Keycode (also known as edge code) tracks frames of film from source reels through the post-production pipeline using code. Keycode is a variation of timecode designed to uniquely identify frames in filmstock. Keycode is a valuable tool for any project that originates on film, evolves through digital post production, and eventually references the original film material for final image capture. Keycode is printed on film in both a human-readable and machine-readable form. It indicates the manufacturer and film emulsion, a unique identification for each reel, as well as the footage and frame number.
Keycode appears in a varying number of increments along the film strip depending on the film gauge. For example, on 35 mm film, keycode appears every foot, which translates to every 16 frames of film.
Keycode in Autodesk Creative Finishing applications uses the following syntax:
KQ123456 7890+12
Where:
In 35mm / 3 perf keycode, a reference foot value is also set. The value can be 1, 2, or 3 between parenthesis:
KQ123456 1234+00(1)
The available film emulsions are supported in keycode in Flame as follows.
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The following film gauges are supported in keycode for Autodesk Visual Effects and Finishing applications:
The increment offset of a particular frame from the keycode dot (which indicates the zero offset point on the film) can be recorded in one of two modes: frame offset and perforation offset. In general, film scanners can write keycode in either of these two modes.
For 35 mm / 3 perf and 35 mm / 4 perf film, both frame and perforation offset keycode are supported when importing files. For all other gauges, only frame offset mode is supported. In these latter cases, set the telecine to use frame offset keycode when you are scanning.