NAB: Adobe plans CinemaDNG standard for cinema files

At NAB in Las Vegas, Adobe on Monday launched a new effort for an industry-wide open file format for digital cinema files, initiative to define an industry-wide open file format for digital cinema files to streamline workflows an ensure easy archiving and exchange. Built on the company's Digital Negative Specification (DNG) file format for photos, Adobe said it plans to work with a broad coalition of leading camera manufacturers, including Panavision, Silicon Imaging, Dalsa, Weisscam, and ARRI—along with software vendors, including Iridas and The Foundry, and codec provider CineForm—to define the requirements for an open, publicly documented file format that it plans to call CinemaDNG.

Adobe is currently working to develop the requirements of the CinemaDNG workflow and says it will publish a specification for the file format based on collaboration with companies throughout the industry.

“With the CinemaDNG initiative, Adobe is extending its leadership in developing open, interchangeable formats for digital still cameras into the realm of digital cinematography,” said Jim Guerard, vice president of Dynamic Media at Adobe. “By taking a proactive role and working collaboratively with leading digital cinema manufacturers, Adobe is helping to define an industry-standard approach that benefits the entire filmmaking ecosystem."

The company claims that as a publicly documented and open file format, CinemaDNG would offer several advantages, including simplified workflows that involve multiple devices, vendors, and file formats and a reduced risk of proprietary or camera-specific file formats. In addition, Adobe said that CinemaDNG will offer support for proprietary metadata, helping manufacturers to differentiate their product offerings.

The company also offered, as a free download, Adobe Flash Media Encoder 2.5 (Windows-only) for capturing live audio and video to stream in real-time to Adobe Flash Media Server or the Flash Video Streaming Service. Adobe also said that it would help integrate metadata into its professional video product line.

Designed for broadcasting live events such as concerts, webcasts, or sporting events, Adobe Flash Media Encoder 2.5 software now allows users to capture and stream live content in H.264 with Adobe Flash Media Server and Adobe Flash Player. According to the company, Adobe's Flash Player is installed on 98 percent of internet-connected PCs, while more than 500 million mobile devices and handsets bundle Adobe Flash Lite. Released December of 2007, Flash Player 9, which supports H.264-enabled HD content, has set all-time records by achieving 62 percent market penetration since its release, Adobe added.

Filed under: software
Other story tags: video editing, Adobe, NAB, CinemaDNG, Flash Media Encoder