Film Stock & Formats

Acetate / Safety Film

Core Term Definition

A non-flammable film base made of cellulose acetate, introduced as a safe replacement for dangerous nitrate stock.

Technical Analysis & Context

Introduced commercially by Kodak in the 1920s for amateur gauges and adopted for professional releases in the early 1950s, safety film eliminates the fire risk of nitrate. It includes cellulose diacetate, triacetate, and acetate-propionate. While safe from fire, acetate film is highly susceptible to chemical deacetylation, known globally as vinegar syndrome.