Picture Lock
Final approval of edited footage sequence, preventing further changes and enabling sound design and color work.
Definition
Picture lock represents the final approval of the edited film sequence, after which no further changes to timing, cuts, or scene order are permitted. This milestone enables sound design, music composition, and color grading to proceed.
Achieving picture lock requires approval from directors, producers, and often studio executives or network representatives. Once locked, any subsequent changes require expensive re-conforming of all finishing elements.
Why It Matters
Picture lock enables the parallel workflow of final post-production elements, significantly reducing completion schedules and allowing specialized vendors to work simultaneously on sound, music, and color.
This milestone also finalizes post-production budgets and delivery schedules, as all remaining work can be accurately estimated once the final picture timing is established and approved.
Examples in Practice
Studio tentpole films typically achieve picture lock 8-12 weeks before release to allow sufficient time for complex visual effects rendering and international version creation.
Streaming series episodes often picture lock on rolling schedules, enabling sound and color work to proceed while subsequent episodes complete editing phases.
Independent films may picture lock after film festival screenings, incorporating audience feedback before finalizing sound design and color grading for wider distribution.