Dye Track Committee

Dolby is a founding supporter of the Dye Track Committee, a group of motion picture executives dedicated to replacing silver-applicated analog 35 mm soundtracks with pure cyan dye tracks. The DTC, formed in 1998, includes motion picture distributors, exhibitors, film stock manufacturers, and film laboratories, as well as members of the motion picture audio technical community.

Converting to a silver-free cyan track offers major benefits to both the motion picture industry and to the environment. The cyan track is not only safer and simpler to produce, it is less damaging to the environment, reducing the use of water and chemicals in the developing process.

To play cyan dye tracks properly, a projector's analog soundhead must be equipped with a red light reader. Without one, the new soundtracks will play badly or not at all. A red light reader provides several practical benefits to the theatre, beyond the ability to play the new soundtracks, and the Dye Track Committee encourages the conversion of all theatres to red readers.

Approximately 85 percent of US screens have already been converted to red light readers, with most major studios intending to evolve to the cyan dye track format. If you own or operate a theatre that is not yet equipped with a red light reader in your projector's analog soundheads, we recommend that you install one as soon as possible.

For more information, please visit www.dyetracks.org.