Ok so I uderstand how DVD authoring/master and what not works...is the process different for Blu-ray?

Meaning, is there a totally different transfer process to do it? Pardon my stupidity, but it seems like if you did the DVD transfer Blu-ray should be the same only bigger, no?

are you referring to creating the transfer of the film for DVD/BD or authoring the disc itself (transfer, menus, etc)?

as far as transfers are concerned, both a DVD transfer and a BD transfer are created from the same master, but the transfer itself is different, because of the different codecs and bitrates.

Are you asking about authoring, mastering, or transfering?

Guess I got my terms wrong...I always assumed that authoring encompassed the transfer. I guess not.

Anywho, yes transferring was what I was looking for.

So what specifically is your question about transfers?

Read the first post, second paragraph

Or clarify. I think you're above instruction doesn't suffice. You question is still vague. "The same only bigger" what? Are you asking about the data transfer rate or the compression/encoding that occurs when data is transferred to Blu-ray? Or are you referring to the actual pressing of the final product?

what rfduncan said. your question in the first post needs to be more specific to be able to provide a meaningful answer.

Most films are transferred to an HD master tape, which is then used for both the Blu-ray and downscaled to Standard Definition for the DVD. So yes, they only have to transfer it once. However, the digital video then needs to be compressed separately for each format. Then you have additional expenses involved in the authoring of each (creating menus and Java interactive features, adding AACS and BD+ encryption, etc.).

Most of the major studios have been archiving HD masters of their films for the past decade, but that doesn't mean that every one of those masters is going to get cranked out onto Blu-ray right away.

but what studios are transfering film to hidef with new 4K technology - I know Warners and Sony are, are the others as well?

Thanks for the info. It makes sense, adding in extra pieces does take more time, hence why things don't come out right away.

Follow up question, is Blu-ray downscaled as well? I was reading that a lot of films are scanned @ 4k and downscaled to 1920X1080, is that accurate?

Weren't they using CRTs also when creating the HD masters a few years back? Could that have an effect on the quality?

yes that's true, since well, there aren't 4K discs or monitors - yet

It might, but the transfer issues some older masters have had are likely related to the limitations of the technology at the time. Remember many studios have been creating HD masters for over 10 years...

CRT's provided the best pricture of all the TV formats with regards to color accuracy. Since CRT's are going the way of the Dodo Bird, many of the post houses are transitioning to LCD and Plasma flatscreen. Some are even using rear-projection DLP's for their QC process.

Sony recently introduced a reference level LCD flatscreen which goes for around $8000, specifically aimed at post-production.

fitprod

I guess this means Blu-ray will be obsolete around 2018 (assuming the rapture doesn't happen in 2012)?

This is true in many respects. However, until the last few years most post-houses were creating their masters using reference monitors in the 36" range. While those monitors were undoubtedly far better than anything availalble to consumers, there's a limit to the amount of detail that the human eye can perceive at that size. Hence the reason so many older transfers were plagued by edge enhancement; the telecine operator literally couldn't see the problem on his small screen.

On the 'Grave of the Fireflies' DVD, there's a bonus feature about the video transfer, where the operator proudly demonstrates flipping on the switch for edge enhancement to "sharpen up the picture". I'm sure it looked fine on his small monitor, but blowing that picture up on a projector is an entirely different story.

Didn't you hear? The Rapture happened last week. All the good people were carried off to heaven.

Yeah, I didn't notice a difference either.