Technical Specs

Already Have a DCP?

If you already have a DCP, you do not necessarily need to start over. We can review an existing package for playback and compatibility issues, prepare physical hard drives, add subtitles or captions, and help you meet venue-specific delivery requirements. Email hello@thedcpcompany.com with your deadline and screening details and we will be in touch.

File Upload

If we are creating your DCP, we recommend uploading your film master file via our FileMail portal for speed and end-to-end security. You may also deliver your materials using any secure file upload service such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Frame.io, or WeTransfer with a password-protected, non-public link. If you already have a DCP, email us first and we will advise on the best way to send the package or supporting materials. Send uploads to lab@thedcpcompany.com .

File Formats

We accept all major production formats. Apple ProRes 422, 422 HQ, and 4444 are recommended for highest quality conversion to DCP.

Color Space

Most films are graded in Rec.709 Gamma 2.4 color space, but we verify the color space of every film we receive before creating the DCP. If your film was not graded in Rec.709 Gamma 2.4, please denote your color space in the notes section during your file submission.

Frame Rates

DCPs are most commonly presented in 24 fps for maximum compatibility worldwide. Modern DCPs can also be created in 24, 25, 30, 48, 50, and 60 fps in 2K, or 24, 25, and 30 fps in 4K. Projects delivered at 23.976 fps are conformed to 24 fps using industry-standard practices at no extra cost. If your film is in 29.97, 59.98, or another non-standard rate, please get in touch before delivery.

Aspect Ratio

Depending on your project format, your film will be placed in either a FLAT (1.85:1) or SCOPE (2.39:1) DCP container. 16:9 (1.77:1) projects fit best in FLAT containers, while anamorphic and wider images fit best in SCOPE containers. We choose the best container using standard industry practice and never crop, scale, or re-frame your film.

Audio Formats

Please submit audio in 48 kHz WAV format using SMPTE channel order: L, R, C, Lfe, Ls, Rs. We recommend 5.1 surround or greater for DCP creation. Stereo is accepted, but it is not compliant for Academy Award qualifying screenings. If your soundtrack is stereo, we recommend upmixing to LCR or 5.1.

Physical Hard Drive Prep

We prep drives using production-quality 1 TB external hard drives formatted in ext2/ext3, the Linux file system required by digital cinema servers. Drives are shipped ready for theater playback within the continental US. USB drives are most common, but we can prep CRU drives as needed. Drives are formatted for cinema servers and should never be plugged into consumer computers (Mac or PC)—this can damage the drive.

Subtitles and Captions

We support subtitles, open captions and closed captions for short and feature films. Submit subtitle materials in .srt format and we will handle the conversion and integration.

KDM Encryption

KDM protection is available as an optional add-on for secure festival screenings. Our standard package includes six KDM keys, each locked to the specific theater and playback server you request.

Pre-Delivery QC Proof

All clients receive a high-quality Rec.709 proof link for approval before final DCP delivery. This proof simulates final projection quality, but is not an exact match for theatrical DCP playback due to computer display limitations. If you already have a DCP, we can also perform targeted QC and flag playback or compatibility issues before your screening.

DCP Encoding

We use Kakadu, the industry-standard commercial J2K encoder, for best-in-class conversions. It is widely used by major studios for efficient wavelet compression, smooth gradients, minimal shadow banding, and strong bit allocation for complex imagery.

Questions

If you have any questions about specifications, delivery guidelines, QC, or custom requirements, email hello@thedcpcompany.com and we will help you choose the cleanest path whether you are starting from a source master or an existing DCP.