User Manual

Native IMF Encoding and Decoding
Available in DaVinci Resolve Studio Only
The Format drop-down in the Video panel of the Render Settings now has a native IMF option
that lets you export to the SMPTE ST.2067 Interoperable Master Format (IMF) for tapeless
deliverables to networks and distributors. No additional licenses or plug-ins are required to
output to IMF.
The IMF format supports multiple tracks of video, multiple tracks of audio, and multiple
subtitle and closed caption tracks, all of which are meant to accommodate multiple output
formats and languages from a single deliverable. As of DaVinci Resolve 16, IMF export also
supports exporting IMF packages that use ST.2098 and Dolby immersive audio via selected
Main busses. All of this is done by wrapping a timeline’s different video and audio tracks
(media essences) and subtitle tracks (data essences) into a “composition” within the Material
eXchange Format (MXF).
Additionally, a drop-down menu to the right of this preset provides options for Generic,
20th Century Fox, and Netflix versions of this preset.
The IMF Generic preset in the Render Settings has
options for different resolutions of output
When IMF is selected from the Format drop-down, the Codec drop-down menu presents
options for Kakadu or EasyDCP encoding, with Kakadu being the method that’s included with
DaVinci Resolve Studio. A Type drop-down lets you choose what kind of JPEG2000 output you
want, with options including RGB, YUV, and Dolby Vision. Additional parameters include:
 Package Type: Defaults to App2 Extended (App2e), for encoding JPEG 2000 up to 4K.
 Bit Depth: The bit depth of the encoded IMF video.
 Encoding Profile: A drop-down that lets you choose among Auto, IMF, and Broadcast.
 Encoding Level: Provides different choices based on what is selected in
Encoding Profile.
 Maximum bit rate: Lets you choose how much to compress the result.
 Lossless Compression: Lets you choose to encode using lossless compression.
 Slope-Rate Control: A checkbox lets you specify lossless compression.
 QStep: (DCP, IMF) Lets you choose either automatic or manually specified DCP
quantization levels at which to compress the video signal when using the Kakadu
JPEG 2000 encoder.
Chapter – 167 Delivering DCP and IMF 3458