First complete film print combining graded picture with optical soundtrack – the initial version for director and producer approval before mass duplication.
What is an Answer Print?
The Answer Print is the first complete film print that combines image and sound. It is used for approval by the director, cinematographer, and producer before release prints are made for cinemas. The name comes from the lab's "answer" to the grading instructions.
Position in the Workflow
| Step | Element |
|---|---|
| 1 | Original Negative |
| 2 | Interpositive (IP) |
| 3 | Internegative (IN) |
| 4 | Answer Print ← Approval |
| 5 | Release Prints |
Components
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Image | Color corrected from the internegative |
| Soundtrack | Optical on film |
| Sync | Picture-sound sync checked |
| Completeness | All scenes, credits |
Purpose of the Answer Print
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
| Approval | Sign-off by creatives |
| Quality Control | Technical inspection |
| Reference | Standard for duplication |
| Documentation | Final version of the look |
Test Criteria
| Aspect | What is checked |
|---|---|
| Color | Grading implemented correctly |
| Density | Exposure consistent |
| Scratches | No damage |
| Sync | Sound precisely matched to image |
| Editing | No missing frames |
| Credits | Correct, complete |
Color Timing
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Printer Lights | RGB values for printing |
| Timing Report | Documentation of all settings |
| One-Light | First rough print |
| Timed Print | Scene-by-scene corrected |
Historical Context
| Era | Practice |
|---|---|
| Silent Film | Hand-colored, tinting |
| Early Color Film | Technicolor process |
| 1950s–1990s | Photochemical timing |
| 2000s+ | Digital Intermediate replaced |
Answer Print vs. Digital
| Aspect | Film (Answer Print) | Digital (DCP) |
|---|---|---|
| Medium | Physical film | Hard drive/server |
| Approval | In the screening room | On the grading monitor |
| Corrections | New print required | Software change |
| Cost | High per print | Low per print |
Typical Problems
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Color Deviation | New timing, new print |
| Density Fluctuation | Lab calibration |
| Sync Drift | New print with correction |
| Scratches | Wet-gate printing |
Parties Involved
| Role | Task during approval |
|---|---|
| Director | Creative sign-off |
| DoP | Confirm image quality |
| Colorist/Timer | Technical implementation |
| Producer | Final approval |
| Lab | Technical execution |
Costs (Historical, Approx.)
| Item | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Answer Print (Feature Film) | €5,000–€15,000 |
| Correction Print | €3,000–€10,000 |
| Release Print (each) | €1,000–€2,000 |
Modern Equivalents
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| DCP Master | Digital Cinema Package |
| Reference QT | Test file for approval |
| HDR Master | High Dynamic Range version |
| Archival Print | For film storage |
Archiving
| Aspect | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Preservation | Answer Print as reference |
| Restoration | Basis for later reconstruction |
| Quality | Often the best preserved version |
Today
Answer Prints have become rare in the digital era – DCP masters have replaced them. But for film purists and archivists, the Answer Print remains an important concept: the moment when all elements first come together and the film takes its final form.
More in the lexikon
Related terms
Post · Material
Interpositive / IP / Master Positive / Intermediate Positive
A positive film element created directly from the edited original camera negative (OCN)…
Post · Material
Internegative / IN / Intermediate Negative / Dupe Negative
Post · Material
Release Print / Distribution Print / Exhibition Print
Production · Terms
Dailies