answer print: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Professional
Quick answer
What does “answer print” mean?
The first complete, approved version of a film or video, ready for duplication and distribution.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The first complete, approved version of a film or video, ready for duplication and distribution.
In film and video production, the final edited version that has been color-corrected, includes all visual effects, and has the final audio mix, serving as the master copy for creating release prints or digital copies.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is identical in both varieties. The concept and workflow stage are the same in both British and American film industries.
Connotations
Technical, professional, final-stage production.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, confined to professional film/TV contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “answer print” in a Sentence
The director approved the answer print.We are waiting for the answer print from the lab.The answer print has been delivered to the distributor.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “answer print” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We need to answer-print the film by Friday.
- The lab is answer-printing the final reel.
American English
- We need to answer print the film by Friday.
- The lab is answer printing the final reel.
adjective
British English
- The answer-print stage is critical.
- We held an answer-print screening.
American English
- The answer print stage is critical.
- We held an answer print screening.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in contracts and delivery schedules for film/TV projects.
Academic
Used in film studies and media production courses.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Standard term in film editing, color grading, and post-production.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “answer print”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “answer print”
- Using 'answer print' to refer to any early draft or rough cut of a film.
- Confusing it with 'trailer' or 'teaser'.
- Spelling as 'answerprint' (should be two words).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The final cut is the final edited version of the picture. The answer print is the physical or digital master that includes the final cut along with final colour correction and sound mix.
Typically the director, producer, and sometimes the studio or distributor have final approval on the answer print before it is used for duplication.
Yes. Although historically referring to a physical film print, the term is still used in digital workflows to mean the final, approved master file (e.g., a DCP - Digital Cinema Package - master).
After the answer print is approved, release prints (for cinemas) or various digital/tape masters (for TV, streaming, home video) are created from it.
The first complete, approved version of a film or video, ready for duplication and distribution.
Answer print is usually technical/professional in register.
Answer print: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɑːnsə prɪnt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈænsər prɪnt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Get the answer print in the can.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of it as the film's 'answer' to the question 'Is it finished?' – the print that says 'Yes'.
Conceptual Metaphor
The birth certificate of the final film.
Practice
Quiz
What is an 'answer print'?