Novice question...Film loading???

[joeyk49]

I just received my first box of 4x5 film (Tmax100) and wanted to "go out and play" with my C. Graphic. When I went to load the film holders I realzed that there was nothing telling me which was the emulsion side of the film...aaargh!

Now, the used film holders that I picked up had film in them. They had notches in them, which are probably intended to indicate which way the film is to be loaded. But when I opened the foil film pack of the Kodak stuff, no notches...

I tried feeling for a difference in coating texture, but alas, I couldn't tell..

So, the only thing I could go by was that I guessed that Kodak put the film emulsion side up in the foil pack as you open it; which is crease/seal side up.

ANY help here would be greatly appreciated.

As an aside...you should have seen the looks I got at my son's Little League game last night, when I dragged out the Graphic...

[rbarker]

With the sheets in "portrait" orientation, the notches should be in the upper right corner when the emulsion is facing you.

[Ian Grant]

Imagine this page is the film with the notches in the bottom right hand side corner, then the sheet is emulsion side up.

The left hand edge should be slid into the filn holder.

Ian

[joeyk49]

Thanks Guys!

I had to run down and open up a holder(in the dark, of course)...I could swear there weren't any notches when I loaded it...but waddayaknow, they're there!

...now I just need to ask the Mrs. if I can go out and play when my chores are done...LOL

[Bob F.]

Everything you ever wanted to know.... in pictures... http://www.butzi.net/articles/filmload.htm

... but remember to turn out the lights first ...

Cheers, Bob.

[joeyk49]

Thanks Bob:

The bit at the end about darkslides was also useful...

[colrehogan]

Thanks Guys!

I had to run down and open up a holder(in the dark, of course)...I could swear there weren't any notches when I loaded it...but waddayaknow, they're there!

...now I just need to ask the Mrs. if I can go out and play when my chores are done...LOL

LOL! You guys are funny, always needing to ask the Mrs. if you can go out and play. I just get my stuff together and tell my husband I'll be back in a while and where I'm going. I have to make sure to remember to take my cell phone. Even then, he can't call me unless I turn the blasted thing on. This time of the year, he's out in the carport fiddling with some vehicle or other (he's a mechanic).

You may have to pull the film all the way out of the packet and run your fingers along the edge to find the notches, but they should always be there.

[rbarker]

Imagine this page is the film with the notches in the bottom right hand side corner, then the sheet is emulsion side up.

The left hand edge should be slid into the filn holder.

Ian

I think you're turned around, Ian. Bottom-right notches would place the emulsion facing away from you.

[David A. Goldfarb]

I think you're turned around, Ian. Bottom-right notches would place the emulsion facing away from you.

Either that or Ian loads his film holders in the horizontal orientation.

I load them in the vertical orientation with the flap on the bottom and the notches in the lower left-hand corner instead of the upper right. That way, in case I somehow lose track of what film I've got in the holder, I can check in the darkroom or with a changing bag by feeling along the edge without having to remove the whole sheet.

[Ian Grant]

My computer screen is Horizontal :-)

Was a quick analogy. Actually I load 10x8 and 5x4 in the vertical orientation flap at top, so notches top right as that keeps the film further away from my clothes and potential dust.

Either that or Ian loads his film holders in the horizontal orientation.

I load them in the vertical orientation with the flap on the bottom and the notches in the lower left-hand corner instead of the upper right. That way, in case I somehow lose track of what film I've got in the holder, I can check in the darkroom or with a changing bag by feeling along the edge without having to remove the whole sheet.