Recans are rolls of 35-millimeter film that have been opened, but have not been used. They have typically gone as far as being loaded into the camera for use, but for some reason were never shot. One can also “recan” the film, which is the act of placing the film back into its can. 

 

A shortend is a type of recan, but typically refers to a stretch of film that is less than 400 feet long. Shortends have already been shot, and the remainder of the film is what is placed back into the can for later use.