Preservation

Glossary of National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Film Element Acronyms

Original Negative

An Original Negative is the film element exposed in the camera. It is the first generation of an image.

  • ONC (Original Negative, Composite)

    An ONC is black and white and contains a soundtrack recorded by the camera.

  • ONS (Original Negative, Silent)

    An ONS is black and white and does not contain a soundtrack.

  • ONT (Original Negative Track)

    An ONT is the separate optical soundtrack often associated with a camera–original picture element. It may be recorded in a camera or struck from a MAG (Magnetic Track).

  • ONCK (Original Negative, Composite, Color)

    An ONCK is color and contains a soundtrack recorded by the camera.

  • ONSK (Original Negative, Silent, Color)

    An ONSK is color and does not contain a soundtrack.

Reversal

A Reversal element is created by a film process that produces a positive image directly using two developer stages (with the exception of the CRI, which uses a similar process to create a new negative element copied from a negative image). Some types of Reversal elements are exposed in the camera (original first generation image) and others are duplicate elements.

  • ORC (Original Reversal, Composite)

    An ORC is a camera-original black and white positive element that contains a soundtrack recorded by the camera.

  • ORS (Original Reversal, Silent)

    An ORS is a camera-original black and white positive element that does not contain a soundtrack.

  • ORCK (Original Reversal, Composite, Color)

    An ORCK is a camera–original color positive element that contains a soundtrack recorded by the camera.

  • ORSK (Original Reversal, Silent, Color)

    An ORSK is a camera-original color positive element that does not contain a soundtrack.

  • RCK (Reversal, Composite, Color)

    An RCK is a color positive element that contains a soundtrack.

  • RSK (Reversal, Silent, Color)

    An RSK is a color positive element that does not contain a soundtrack.

  • CRI (Color Reversal Intermediate)

    A CRI is a color negative element that does not contain a soundtrack.

Fine Grain

A Fine Grain is a black and white positive element made on a duplicating film stock created for film laboratory use.

  • FGMC (Fine Grain Master, Composite)

    An FGMC contains an optical soundtrack.

  • FGMS (Fine Grain Master, Silent)

    An FGMS does not contain a soundtrack.

  • MPT (Master Positive Track)–Fine Grain

    An MPT (Fine Grain) is a separate positive soundtrack element produced from an ONT (Original Negative Track) or DNT (Duplicate Negative Track).

Duplicate Negative

A Duplicate Negative is a copy or reproduction of a black and white positive element onto a negative element.

  • DNC (Duplicate Negative, Composite)

    A DNC contains an optical soundtrack.

  • DNS (Duplicate Negative, Silent)

    A DNS does not contain an optical soundtrack.

  • DNT (Duplicate Negative Track)

    A DNT is a soundtrack typically associated with silent picture elements which, when printed together, will produce a composite element.

Color Intermediate

A Color Intermediate is a copy or reproduction of a color element onto a color stock with orange masking. They may be produced from either positive or negative elements.

Internegative

An Internegative is a duplicate negative color film element printed from a positive color element.

  • INCK (Internegative, Composite, Color)

    An INCK contains an optical soundtrack.

  • INSK (Internegative, Silent, Color)

    An INSK does not contain a soundtrack.

Interpositive

An Interpositive is a positive film element used as an intermediate element. It is a positive image on negative film stock made from an earlier generation negative film and used for the preparation of duplicate negatives rather than for projection.

  • INTPCK (Interpositive, Composite, Color)

    An INTPCK contains an optical soundtrack.

  • INTPSK (Interpositive, Silent, Color)

    An INTPSK does not contain a soundtrack.

Print Film

Print Film is a positive element made by printing from negative elements, intended for exhibition.

Master Print

A Master Print is a finished, positive print made from the final, edited internegative, or original negative for distribution. NARA’s Master Prints are not projected.

  • MPPC (Master Projection Print, Composite)

    An MPPC is black and white and contains a soundtrack.

  • MPPS (Master Projection Print, Silent)

    An MPPS is black and white and does not contain a soundtrack.

  • MPPCK (Master Projection Print, Composite, Color)

    An MPPCK is color and contains a soundtrack.

  • MPPSK (Master Projection Print, Silent, Color)

    An MPPSK is color and does not contain a soundtrack.

  • MPT (Master Positive Track)–Print Film

    MPT (Print Film) is a soundtrack produced on print film.

Projection Print

A Projection Print is a finished, positive print made from the final, edited internegative, or original negative, created for distribution and projection.

  • PPC (Projection Print, Composite)

    A PPC is black and white and contains a soundtrack.

  • PPS (Projection Print, Silent)

    A PPS is black and white and does not contain a soundtrack.

  • PPCK (Projection Print, Composite, Color)

    A PPCK is color and contains a soundtrack.

  • PPSK (Projection Print, Silent, Color)

    A PPSK is color and does not contain a soundtrack.

Magnetic Soundtrack

A Magnetic Soundtrack is a sound format in which an analog audio signal is recorded onto a magnetic emulsion.

  • MAG (Magnetic Track)

    A MAG is a sprocketed magnetic film element.

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