Optical Track definition

Creating an optical track is a middle step one does before going from the mix master to the final print.  The optical track is photographed on a piece of high contract stock when the mix is finished (by a facility or a lab).  The track is a different roll of film than the original negative.  It is joined to the picture when a print is struck.  One should realize that the optical track remains as an element  separate from the A&B rolls – the track is passed into the contract printer at a different time.