Framing and Working Resolution Calculator Quick Link
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the user guide for our Framing and Working Resolution Calculator. This tool can quickly and easily help determine the framing and working resolutions for your project.
Netflix is available to assist in navigating production-specific workflow decisions in collaboration with key production stakeholders. Please reach out to your Netflix contacts with any questions or concerns specific to your production.
WHAT IS A “WORKING RESOLUTION?”
Even on a single camera production, multiple resolutions and/or varying aspect ratios will likely be used throughout the production’s lifecycle. The resolution of Original Camera Files (OCF) will likely differ from the resolution that a production frames for on set. The VFX team might ask for a safety area for image repositioning or tracking effects, and a production’s delivery resolution could differ from the active image resolution in the original recorded file.
Establishing a project’s working resolution will help define, clarify, and then simplify scaling needs, unifying different capture formats and resolutions into a single container from which minimal image scaling operations may be performed during the post production and vfx phases of a project. Establishing a working resolution allows for a single scaling operation between OCF and the final delivery format to Netflix.
That’s why we’ve developed a Framing and Working Resolution Calculator to speed up and simplify the calculations necessary when determining a project’s working resolution.
HERE'S AN EXAMPLE
Imagine we are on a single camera project that plans to shoot on ARRI Alexa LF, in Open Gate sensor mode, for a 2.00:1 output aspect ratio. The DOP has added a 5% safety area for post processing, and the studio requires a UHD IMF at 3840x2160 as the final deliverable.
Additionally, we also have two secondary cameras:
- Sony Venice capturing at an OCF resolution of 6054x3192. Just like our primary camera, the DOP framed for a 2.00:1 aspect ratio and included a 5% safety area.
- RED Komodo capturing at an OCF resolution of 6144x3240, also framing is for a 2.00:1 aspect ratio. The camera will be mounted to a drone, therefore the DOP isn’t framing for a specific 5% safety area. Instead they have chosen to frame for full sensor width.
While our OCF has different resolutions for the active image area, the deliverable active image area remains the same.
Just like our previous example, we can use the Alexa LF as our primary camera and establish a working resolution:
Because the Alexa was chosen as the primary camera, when we scale the secondary cameras into the working resolution, they will have black bars top and bottom (Venice) or even on all sides (RED).
But a center crop at our delivery active image resolution still results in the intended active image. The active image area and safety areas will still be retained, and all of the different resolutions are unified into a single scaling operation between OCF and final delivery.
The same process would apply if Venice was chosen as the primary camera; however, instead of retaining black bars, the Alexa LF footage would lose image data when scaled from the OCF to the working resolution.
THE FRAMING & RESOLUTION CALCULATOR
The Framing and Working Resolution Calculator is designed to help productions quickly calculate a Working Resolution and a Minimum Working Resolution.
To use the calculator, you will simply need the:
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Camera and Sensor Mode
- For more information about cameras that meet Netflix capture requirements see: Cameras & Image Capture: Requirements & Best Practices.
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Lens Squeeze Factor
- For spherical lenses, use 1x.
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Output Aspect Ratio
- This is the aspect ratio of the active image area in the final deliverable.
- For more information on aspect ratios see “Aspect Ratios - An Overview.”
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Safety Crop
- If desired, this is a safety area outside the defined active image in the working resolution container for repositioning, tracking effects, or various other uses.
Once these numbers are entered, the calculator outputs information such as the active image resolution, maximum allowed image resize, and whether or not the resolution will be Netflix approved.
Now that you’re familiar with the calculator’s interface, let’s take it for a test drive.
A RESOLUTION RIDDLE
Imagine you're working on a Netflix production that plans to shoot on the Arri LF camera in Open Gate (OG) sensor mode (4448x3096). The Director and Cinematographer want to frame for an aspect ratio of 2.00:1, a different aspect ratio than the OCF. The Director of Photography (DOP) has added a 5% safety area for post processing and the studio requires a UHD IMF at 3840x2160 as the final deliverable.
Try inputting the values from the production yourself:
- Camera and Sensor Mode: Arri LF OG 4.5K
- Lens Squeeze Factor: 1x (for spherical lenses)
- Output Aspect Ratio: 2:1
- Safety Crop: 5%
It’s as simple as that. Based on these variables, this production would ideally use a working resolution of 4044x2814. If however, there are concerns over the amount of data that must be stored, the minimum resolution of 4044x2022 remains an option.