# Digital Intermediates and VFX for Modern Independent Film Production

> An actionable production handbook by Tashi Trieu covering acquisition, editorial, VFX, color management, mastering, distribution, and archival.

- Canonical site: https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/
- Complete Markdown corpus: https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/llms-full.txt
- EPUB download: https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/downloads/digital-intermediates-vfx-handbook.epub
- PDF download: https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/downloads/digital-intermediates-vfx-handbook.pdf
- Version: 2.0 (2026)
- License: CC BY-SA 4.0

## Getting Started

- [Where to Start](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/where-to-start/): Role-based reading paths and the first decisions to make.
- [Introduction](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/introduction/): Scope, audience, and working principles for the handbook.
- [Production Workflow at a Glance](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/production-workflow/): The image path from planning and acquisition through VFX, finishing, delivery, and archive.
- [Choose a Color-Management Approach](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/color-management-comparison/): A decision guide to manual color management, ACES, Resolve Color Management, and FilmLight TCS.

## Image Pipeline Foundations

- [Scene-Referred and Display-Referred Imagery](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/scene-referred/): How image state affects dynamic range, transforms, compositing, and delivery.
- [Color Spaces and Transfer Functions](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/color/): Camera and display gamuts, transfer functions, and DCI X'Y'Z'.
- [Look-Up Tables and Transforms](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/luts/): Technical and creative LUTs, Show LUTs, transform formats, and interpolation.
- [Working Formats and Codecs](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/working-formats/): When to use OpenEXR, DPX, ProRes, DNx, H.264, H.265, AV1, and TIFF.
- [Resolutions, Aspect Ratios, and Framing](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/resolutions/): Acquisition and delivery rasters, Flat and Scope, padding, framing, and anamorphic workflows.

## Production and VFX

- [VFX Production Management](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/vfx-production-management/): Asset management, tracking, review, delivery, and distributed-team practices.
- [VFX Plate Pulls and Turnover](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/turnover-vfx/): Bid packages, shot naming, handles, versioning, plate specifications, and final turnover.
- [VFX Image Processing and Quality Control](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/vfx-quality-control/): Scaling, transforms, color integrity, and practical shot-review checks.

## Editorial and Finishing

- [DI Editorial Turnover and Conform](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/turnover-di/): Timeline preparation, interchange files, media delivery, conform, and version checks.
- [Digital Intermediate Finishing](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/digital-intermediates/): The DI stage, the colorist's role, camera RAW, and VFX mattes.

## Color Management

- [Color Management and OpenColorIO](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/color-management/): How OCIO configurations carry a consistent image pipeline across VFX applications.
- [ACES](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/aces/): ACES interchange, working spaces, transforms, containers, and current ACES 2.0 guidance.
- [DaVinci Resolve and FilmLight](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/application-native-color-management/): Resolve Color Management, DaVinci Wide Gamut, FilmLight TCS, and T-CAM.
- [HDR Mastering](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/hdr/): PQ, HLG, mastering displays, HDR10, Dolby Vision, SDR trims, and HDR VFX review.

## Mastering and Delivery

- [Distribution Deliverables](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/distribution-deliverables/): Picture, sound, captions, artwork, legal materials, trailers, and delivery scheduling.
- [Digital Cinema Packages](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/dcp/): DCP structure, JPEG 2000, audio, naming, encryption, accessibility, transport, and QC.
- [Interoperable Master Format](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/imf/): IMF applications, component-based versions, supplemental packages, and validation.
- [Archival and Preservation](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/archival/): Preservation masters, dependencies, LTO, cloud storage, checksums, and migration.

## Production Tools

- [Production Checklists](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/checklists/): Short pre-production, VFX, DI, delivery, and archival verification lists.
- [Technical Specifications](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/specifications/): Fill-in specifications for image pipelines, VFX plates, final renders, and DI turnovers.
- [Reusable Production Templates](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/templates/): Copy-ready templates for vendor onboarding, deliveries, review notes, and handoffs.

## Reference

- [Glossary](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/glossary/): Definitions and aliases for DI, VFX, color, mastering, and delivery terminology.
- [Standards, Tools, and Further Reading](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/resources/): Primary standards, specifications, software, white papers, and reference material.
- [Version 2.0 Change List](https://divfx.tashitrieu.com/wiki/changelog/): New chapters, expanded guidance, general revisions, and earlier releases.