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Term: Copy negatives and transparencies

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Term: Copy negatives and transparencies

Definition:
Pertains to the copying of pictorial works, maps, illustrative plates in books, posters, etc., i.e., items viewed by reflected light. In order to have the ability to produce prints that reproduce such works--in effect, to produce physical replicas--library and archive preservation programs formerly created photographic copy negatives (generally in black-and-white, rarely in color) or copy transparencies (generally in color). (For many years, the Library of Congress copied maps as single items on color 105mm microfiche stock, a form of transparency.) Thus the ability to produce a physical replica of a pictorial item on paper was latent: if a stolen photograph was to be represented by a surrogate, a print would be made from the copy negative. In addition, copy negatives and transparencies were often used in lieu of the originals to produce prints for patrons, in order to reduce wear and tear on the originals. With the digital copies made today, the ability to produce a physical replica is also latent.
Category:
Image
See also:
Interpositives, duplicate negatives, and transparencies; Physical replica