Kodak Cineon Bitmap Image (.cin)

The CIN file extension is linked to the Cineon bitmap image format, designed by Kodak for converting film visuals into a digital format suitable for electronic editing, manipulation, and enhancement. Noteworthy for its 10-bit color depth support per RGB channel, the CIN format ensures high color accuracy, vital for professional film and video production. Each CIN file typically represents a single frame from a motion picture or video sequence, playing a crucial role in the digital film production workflow.

Launched in 1992, Kodak's Cineon system was an innovative solution to merge analog film with digital processes, gaining traction in Hollywood for film restoration and digital transfers. Comprising hardware and software, the system enabled the scanning of film frames into CIN files for digital processing and enhancement via Cineon software, ensuring no loss in image quality when retransferred to film. Despite the discontinuation of the Cineon system and Kodak's shift to the DPX format in the late 1990s, the CIN format remains relevant in today's visual effects domain.