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How it works , film improvements , frame sizes , the new cartridge .  Como funciona , mejoras en el cartucho , tamaños de encuadre , el nuevo cartucho .

> unexposed  - película sin exponer  > partly exposed  - película parcialmente expuesta  > fully exposed but not processed  - p. totalmente expuesta pero no procesada .  >  the film has already been processed - película ya procesada .

 If his camera allows, the consumer can change over to another film type or film speed at any time and can put back the unfinished film whenever he wants. The camera will then automatically wind on to the next unexposed frame. The display of the exposure status also increases the level of safety, because the camera will recognize exposed films and thus prevent double exposures. The finisher will also automatically be able to identify the film status and can prevent the inadvertent processing of films that have already been processed.

New film with data carrier

The APS cartridge is loaded with a 24 mm-wide film which is made of a polyethylene naphthalate (PEN): and is thinner yet stronger than the material used in 35mm films. The new film carrier is also characterized by its much improved "non-curling" quality, which is not impaired even with reorders from tightly wound films. The APS manufacturers emphasized that , because of the better physical properties of the new material, damage to the film in the camera and in the processor is even less likely than it is now. Since the film strip is smaller, finishers will nevertheless have to adjust to different replenishing and drying characteristics. The APS film has a transparent, magnetic coating for recording camera and exposure data. In addition to this, providing the camera is correspondingly equipped, the consumer can add individual data, which the finisher will later be able to read. With this system feature, called "information exchange (IX)", photofinishers are given data that can be used to improve the picture quality , identify the print format and with automatic formats , print the required information on the back. To improve the print quality , printers will have to be modified so that they can read and utilize the relevant data . the system architecture of the magnetic coding is open. Data can be subsequently added or altered. 

With the Advanced Photo System, there is still plenty of room for future extensions and new features. Special recording tracks have been assigned to the camera and photo-finishing data within the system's architecture. Data which affect the entire film can be recorded in the leader area at the beginning of the film. Besides this, information can be put in and stored for every individual exposure (for example picture title, print size and exposure data).

New formats

The negative format of the Advanced Photo System is 16.7 mm x 30.2 mm. According to the manufacturers, this size will enable good results to achieved while, at the same time , allowing the design of more compact cameras. It is emphasized that, with the present-day film technologies, prints can be produced in the usual formats from smaller negatives than at present without disappointing the consumer. On top of this, the magnetic recording of data on the film would enable the lab to improve the print quality. The new films will be available with 15, 25 or 40 exposures per film.

While the negative format always remains constant, the consumer will be able to choose between three different print formats with different edge ratios. Before every exposure, it will be possible to set the camera to one of the three formats :

1. C (classic),
2. H (HDTV) or 
3. P (panorama).

A magnetic or optical code will be recorded for every exposure and this will control the printer with regard to the correct paper advance, picture crop and enlargement.

The C-format, with its side ratio of 2:3, is the same as the present 35mm format. With the H-format, the side ratio is the same as the future HDTV television standards of 16:9. The panorama format will create prints with a side ratio of 1:3.

Index print and reverse side printing

Since the negatives are returned to the consumer in the closed film cartridge, every first processing job comes with an index picture showing all the exposures on the film in the correct sequence with the correct negative number and the selected print format C, H or P. The index print also contains the film identification number, which is also on the cartridge. This enables the index print and the cartridge to be easily matched up.

All APS prints (with the exception of large-format enlargements) are provided with information printed on the back, which at minimum will be the negative number and the cartridge identification number. Depending on the camera, it may also be possible to record an individual title, exposure data, the exposure date etc. and to have this information automatically printed on the back of the print in the lab. If such data are not available, the photofinisher can add the date of processing as is done now.