Editing & Post-Production
Picture lock
Also called: locked cut, locked picture
Picture lock is a declaration: the cut is done, nothing changes length from here, and the finishing work can start against fixed timings. Sound design, the mix, colour and graphics all depend on it, because each of them is pinned to specific frames. Solo creators skip the ceremony and pay for it anyway. Grade a shot, then decide to shorten it, and you have graded it twice.