Reelnummer

Reelnummer is an identifier assigned to a physical reel of film, tape, or other media within film, television, and archival workflows. The term denotes either the reel's position within a sequence or its contents and provenance.

In production and post-production, film stock is wound onto reels; each reel receives a number to facilitate editing, logging, dailies, and assembly. The reel number assists projection and screening, ensuring the correct order when multiple reels are used. In archives and libraries, reel numbers are used to label containers and match them to catalogue records and master materials.

Formats and labeling: reel numbers are typically numeric (for example "Reel 1", "Reel 2") and may appear with prefixes or as part of codes (such as R1, R2, or "Reel 3 of 5"). They may be recorded on the physical can or core label and included in metadata, inventories, or accession records.

Importance: Reel numbers help preserve the integrity of original works by enabling exact reconstruction of the intended order, especially when handling multiple camera negatives, sound tapes, or alternate cuts. In modern digital workflows, the concept persists as metadata mapping between physical reels and digital files; many archival catalogs link a reel number to digital master files, preservation copies, and access copies.

See also: film archive, film reel, film preservation, cataloging, metadata.