INT DCP Baker User Guide

1. Introduction

Delivery media used to transfer a DCP to a cinema server typically uses the EXT3 or EXT2 file system. Simply formatting the media as EXT3 or EXT2 may not be enough to ensure compatibility with playback equipment.

Recommended specifications for compatibility include an MBR partition scheme, Linux partition type (0x83), an inode size of 128 bytes, and 0% reserved blocks. These settings are applied when the media is created. You do not need to understand or adjust each setting individually.

The standard features in macOS cannot create EXT3 or EXT2 media that meets these specifications or read and write such media like ordinary storage.

INT DCP Baker creates a delivery disk image from the selected DCP Source according to the recommended specifications. It writes the disk image to the media (Bake), then automatically reads the written data back and verifies it.

In this guide, “image” refers to a disk image.

The workflow is as follows:

1. Prepare the image to be written to the media on the PREP screen.
2. Select BAKE to write the image to the media.
3. Confirm that the automatic Readback Verification completes.

Finishing image creation does not mean the media has been written. Do not use the media for delivery until both “Bake Complete” and “Readback verification OK.” are displayed.

1.1 System Requirements

INT DCP Baker v1.0 supports Apple Silicon Macs running macOS 26 or later.

1.2 What You Need

• The DCP Source for delivery
• A Work Folder for storing the image
• Target Media whose contents can be erased
• An internet connection
• An administrator account that can authorize operations in macOS

An internet connection may be required during Initial Setup. An internet connection is always required for License Activation.

Free Space Required in the Work Folder

To create a new image, the Work Folder must have free space equal to the planned image size plus 1 GiB (approximately 1.1 GB).

The actual requirement depends on the selected image size. Check Planned size and Free space on the PREP screen.

1.3 Before Starting Bake

Warning
Starting Bake erases all contents of the selected Target Media.

Before starting Bake, confirm the following:

• The media name and capacity are correct.
• You have not selected a drive containing the DCP Source or Work Folder as the Target Media.
• You are ready to keep the media connected throughout writing and Readback Verification.

If you are not certain that the correct media is selected, do not start Bake. Select the Target Media again.

2. Installation

1. Open the INT DCP Baker installer.
2. Review the information shown in the macOS Installer.
3. Select Install.
4. Authorize the installation in macOS.
5. Confirm that the installation has completed.

On an unsupported version of macOS, the required OS version is displayed before installation begins.

After installation, the INT DCP Baker folder in Applications contains the following four items:

• Docs
• INT DCP Baker
• Runtime
• Uninstall INT DCP Baker

3. Initial Setup

The Image Creation Environment Setup screen appears the first time you launch the app. This setup is normally required only once.

3.1 Set Up the Environment

1. Select Start Setup.
2. If the macOS Installer opens, follow its on-screen instructions.
3. If macOS requests authorization, authorize the operation.
4. When installation finishes, return to INT DCP Baker.

After the required system capabilities are confirmed, INT DCP Baker continues setup automatically. If it does not continue automatically, select Continue. macOS may need an internet connection to prepare required components.

3.2 Setting Up the Environment Again

After an update to the app, macOS, or its supporting environment, or after certain system setting changes, the Image Creation Environment may need to be set up again at launch. Follow the on-screen instructions.

3.3 If Setup Fails

Follow the on-screen instructions and select Recheck.

If the app reports that required files could not be found, reinstall INT DCP Baker.

If an otherwise supported Mac is reported as unsupported, record the information listed in 8.10, “When Contacting Support.”

4. License Activation

4.1 Trial Period

For 7 days after the first launch, you can use all features without activating a license.

License Activation is required after the Trial period ends.

4.2 Activate a License

Connect the Mac to the internet before activating a license.

1. From the menu bar, open INT DCP Baker > License....
2. Enter the license key sent to you by email after purchase.
3. Select Activate.
4. Confirm that “License activation completed.” appears.

After activation, you can use the app offline.

5. PREP

Use the PREP screen to prepare the data that will be written to the media.

The screen is arranged in the following order:

1. Work Folder
2. DCP Source
3. Target Media
4. Image

To create a new image, prepare each item from top to bottom. To use an Existing Image, select an image stored in the Work Folder.

5.1 Status Colors on the PREP Screen

Orange indicates that preparation or processing is in progress, or that your next action is required. Green indicates that preparation or processing is complete.

If an item appears in red, review the guidance for that item.

5.2 Select a Work Folder

1. Select Choose Work Folder.
2. Select the folder where the image will be stored.
3. Confirm the folder name and Free space.

If there is not enough free space, select another Work Folder. See “Free Space Required in the Work Folder” in 1.2 for the required capacity.

When you create a new image, the app automatically creates a dedicated folder inside the Work Folder. The image and its related files are stored together in this folder.

If you create another image from the same DCP, it is saved in a new folder. The previously created image is not overwritten.

5.3 Select a DCP Source

Select a DCP Source when creating a new image.

1. Select Choose DCP Folder.
2. Select the DCP folder for delivery.
3. Confirm the DCP name, size, and Check status.

To place multiple DCPs on the same media, select Add DCP and add another DCP.

Removing a DCP from the list does not delete the original DCP Source.

The check shown on this screen is a basic check of the DCP folder structure. It is not a content review or a complete DCP validation.

Selecting a DCP Source is optional when you are using only an Existing Image.

5.4 Select Target Media

Warning
Starting Bake completely erases the selected media.

1. Connect the Target Media to the Mac.
2. Select Select Media.
3. Select the intended media in Select Target Media.
4. Confirm the media name and capacity.
5. Select Use this media.

If you are not certain that it is the intended media, do not confirm the selection.

5.5 Select the Image to Use

• New — Creates a new image from the selected DCP Source.
• Use Existing Image — Uses an image stored in the Work Folder.

5.5.1 Create a New Image

1. Select New.
2. Confirm that the Work Folder and DCP Source are ready.
3. Select Make Image.

When Making Image appears, wait without disconnecting the DCP Source or Work Folder. The Target Media is not erased or written during this stage.

The screen shows the current operation and elapsed time. When an estimate is available, it also shows the time remaining.

The screen may show “calculating time remaining” immediately after Image Creation starts. If the current operation cannot be estimated, this changes to “time remaining unavailable” after approximately 30 seconds.

Stop Image Creation

1. Select Cancel.
2. Review the Stop image creation? message.
3. To continue creating the image, select Go Back.
4. To stop, select Stop.

Partial files from the stopped operation remain in the Work Folder. They cannot be used as an Existing Image and are not deleted automatically.

If you close the window, quit the app, or press Command (⌘)-Q during Image Creation, Interrupt the process and quit? also appears.

Select Continue to keep the process running, or Quit to exit.

5.5.2 Use Existing Image

To use an image stored in the Work Folder:

1. Select Use Existing Image.
2. Review the candidates shown in Select Existing Image.
3. Select one candidate whose status is Available.
4. Select Use This Image.
5. Confirm that the Image section shows Existing image selected.
6. Confirm the name shown next to In use.

Each candidate shows the DCP name, creation date and time, image size, format, DCP count, and status.

Candidates with a status of Incomplete, Related Files Missing, or Related Files Do Not Match cannot be used.

5.5.3 If the DCP Source and Existing Image Do Not Match

A confirmation dialog appears when the currently selected DCP Source differs from the content recorded in the Existing Image.

1. Confirm that The selected DCP source does not match this existing image. appears.
2. If it is not the intended image, select Cancel.
3. If it is the intended image, select Use.

This is not an error. After making your selection, confirm the name shown next to In use again.

5.6 Confirm That PREP Is Complete

After a new image is created or an Existing Image is selected, the name of the image to be used appears next to In use.

1. Confirm the status in the Image section.
2. Confirm the name shown next to In use.

If Target Media has not been selected, Image Ready and Select Target Media to write this image. appear. Return to the procedure in 5.4, “Select Target Media.”

When the Work Folder, Image, and Target Media are ready, Ready to Bake appears. The BAKE button at the upper right also pulses gently.

6. BAKE

After confirming Ready to Bake, select BAKE. The process then proceeds through review, macOS authorization, writing, and Readback Verification.

1. Select BAKE.
2. In Review Bake Plan, confirm the Image Project, DCP Count, Image Size, and the name and capacity of the Target Media.
3. Confirm This media will be erased.
4. If the information is correct, select Start Bake.

If the information is incorrect, select Cancel to return to the PREP screen.

Bake cannot start if the related files do not match. If The related files for the selected image do not match. appears, select another Existing Image on the PREP screen.

6.1 macOS Authorization

When a macOS authorization dialog appears, review it and authorize the operation.

If you cancel authorization, writing to the media does not begin.

Authorization is requested twice.

6.2 Writing to the Media

When Writing to Target Media appears, no action is required. Follow the instruction Keep the media connected until writing is complete. and wait.

The screen shows the elapsed time and time remaining.

Stop Writing

If you select Cancel during Bake, Stop Bake? appears.

Stopping while writing may leave the media unusable. Select Go Back to continue, or Stop to stop the operation.

If you close the window, quit the app, or press Command (⌘)-Q while writing, Interrupt the process and quit? also appears.

6.3 Readback Verification

Readback Verification starts automatically after writing finishes. No other action is required.

While Verifying Readback and Checking the data written to the media. are displayed, wait without disconnecting the media.

The screen shows the elapsed time and time remaining.

If macOS Reports That the Disk Is Not Readable

After Readback Verification starts, or around the time it finishes, macOS may display a “disk not readable” alert.

Select Ignore, not Initialize. Do not repair or erase the media.

6.4 Confirm Completion

The DCP delivery media is complete when both Bake Complete and Readback verification OK. are displayed.

After completion, disconnect the media using the normal macOS procedure.

Do not use media that shows an error or a stopped operation for delivery.

6.5 Keep the Bake Report

When Bake completes successfully, a Bake Report recording the operation is saved automatically.

The Bake Report records a summary of the DCP used, the Image, the Target Media, the write result, and the Readback Verification result. Keep it as a record of the screening or delivery, and as reference when contacting support.

The Bake Report is saved at the following location inside the Work Folder selected in PREP:

<Selected Work Folder>/Bake Reports/

To view it in Finder, open the selected Work Folder, then open the Bake Reports folder inside it.

7. Uninstallation

7.1 Open the Uninstaller

1. In Finder, open Applications > INT DCP Baker.
2. Open Uninstall INT DCP Baker.

• Remove INT DCP Baker — Always selected.
• Also remove settings and the image creation environment — Select this to also remove settings and the Image Creation Environment.

DCP Sources, Work Folders, created images, and external media are not removed.

7.2 Standard Uninstallation

To keep settings and the Image Creation Environment, do not select Also remove settings and the image creation environment.

1. Select Review Items.
2. Review the items that will be removed and kept.
3. Select Uninstall.
4. Authorize the operation in macOS.
5. Review the result screen.

7.3 Also Remove Settings and the Image Creation Environment

This method removes the app together with settings, license state, logs, cache, setup state, the Image Creation Environment, and other items managed by INT DCP Baker.

The Work Folder and the Image Projects and Bake Reports it contains are not removed.

1. Select Also remove settings and the image creation environment.
2. Select Review Items.
3. Review the items that will be removed and kept.
4. Select Uninstall.
5. Confirm that Preparing to uninstall… appears.
6. When Waiting for macOS authorization… appears, authorize the operation in macOS.
7. When Removing INT DCP Baker… appears, wait without taking further action.
8. Review the result screen.

8. Troubleshooting

8.1 Image Creation Cannot Start

Review the orange or red guidance on the PREP screen.

• A Work Folder is selected.
• The Work Folder has enough free space.
• The DCP Source check is complete.
• New is selected.
• Image Creation Environment Setup is complete.
• The Trial is active, or the License is activated.

When an Existing Image is in use, Make Image is disabled. To create a new image, select New.

8.2 The Work Folder Does Not Have Enough Free Space

Select another Work Folder with free space equal to the planned image size plus approximately 1 GB.

Saved Image Projects are not deleted automatically. If you need to remove unneeded output, review its contents before deleting it yourself.

8.3 Time Remaining Is Not Displayed

If the current operation and elapsed time continue to update, wait for the operation to finish.

For an operation that cannot be estimated, time remaining unavailable is displayed. This is not an error.

8.4 An Existing Image Cannot Be Selected

Review the status and reason shown for the candidate.

A candidate with a status of Incomplete, Related Files Missing, Related Files Do Not Match, or a legacy-format result whose associations cannot be confirmed cannot be used. Select another Available candidate, or create a new image from the DCP Source.

8.5 Bake Cannot Start

Confirm the following:

• The name of the Image Project shown next to In use is correct.
• Target Media is selected.
• The media has enough capacity.
• Ready to Bake is displayed.
• The Image Project shown in Review Bake Plan is correct.

If a related-files mismatch is reported, select another Existing Image on the PREP screen.

8.6 Readback Verification Does Not Complete

Do not use media for delivery unless Readback Verification has completed.

Review the displayed error. If necessary, select different media and run Bake again from the beginning.

8.7 macOS Reports That the Disk Is Not Readable

Select Ignore.

Do not initialize, repair, or erase the media.

8.8 Image Creation Failed

Reinstall INT DCP Baker, then try again.

If reinstalling does not resolve the issue, record the displayed message and the date and time when the problem occurred, then contact support.

8.9 Part of the Uninstallation Failed

On the result screen, review the items that could not be removed.

If only the Image Creation Environment failed, you can select Try Again.

If support asks for diagnostics, select Show Details. Use Copy Details or Save Diagnostics… to share the diagnostic information.

8.10 When Contacting Support

Record the following information:

• The screen and message that appeared
• The operation being performed when the problem occurred
• The INT DCP Baker version
• The macOS version
• The date and time when the problem occurred
• The relevant Bake Report

9. Additional Settings

For normal use, keep the default settings. Change a setting before Image Creation only when the delivery destination specifies an image size or file system.

9.1 Image Size

From the menu bar, open INT DCP Baker > Settings....

• Fit to DCP — Creates the image at the size required for the selected DCP. Use this setting for normal operation.
• Fit to Media — Matches the capacity of the selected media.
• Custom — Creates the image at the specified capacity.

When using Fit to DCP, you can create the image before selecting Target Media.

After changing the setting, check Planned size on the PREP screen and Free space for the Work Folder.

9.2 EXT3 and EXT2

INT DCP Baker uses EXT3 for normal Image Creation. Do not change this setting unless the delivery destination specifies another format.

If EXT2 is specified, select EXT2.

To return to EXT3, select EXT3.

Appendix A: Image Specifications Created by INT DCP Baker

A.1 Overview

INT DCP Baker creates a disk image from the selected DCP Source for writing to media. During normal operation, you do not need to configure the partition and file-system specifications individually.

Within the Work Folder, the data that makes up the whole-disk image is stored in segments. During Bake, these segments are written to the selected media as one continuous disk image.

A.2 Partition and File System

The original directory structure is preserved inside each DCP folder. When multiple DCPs are selected, each is stored in a separate top-level folder.

The block size, volume label, and file and directory ownership and permissions are not defined as fixed public specifications in the current version. This appendix does not treat them as fixed specifications.

A.3 Image Size

The selected setting determines the image size. The final size is rounded up to the nearest 1 MiB.

The usable media capacity is the media capacity minus 256 MiB. When Target Media is selected, Fit to DCP and Custom also prevent the creation of an image that exceeds this limit.

A.4 Writing to Media

During Bake, the disk image is written in RAW mode from the beginning of the selected physical media. This is not a file-copy operation within a partition. The complete image—including the MBR, EXT3 or EXT2 partition, and trailing free space—is written as one continuous byte stream.

The amount written is the image size determined in A.3. After writing completes, the data is synchronized to the media before Readback Verification begins.

A.5 Readback Verification

INT DCP Baker calculates a SHA-256 hash from the byte stream written to the media. After writing, it reads back the image-size range from the beginning of the same media and calculates the SHA-256 hash of the data read back.

Readback Verification completes when both of the following conditions are met:

• The number of bytes read back matches the image size that was written.
• The SHA-256 hash of the data read back matches the SHA-256 hash calculated during writing.

Verification is not limited to the DCP files. It covers the complete written image, including the MBR, partition, DCP data, and trailing free space.

A.6 Configurable Settings

You can change the following specifications:

The following specifications cannot be changed in Settings: