Internegative
Encyclopedia
An internegative is a motion picture film duplicate. It is the color counterpart to an interpositive, in which a low-contrast color image is used as the positive between an original camera negative and a duplicate negative.
After a film is shot, the original negatives—taken directly from the camera equipment—are edited into correct sequence and printed onto fresh stock as a cohesive film, creating an interpositive
print used for color timing. From the interpositive, answer print
s, which include the color-corrected imagery and a properly synced sound track, are made. Once approved by the studio, the final answer print is made into an internegative used for striking copies that will be delivered to theaters for viewing.
. They are made on exactly the same stock as interpositive
s. The film processes usually go from one polarity to another, that is:
When an internegative wears out during printing, a new internegative is made from the interpositive and release printing resumes. There are some films (reversal films) that can go from positive to positive or negative to negative but are not used very often.
Each time the original camera negative, the only zeroth-generation source, is run through the printing machine, there is a hazard that the film could be damaged.
Printing release prints from the composited camera negative was common until about 1969. Thereafter, most printing was done from internegatives which were made from an interpositive.
Prints are still being made from the composited camera negative. Usually such a print run is limited to a few prints. These are variously called "EKs" (derived from the name Eastman Kodak
) or "showprints", and are generally reserved for the producer and for exhibition in first-run engagements in Los Angeles and New York. Other exhibitors will almost always receive conventional prints made from internegatives.
For quality and safety reasons, video transfers are almost always made from an interpositive. An internegative is a less desirable alternate. On rare occasions, the composited camera negative may be used for video transfers, but it will have to be carefully retimed for color.
The positive-to-positive color process was abandoned in the mid-1950s, and even then it was restricted to 16mm.
With very few exceptions, 35mm has always been a negative-to-positive color process.
After a film is shot, the original negatives—taken directly from the camera equipment—are edited into correct sequence and printed onto fresh stock as a cohesive film, creating an interpositive
Interpositive
An interpositive, intermediate positive, IP or master positive is an orange-based motion picture film with a positive image made from the edited camera negative...
print used for color timing. From the interpositive, answer print
Answer print
Answer print refers to the first version of a given motion picture that is printed to film after color correction on an interpositive. It is also the first version of the movie printed to film with the sound properly synced to the picture....
s, which include the color-corrected imagery and a properly synced sound track, are made. Once approved by the studio, the final answer print is made into an internegative used for striking copies that will be delivered to theaters for viewing.
Overview
Internegatives are the workhorses of the film industryFilm industry
The film industry consists of the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking: i.e. film production companies, film studios, cinematography, film production, screenwriting, pre-production, post production, film festivals, distribution; and actors, film directors and other film crew...
. They are made on exactly the same stock as interpositive
Interpositive
An interpositive, intermediate positive, IP or master positive is an orange-based motion picture film with a positive image made from the edited camera negative...
s. The film processes usually go from one polarity to another, that is:
- The camera operatorCamera operatorA camera operator or cameraman is a professional operator of a film or video camera. In filmmaking, the leading cameraman is usually called a cinematographer, while a cameraman in a video production may be known as a television camera operator, video camera operator, or videographer, depending on...
shoots a positive image and the film ends up as a negativeNegative (photography)In photography, a negative may refer to three different things, although they are all related.-A negative:Film for 35 mm cameras comes in long narrow strips of chemical-coated plastic or cellulose acetate. As each image is captured by the camera onto the film strip, the film strip advances so that...
. - The original negative is printed onto stock that comes out as an interpositiveInterpositiveAn interpositive, intermediate positive, IP or master positive is an orange-based motion picture film with a positive image made from the edited camera negative...
. Often, two interpositives were made, one to be archived and one to continue through the process. - The interpositive is color timedColor gradingColor grading or colour painting, is the process of altering and enhancing the color of a motion picture, video image, or still image either electronically, photo-chemically or digitally. The photo-chemical process is also referred to as color timing and is typically performed at a photographic...
(to balance the scenes) into the internegative. - The internegative makes the positive release print.
When an internegative wears out during printing, a new internegative is made from the interpositive and release printing resumes. There are some films (reversal films) that can go from positive to positive or negative to negative but are not used very often.
Each time the original camera negative, the only zeroth-generation source, is run through the printing machine, there is a hazard that the film could be damaged.
Printing release prints from the composited camera negative was common until about 1969. Thereafter, most printing was done from internegatives which were made from an interpositive.
Prints are still being made from the composited camera negative. Usually such a print run is limited to a few prints. These are variously called "EKs" (derived from the name Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak Company is a multinational imaging and photographic equipment, materials and services company headquarted in Rochester, New York, United States. It was founded by George Eastman in 1892....
) or "showprints", and are generally reserved for the producer and for exhibition in first-run engagements in Los Angeles and New York. Other exhibitors will almost always receive conventional prints made from internegatives.
For quality and safety reasons, video transfers are almost always made from an interpositive. An internegative is a less desirable alternate. On rare occasions, the composited camera negative may be used for video transfers, but it will have to be carefully retimed for color.
The positive-to-positive color process was abandoned in the mid-1950s, and even then it was restricted to 16mm.
With very few exceptions, 35mm has always been a negative-to-positive color process.