Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

What characteristic does color reversal film have in relation to its output?

1. It creates a black and white film

2. It produces a negative image

3. It makes a positive color transparency

4. It changes color tones dramatically

The correct answer is: It makes a positive color transparency

Color reversal film, commonly known as slide film, is specifically designed to produce a positive image directly from the exposed film. When light passes through the developed film, it reveals a vivid, full-color transparency. This is the primary reason for using color reversal film in photography, especially for projecting images or creating high-quality prints from transparencies. Unlike negative film, which captures an inverted version of the scene (where colors and brightness are reversed), color reversal film maintains the original color and tonality of the scene. The result is an image that can be viewed directly without any further processing or alteration, making it particularly valuable for projections and displays. As for the other options, they do not accurately describe the output of color reversal film. Black and white film is entirely different, as it captures scenes in shades of gray rather than color. A negative image refers specifically to negative film, and while color reversal film offers some potential for tonal shifts in certain situations, it does not inherently change color tones dramatically like other processes might. Hence, the defining characteristic of color reversal film is its ability to produce a positive color transparency.