Reproduction Master

This product category is produced to improve access to and/or minimize risk due to high use of original records. Reproduction masters are created for records that are not at immediate risk for loss of information.

Reproduction masters are created to appropriate capture specifications and can serve a variety of purposes, including fulfilling most user requests, as well as limiting preservation risks due to loss, theft, and mishandling.

The primary goal of reproduction masters is to capture the content of the record. Because digital reproduction masters are not created to preservation capture specifications, they are not optimal files for replacing the original record if the original is damaged, destroyed, or not retained. Digital reproduction masters may undergo more significant image and/or audio processing than preservation masters.

Reproduction masters are the next best copy to the preservation master. They are used to create distribution copies that satisfy most customer requests, as well as to protect the original from potential damage resulting from repeated transfers.

Digital reproduction master files are used to make other copies, including derivative files for use in various online access systems. Analog motion picture reproduction masters may be scanned to create digital products or printed to create film-based theater prints. Both physical format and digital reproduction masters are managed and maintained in a secure storage environment and are retained over the long term.