
- 10-bit or 16-bit DPX (.dpx).
- When working with RAW, 16-bit, or 12-bit source media, archival assets should be rendered at 16-bit.
- Acceptable color encoding:
- In OpenEXR: A linear, scene-referred color space.* For an ACES project, this must be Linear / AP0, per SMPTE ST 2065-1.
- In DPX: A log, scene-referred color space.*
Graded Archival Master (GAM)
A complete image sequence of the fully conformed and locked picture, including final VFX and color grade, rendered in a scene-referred color space* with no output/display transform applied. This assumes a scene-referred color managed workflow from capture to render. The entire sequence must be in the archival resolution. At minimum, the archival resolution must include the final delivery active picture area, and must be at least 3840x2160 (UHD) with no masking applied over the image. If approved by Netflix, resolutions lower than UHD may be acceptable.
- Acceptable file formats are one of the following:
- Uncompressed 16-bit OpenEXR (.exr). ACES projects must be delivered in this format, per SMPTE ST 2065-4.
- Losslessly compressed 16-bit OpenEXR (.exr). 10-bit or 16-bit DPX (.dpx).
- When working with RAW, 16-bit, or 12-bit source media, archival assets should be rendered at 16-bit.
- Acceptable color encoding:
- In OpenEXR: A linear, scene-referred color space.* For an ACES project, this must be Linear / AP0, per SMPTE ST 2065-1.
- In DPX: A log, scene-referred color space.*
Graded Archival Master: Viewing Transform
Output transforms or Look-Up Tables (LUTs) used for monitoring during color grading and for rendering the Video Display Master. When the output/display transform is applied to the relative Graded Archival Master, the color must match the Video Display Master.
- LUT in .cube format
- To be delivered as a distinct asset, see “Viewing Transforms and Color Projects” article for additional details.
Video Display Master (VDM)
A complete image sequence of the fully conformed and locked picture, including final VFX and color grade, rendered in the Dolby Vision mastering display’s color space for Dolby Vision picture, or rendered in the reference display’s color space for SDR picture. The resolution and aspect ratio must match that of the delivered IMF: UHD (3840x2160). If approved by Netflix, resolutions lower than UHD may be acceptable.
- Dolby Vision HDR acceptable file format:
- Uncompressed 16-bit TIFF (.tiff)
- Dolby Vision metadata (.xml) to be included as a sidecar file.
- Dolby Vision HDR acceptable color encoding:
- Same as the color encoding of the Dolby Vision IMF.
- SDR acceptable file format:
- 10-bit or 16-bit DPX (.dpx)
- When working with RAW, 16-bit or 12-bit source media, archival assets should be rendered at 16-bit.
- SDR acceptable color encoding:
- Same as the color encoding of the Rec.709 IMF, which adheres to ITU-R BT.1886 & Rec. ITU-R BT.709.
Digital Cinema Distribution Master (DCDM)
A complete image sequence of the fully conformed and locked picture, including final VFX and color grade, rendered as a DCDM (X'Y'Z'). The resolution and aspect ratio must be 4K DCI compliant: 3996x2160 or 4096x1716. If approved by Netflix, a 2K DCI compliant resolution may be acceptable: 1998x1080 or 2048x858.
- Acceptable file format:
- Uncompressed 16-bit TIFF (.tiff), with encoding adhering to Digital Cinema System Specification Version 1.3, section 3.2.2.2.
- SDR acceptable color encoding:
- DCDM X'Y'Z', adhering to SMPTE ST 428-1.
- Dolby Vision HDR acceptable color encoding:
- PQ, adhering to SMPTE ST 2084.
- DCDM X'Y'Z', adhering to SMPTE ST 428-1.
Assets must contain any fixes that were made to the final video assets delivered to Source Management and archival assets should be fully reviewed prior to delivery.
*A scene-referred color space is not based on a display, and not intended to be viewed. It characterizes how a camera or capture device recorded a scene into code values. For example: LogC-WideGamut, SLog3-SGamut3.cine, etc.