What a Reference Print is
An attestation of how a film was authored to look and whether this disc is faithful to that. It is a separate axis from the quality score. A disc can be reference quality and still not earn a Reference Print, because looking spectacular and being faithful to the authored work are different questions.
Tiers
| Attested |
Intended look documented from named creative sources and the disc judged faithful to it. The highest tier. |
| Inferred |
Clean provenance with no competing version, but no direct statement of intent on record. Fidelity reasoned from pedigree. |
| Provisional |
Intended look cannot be established. Visible and flagged in the database but not eligible for Reference Print status. |
Fidelity
| Faithful |
The disc follows the authored grade. The default for Attested and Inferred titles. |
| Revised |
Follows a later grade the original creative sanctioned. A legitimate alternate, flagged so the difference is visible. |
| Divergent |
Departs from known intent with no creative behind the change. Recorded as a fault. |
Evidence standard
Intent is established from primary creative sources: statements by the cinematographer, director or colourist; documentation of a supervised restoration; trade record such as American Cinematographer; then commentary tracks and release booklets. Research may be assisted by automated tools, but every attestation is made and signed by a named, ISF-certified human. No tier is assigned on machine judgement alone.