filmpositive

Filmpositive is a term used to describe a positive image on film stock, produced from an original negative or through reversal processing. In still photography and motion picture practice, a film positive can take the form of a transparency or a positive print that can be viewed, projected, or used as a master for copying.

In photography, a film positive may refer to a reversal (slide) film image, where the final image on the stock is positive rather than negative. In cinema and professional workflows, positives are often created from a negative to serve as a master for duplicating prints or for letterpress and other reproduction processes. The positive can be used directly for viewing or converted into other media through printing or further optical work.

Laboratory workflows frequently involve specific steps to produce a film positive, including reversal processing or printing the negative onto positive stock via optical printers or contact printing. Related terms include interpositive and internegative: the interpositive is a positive copy of the original negative used to generate internegatives, which in turn are used to produce final release prints for distribution.

Today, the prevalence of physical film positives has declined with digital cinema and imaging. However, film positives remain relevant in archival preservation, restoration, and certain specialty printing or viewing contexts, where a tangible positive image on film is valued for its archival properties or workflow compatibility. In such uses, a film positive can function as both a viewing medium and a production master.