Compact Distribution Print by Todd-AO
CDP: JUST THE FACTS

Some misleading information has appeared recently in film industry publications that concerns the Compact Distribution Print, or CDP. Unfortunately, the quoted sources have not seen CDP demonstrations, so the opinions expressed are speculation and have no factual basis. The purpose of this brief article is to state the facts and set the record straight. CDP has been demonstrated widely, in split-screen comparison, to studio executives, the creative community, and projection and audio members of SMPTE. A leading independent testing laboratory evaluated CDP picture and sound performance in July 1996.

Fact: All of the original print-negative information reaches the screen via the compact print process, and picture and sound performance meets or exceeds current SMPTE standards.

A summary of the 21-page Evaluation Report appears here below this text. Fact: All of the original print-negative information reaches the screen via the compact print process, and picture and sound performance meets or exceeds current SMPTE standards.

Fact: A compact print is 37.5 percent shorter than a current print. Its advantages and impact are obvious; they include substantially reduced costs for film stock, printing, shipping, and handling in the theatre. Also, wider release of major films becomes possible without affect-ing distribution budgets.

Fact: The compact print does not affect production or post-production, which are performed according to standard practice. At the time of release, as is customary, a standard timed interpositive is made from the completed production original. From that point forward, the compact print process is applied.

CDP is a simple three-step process:

• Step 1. Making a compact picture internegative.
• Step 2. Making a compact sound negative.
• Step 3. Making a retrofit to a standard projector.

Let's take those step by step, fact by fact:

1. A compact intenegative is made from a standard timed interpositive.

Fact: The practical limit of image resolution in original photography is, at best, 40 line pairs per millimeter (80 lines), and the new resolution limit using the new Eastman intermediate film (5244) is greater than 130 line pairs per millimeter (260 lines).

Fact: All of the original negative picture elements (pixels) are re-solved on the compact print, as confirmed by independent laboratory tests. Step 1 requires new state-of-the-art computer-designed printing lenses compatible with the new high-resolution intermediate film stock.

Fact: These are the first new computer-designed printing lenses expressly for the release print-ing process in over a decade.

Fact: No print will exhibit better quality than the quality of the original element from which it is derived.

2. A compact sound negative is made from the completed sound master.

Fact: Sound negative film stock has the capacity to resolve greater than 20 kHz, although the standard in theatre reproduction is 12.5 kHz.

Fact: Frequency response of CDP extends from 31.5 Hz to 12.5 kHz, again as confirmed by independent lab tests. The compact print demonstrates both analog and digital sound in accordance with SMPTE audio performance standards. 3. A standard projector is equipped with a new retrofit. permitting projection of current and compact prints.

Fact: Once the retrofit is made, a projection attendant can convert from one mode of operation to the other in less than 20 minutes.

Fact: With CDP, picture steadiness is improved and print life is extended due to the physical dynamics of 56 ft./min. vs. the current 90 ft./min.

COST OF IMPLEMENTATION

Although a final draft of the CDP Business Plan is pending, it appears that cost of implementation in North America will be recouped within the third quarter of the first year of majority use of the compact print process. According to the present business plan, it is not contemplated that exhibitors will be required to make any investment.

CDP AT 30 FRAMES PER SECOND

Fact: The superiority of a frame rate of 30 per second has been demonstrated for decades, yet the film industry has been reluctant to financially embrace it as a new standard

According to the present business plan, it is not contemplated that exhibitors will be required to make any investment.

An Independent U.S. Testing Laboratory

CDP Flyer