Is there a technical difference between a positive and a negative resolution target?

The pattern on a positive target is most often made from a reflective material, such as chrome, deposited on a clear background. Positive targets can also be referred to as reflective targets since incident light hitting the chrome pattern will reflect. The pattern on a negative target, on the other hand, is clear and the background is chrome. Negative targets, or “transmission targets”, are most often used with a backlight in order to increase contrast between the target and the background. In terms of a technical difference, both types of targets will have the same maximum resolution regardless of their reflective or transmissive construction.