Fraunhofer Digital Media Alliance´s institute Fraunhofer IIS will launch high-quality cross-workflow solutions for today’s needs, while driving the future of digital cinema and media innovation forward

ERLANGEN, Germany – The Fraunhofer IIS Department Moving Picture Technologies, the leading provider of future-oriented solutions for enhanced digital media and cinema workflows, will launch and demonstrate the latest innovations for industry players to stay competitive in the evolving media landscape at IBC 2015, stand 8.B80.

Fraunhofer IIS´ Department Moving Picture Technologies will showcase its latest advances for cost-efficient, future-proof, secure and standards compliant solutions. These solutions bring new creative possibilities and immersive viewing experiences. By seamlessly integrating and enhancing each step of any digital cinema or media workflow, Fraunhofer IIS addresses today’s needs, while opening opportunity for the industry’s future. At IBC 2015, highlights will include:

New Repositioning: The Fraunhofer Digital Media Alliance
The Fraunhofer Digital Cinema Alliance will offer its research and developments under a new name, the Fraunhofer Digital Media Alliance. Technologies for the big screen quickly become part of the broadcast and multimedia worlds, including shorter timeframes, file formats and codecs that enable new video and audio experiences. The new name reflects the Alliance’s broader range of developments beyond cinema for this convergence of media technologies and requirements. Member institutes include Fraunhofer IIS, Fraunhofer HHI, Fraunhofer IDMT and Fraunhofer FOKUS, boasting worldwide achievements, such as MP3, HE-AAC, HEVC, H.264, the DCI Test plan, easyDCP and MPEG-H.

New Enhancements to Award Winning easyDCP Software Suite
With more than 1,500 licensees worldwide, Fraunhofer IIS’ easyDCP Software Suite is one of the leading solutions for creation, playback and quality control of digital cinema packages (DCP) and Interoperable Master Format Packages (IMPs) based on ISO and SMPTE standards. At IBC, Fraunhofer IIS will introduce new featuresincluding advanced subtitling options for easy quality assurance for multi-language packages, new scaling options for parallel generation of Flat and Scope DCPs from one source and support for QuickTime audio and 30 bit export for video files. Additionally, easyDCP will support a new generation of object-based audio formats. easyDCP is available as a standalone software or as plug-ins for various post-production tools like Blackmagic Design’s DaVinci Resolve and Quantel’s Pablo Rio.
 
First Use Case for Lici Codec for Mezzanine Compression 
The first real-world implementation of Fraunhofer IIS’ Lici codec within keyboard/video/mouse (KVM) solutions will be showcased with partners IHSE GmbH and Viscon GmbH as part of the new IBC Content Everywhere Technology in Action Theater. Lici is a cost-effective solution for image processing and transmission systems in professional production. Also ideal for use in cameras and other multimedia applications, Lici adapts image data streams to the available infrastructure and bandwidth while maintaining resolution and dynamic range enhancements. The result is visually lossless transfer of 2K, 4K and 8K content for 30 Hz and 60 Hz. Additionally, Lici is perfect for use with HDR monitors due to its 12 bit color depth.  Lici can be easily implemented into existing or new systems. Future applications will include Video Over IP and media contribution. 
 
The theater presentation, “Use of Mezzanine Image Compression for KVM Extenders and Video Transmission,” will be held Friday, Sept. 11, 15:00 in Hall 8.
 
Introduction of Light-field Multi-Camera Post-Production Plug-In-Suite
Due to popular demand, Fraunhofer IIS encapsulated its light-field technology intoplug-ins for The Foundry’s Nuke software suite, allowing movie professionals to take advantage of multi-camera arrays and multi-view processing. Light-field technology exploits recording of several camera views of the same scene from a single shot. Based on the different views, depth maps, virtual camera movements and changes in focus can be realized in post-production, and creative options formerly only possible with CGI, such as enhancements for virtual backlot applications, can be realized for live-action content. Test licenses are available for first professional users. 
 
To see light field in action, a shoot from earlier this year with German Stuttgart Media University HDM can be viewed at: http://www.iis.fraunhofer.de/en/ff/bsy/tech/lichtfeld.html
 
Sessions on the Future of Digital Cinema and Media
Dr. Siegfried Foessel, head of the department Moving Picture Technologies at Fraunhofer IIS, president of the FKTG and spokesperson for the Fraunhofer Digital Media Alliance, will participate in two sessions including:

  • EDCF Global Update: “Update on Light-field Processing for Movies,” Sunday, Sept. 13, 15:45 in room E102.
  • FKTG panel discussion: “From SDI to IT Networks – Impacts on Technology, Workflow and Team Building for TV and Media Production,” Monday, Sept. 14, 18:15 in the Emerald room.