DFD (Digital-Film-Digital)
WHAT IS DFD?
DFD (Digital-Film-Digital) is Cinelab’s analogue intermediate process that transforms your digital footage by transferring it onto celluloid film via ARRILASER. The film is then processed and scanned back into digital format, imparting an authentic film look to your source footage.
DIGITAL > LASER > FILM > PROCESS > SCAN > DIGITAL
WHY CHOOSE DFD?
DFD offers filmmakers the unique ability to infuse their digital projects with the texture and depth characteristic of film. This process is ideal for:
Authentic Film Look
Imparting genuine film grain, texture, and distinctive film aesthetic to digital footage.
Visual Cohesion
Unifying the aesthetic of projects shot on mixed formats - digital, film, or hybrid.
VFX Integration
Seamlessly blending visual effects into live-action shots.
FILM AESTHETIC
Every DFD project is a creative collaboration. Your choices in format, stock, and processing combine to shape the final image, whether you’re seeking lush warmth, gritty realism, or creating a stylised look. The Cinelab team are on hand to guide you through the creative and technical decisions that affect grain structure, colour response, and overall tone.
FILM FORMAT
Choosing a film format is the first creative decision in the DFD process. It determines the level of grain, depth, and visual tone your project will carry. Each format brings its own character:
35mm
Rich detail and minimal grain. The go-to format for a bold, polished cinematic finish.
Super 16mm (S16mm)
Textured and expressive, Super 16 delivers a cinematic balance of sharpness and grain. Ideal for projects that need character and authenticity while maintaining clarity.
Super 8mm (S8mm)
Expressive, nostalgic, and tactile. Perfect for sequences with emotion, energy, or a handmade feel.
Prepare for your
DFD Project
Booking your DFD Project
with Cinelab Film & Digital
FILM STOCK
Choose from a selection of Kodak film stocks to achieve your desired look:
Kodak 250D
Popular for its pronounced grain and classic film characteristics.
Kodak 50D
Offers a finer grain structure for a subtler film effect.
Kodak 2254
A digital intermediate negative stock with the finest grain, ideal for VFX-heavy projects.
See comparison footage on our DFD Film Stock & Format Showcase.
CREATIVE LOOKS
Enhance your project's visual narrative with photochemical processing techniques:
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Push/Pull Processing
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Bleach Bypass
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Pre-Flashing Stock
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Recording to Panchromatic B&W Negative Film
Looking to experiment? We can even help you turn your digital into real film for scratch-on-film animation and optical effects.
SCANNING
Once your footage has been filmed out and processed, we scan it back to digital using the industry leading ARRISCAN. A pin-registered, full frame 6K scanner that delivers incredible stability and perfect edge to edge focus.
Based on your film format, workflow, and final delivery requirements we can provide 2K, 4K, or 6K files.
COLOUR GRADING & LOOK DEVELOPMENT
Cinelab’s DFD process is designed to support your creative intent at every stage. Whether you’re delivering a 60sec commercial or a full-length feature, our team ensures you get the most from your project.
We regularly collaborate with client-side grading teams, directors, and cinematographers, from pre-production look creation to postproduction finessing of the final result.
We offer comprehensive look development support, including testing across cameras, film stocks, and processing techniques.
We recommend supplying Uncompressed DPX LOG files (graded or ungraded).
For shortform projects such as commercials and music videos, if you prefer we can work from graded ProRes HQ masters delivered in Rec.709 or P3.
Our colourists grade in DaVinci Resolve with calibrated 4K HDR monitoring, maintaining precision and continuity throughout the digital-to-film-to-digital workflow.
Getting Started with DFD
To plan your DFD workflow, download the following:
For direct support:
Shortform Projects:
Aarti Mahtani
Longform Projects:
Roger Harlow