IMF Package
The Interoperable Master Format (IMF) is a componentized media format and an IMF Package (IMP) is a collection of media files with corresponding assembly instructions. In technical terms, an IMP - either complete or supplemental - consists of one IMF Packing List and all the assets it references.
Packing List
The Packing List (PKL) is the central element of an IMF Package (IMP), it contains general information like file sizes and hash values for all other files contained in the IMF Package (IMP).
Composition Playlist
Composition Playlists (CPL) specify how media components (audio, video, timed text, etc) are assembled on a timeline to compile specific content representations. The CPL also lists technical metadata for the EssenceDescriptors that are present within the SegmentList (Playlist).
Asset Map
IMF uses universally unique identifiers (UUID) to reference its components internally. The Asset Map provides a mapping between UUIDs and actual filenames.
Complete IMF Package
An IMF Package (IMP) that contains all picture and sound assets required to assemble the entire composition. In technical terms, the Packing List (PKL) of such IMF Package (IMP) includes all assets that comprise the included CPL(s). The first IMF Package that you will deliver for a title needs to be a Complete IMF. Different picture versions can be delivered by utilizing Supplemental IMF Packages.
Supplemental IMF Package
An IMF Package (IMP) that depends on additional picture and/or sound assets to assemble the entire timeline. In technical terms, the CPL(s) of such IMF Package reference assets that are not included in the same IMF Package (i.e. not listed in the PKL). Supplemental IMF Packages are commonly used to deliver CPLs with fixes (e.g. picture inserts or new sound tracks) or localized picture/textless versions/non-branded versions of a title. Such CPLs reference previously delivered assets that are not contained in the Supplemental IMF Packages.
Picture Version
On Netflix Service, sometimes, the same piece of content may have different video tracks depending on some variables like exhibition territory, archival strategy or licensing deal. Each one of the specific set of variables to the same piece of content is a different Picture Version of that title. A picture version can consist of the combination of one or more Complete/Supplemental IMF Packages delivered into a single Backlot source request that correlates to that picture version of the title. Here’s a list of possible picture versions that a title may have:
Original Language Version - All titles
This version descriptor is used to refer to the combination of one or more complete/Supplemental IMF Packages delivered into a single Backlot source request without picture localization (i.e. original titles, credits, location callouts etc).
Textless Version - All titles
This version descriptor is used to refer to the combination of one or more complete/Supplemental IMF Packages delivered into a single Backlot source request with timeline and properties identical to the IMF Texted version(s) delivery but with no titles, credits, narrative text, location call-outs or other supportive/creative text. The IMF Textless delivery is based on the final IMF Texted package and must be delivered after the IMF Texted version was approved by Netflix QC. As the Textless Version is for Video only, there will be no audio assets within this delivery.
Language Version - Upon request
This version descriptor is used to refer to the combination of one or more complete/Supplemental IMF Packages delivered into a single Backlot package where any on-screen text has been localized to a specific language (i.e. original titles, credits, location callouts etc). The IMF language delivery is based on the final texted IMF package corresponding to the Original Language Version and must be delivered after the texted IMF from the Original Language Version was approved by Netflix QC. As the Language Version is for Video only, there will be no audio assets within this delivery.
Branded Version - Upon request
This version descriptor is used to refer to the combination of one or more complete/Supplemental IMF Packages delivered into a single Backlot package that contains the Netflix presentation credit at the head. A good example is the “A Netflix Original Series” card that appears ahead of a series episode.
Non-Branded Version - Upon request
This version descriptor is used to refer to the combination of one or more complete/Supplemental IMF Packages delivered into a single Backlot package that do not include any kind of Netflix credit.
Translations
| Italiano |
| 日本語 |
| Polski |
| Português |