Reversal film is processed to yield a positive image directly (slides or transparencies), while other color film in this width typically produces a negative. The US tariff schedule distinguishes these at the 10-digit level (3702520130 for reversal; 3702520160 for others), so importers must confirm the processing type from the manufacturer's product specification to ensure correct classification.

The global market for narrow-gauge color film has contracted sharply with the transition to digital video, leaving only a handful of specialty manufacturers active. German producers have maintained production lines serving the professional and artistic cinematography communities that still use film, which explains the concentration of US supply from that origin.