Return to Glossary Index Scanning & Digitization
Digital Intermediate (DI)
Core Term Definition
The digital workflow where film is scanned, edited/graded digitally, and then recorded back onto physical film.
Technical Analysis & Context
Pioneered in the early 2000s, the DI process replaced physical photochemical color timing. It allows filmmakers to digitize the entire negative, execute complex color adjustments and VFX digitally, and then print the finished file back onto film for theatrical projection.