Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam 2026 - Free CPP Practice Questions and Study Guide

The look of color films is primarily linked to film speed. Film speed, often denoted by ISO (International Standards Organization), refers to the film's sensitivity to light. Different film speeds result in different visual characteristics; for example, higher speed films can produce more grain and are often used in low-light settings, while lower speed films tend to exhibit finer grain and finer details, which is preferred in bright conditions. The unique attributes tied to specific film speeds can significantly affect the overall color rendition, contrast, and tonal range of the images produced, thereby defining the film's distinctive look.

In contrast, while the type of film (such as negative or positive film) does contribute to the overall image quality, it is the speed that has a more direct impact on how the colors appear and how the film interacts with lighting conditions. Brand can influence consistency and color bias due to differences in chemistry and production methods, but again, speed has the more pronounced effect on the final appearance of images. Exposure, while crucial to overall image quality and detail, focuses more on the amount of light hitting the film rather than its inherent characteristics linked to specific speeds.