DCPs

DCPs, or Digital Cinema Packages, are the standard format for delivering film and video content to digital cinemas. They are designed to ensure consistent playback across different projection systems and theaters, regardless of where the content is produced.

A DCP is a directory-based package that contains several types of assets and metadata. Primary assets include video files encoded as JPEG 2000, audio tracks in PCM, and subtitle data in XML or similar formats. The package also contains metadata files, including composition playlists that describe the order and timing of audio, video, and subtitles, and an asset map that lists all assets. The combination of these files allows a cinema server to reproduce the intended program precisely.

DCI standards govern the structure and encoding of DCPs, promoting interoperability between equipment from different manufacturers. Typical configurations use 2K or 4K video at standard cinema frame rates, with audio and subtitle formats chosen to match industry norms. While most DCPs are unencrypted by default, encryption is possible to protect distribution, in which case a Key Delivery Message (KDM) is required to authorize decryption at a given theater.

Creation, packaging, and distribution of DCPs are performed by mastering facilities after a film or program is finalized. The resulting DCPs are delivered to exhibitors on secure media or via network transfers and loaded into cinema servers for playback. For archival purposes, DCPs are commonly preserved with integrity checks and proper metadata to support long-term preservation and future re-display. DCPs remain the dominant standard for digital cinema distribution, though related workflows may use alternate formats for production, post-production, or archival needs.