Notches (grading)

A shallow cut in the edge of a section of film for printing that actuates the light-change mechanism in certain types of film printer, thus printing the section at the required density and/or colour. ¹

Light notches should be 5 1/2 frames from the change of scene (before or after depending on whether printing from head or tail).

References

¹ The Focal Encyclopedia of Film and Television Techniques

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