Definity (film recorder)

Definity is a digital film recorder for motion picture applications, produced by CCG Digital Image Technology, the successor of Agfa-Gevaert's film recorder division.

Launched at NAB in Las Vegas in 2004, Definity marked a departure from previous, more analogue technologies of recording digital sequences onto motion picture film as it utilizes a monochrome high-resolution LCD panel. Before Definity's launch, LCD technology was commonly regarded as unsuitable for film recording purposes, despite its great potential: Main problems were limitations in bit depth, temporary image retention (TIR) and insufficiently saturated colors.

Definity's imaging unit exploits the sub-pixel structure of the LCD in order to record anamorphic "CinemaScope" material without loss of horizontal image information: When instead of the standard square pixels the device utilizes its native anamorphic pixels (with an aspect of 3:1), flat widescreen material with a typical aspect ratio of 2.36:1 is horizontal compressed on the LCD, thus arriving at a squeezed, 1.18:1 image required on-film without having to jettison vital image information.

Since 2010 CCG launched a new full LED backlight system to increase the contrast and Density range by using 4320 separate RGB LEDs, increasing speed and Contrast ratio.