diff --git a/lib/dtutils/string.lua b/lib/dtutils/string.lua
index 122f6d2..9a1085f 100644
--- a/lib/dtutils/string.lua
+++ b/lib/dtutils/string.lua
@@ -672,22 +672,21 @@ local function build_rollname_substitution_list(image, variable_string)
     local var = string.match(match, "%$%((.-%)?)%)")  -- strip of the leading $( and trailing )
     log.msg(log.info, "var is " .. var)
 
-    if string.match(var, "ROLL.NAME") then
-      local element = "1"
+    local element = nil
 
-      if string.match(var, "ROLL.NAME%[") then
-        element = string.match(var, "%[(%d)%]")
-      end
+    if string.match(var, "ROLL.NAME%[") then
+      element = string.match(var, "%[(%d)%]")
 
       local path = du.split(image.film.path, dt.configuration.running_os ~= "windows" and "/" or "\\")
+
+      element = tonumber(element) + 1 -- add one because c arrays are 0 based and lua are 1 based
       
-      if tonumber(element) > #path then
-        substitutes["ROLL.NAME"]  = ""
+      if element > #path then
         log.msg(log.warn, "ROLL.NAME element requested was more than number of elements in film roll")
+        substitutes[var] = ""
       else
-        substitutes["ROLL.NAME"] = path[(#path + 1) - tonumber(element)]
+        substitutes[var] = path[(#path + 1) - element]
       end
-      return
     end
   end
 end
@@ -1067,6 +1066,11 @@ local function treat(var_string)
     if not ret_val then ret_val = "" end
     log.msg(log.info, "ret_val is " .. ret_val)
 
+  elseif string.match(var_string, "ROLL.NAME%[") then
+    ret_val = substitutes[var_string]
+    if not ret_val then ret_val = "" end
+    log.msg(log.info, "ret_val is " .. ret_val)
+
   elseif string.match(var_string, "SEQUENCE%[") then
     local width, start = string.match(var_string, "(%d+),(%d+)")
     local seq_val = tonumber(substitutes[var])