View Poll Results: How do you orient the film holder? (You can choose more than one.)

Voters
59. You may not vote on this poll
  • 1) Vertical w/ flaps bottom

    2 3.39%
  • 2) Horizontal w/ flaps left

    10 16.95%
  • 3) Vertical w/ flaps top

    17 28.81%
  • 4) Horizontal w/ flaps right

    28 47.46%
  • 5) “I’m ambi-orientational, baby!”

    3 5.08%
  • 6) “My way is different” (Please share)

    0 0%
  • 7) “Depends on holder/format/circumstances” (Please share)

    3 5.08%
Multiple Choice Poll.
Page 2 of 5 FirstFirst 1234 ... LastLast
Results 11 to 20 of 42

Thread: Loading film – best way to orient the holder?

  1. #11
    Land-Scapegrace Heroique's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Seattle, Wash.
    Posts
    2,929

    Re: Loading film – best way to orient the holder?

    Quote Originally Posted by E. von Hoegh View Post
    ...I hold the holder over my head with the side I am loading facing down.
    BTW, I should thank Emil’s unique remark (from the “Darkslide going behind the film” thread) for inspiring this film-loading thread & poll. Thanks, Emil! His special technique made me think there must be more stories out there to get us thinking about an old problem in new terms. Now, the poll is just a fun way to get you warmed-up to offer any useful remarks that you may not have shared with us before. Good for my rainy day in Seattle, but I hope everyone can benefit.

    It remains, of course, for Emil to follow-up & tell us which is his preferred orientation over his head, but I already suspect he’s talented enough to select the “ambi-orientational” option…

  2. #12
    Vaughn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Humboldt County, CA
    Posts
    9,211

    Re: Loading film – best way to orient the holder?

    Dust out holders
    Wash hands well, do not touch face. Fingertips do not produce oils or nor have sweat glands -- no need for gloves.
    Standing at a counter, place everything in front of me.
    Turn off light -- check for glowing timers, safelights, etc.
    Open up box of film, remove film from box and bag (keeping film between the cardboard) and place it crosswise in the box (all three halves nested) with notches outward, emulsion up.
    Place holder vertical, flap up
    Slide darkslide 1/4 to 1/3 open, lower flap.
    Lift cardboard, remove a sheet of film, tap against counter to remove dust.
    Insert film using fingers of both hands on the sides of the film - "walk" it down under the rails. Keep film at about 45 degree angle, pushing and bowing the film slightly to slide it under the rails
    Make sure film is slide all the way down into the holder
    Double check ends of rails to insure proper loading
    Slide darkslide closed.
    Turn holder over and repeat.
    Double check that I actually loaded the other side...LOL!
    Put loaded holder off to the side.
    Repeat until all holders are loaded.
    Close box of film
    Turn on lights
    Make sure that film holders are marked with the type of film that is inside them.
    Photograph

  3. #13
    Vaughn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Humboldt County, CA
    Posts
    9,211

    Re: Loading film – best way to orient the holder?

    Quote Originally Posted by vinny View Post
    how many polls has Heroique started?
    option 1:too many
    option 2: give him a break. at film prices being what they are, he's got nothing better to do.
    How many posts does Vinny read when he should be photographing or making prints?
    More than happy to get her a break.

  4. #14
    8x10, 5x7, 4x5, et al Leigh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Maryland, USA
    Posts
    5,454

    Re: Loading film – best way to orient the holder?

    Quote Originally Posted by Vaughn View Post
    Place holder vertical, flap up
    Slide darkslide 1/4 to 1/3 open, lower flap.
    ...
    Insert film using fingers of both hands on the sides of the film - "walk" it down under the rails.
    Hi Vaughn,

    Question, if I may...

    How do you position the holder vertically,
    then pull the darkslide out (meaning it can't be in contact with the counter top),
    then use both hands to insert the film? It would seem to require three hands???

    - Leigh
    If you believe you can, or you believe you can't... you're right.

  5. #15
    Vaughn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Humboldt County, CA
    Posts
    9,211

    Re: Loading film – best way to orient the holder?

    In portrait position, flat on the counter, if that is more clear. (as per poll question -- otherwise "vertical with flap on bottom" - choice #1 -- would not be even possible)

    added -- I guess it would be possible if held above the counter vertically with the flap on the bottom. Sort of like scratching one's left ear with one's right hand.

  6. #16
    8x10, 5x7, 4x5, et al Leigh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Maryland, USA
    Posts
    5,454

    Re: Loading film – best way to orient the holder?

    Oh. OK. I thought vertical meant vertical, but it really means horizontal.

    That makes sense. Thanks.

    But vertical with flap on bottom makes no sense even horizontally,
    unless you push the film with your belly button, or your belt buckle, or...

    - Leigh
    If you believe you can, or you believe you can't... you're right.

  7. #17
    8x10, 5x7, 4x5, et al Leigh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Maryland, USA
    Posts
    5,454

    Re: Loading film – best way to orient the holder?

    Quote Originally Posted by Vaughn View Post
    Fingertips do not produce oils or nor have sweat glands -- no need for gloves.
    But your palms do produce sweat and oil.

    Handling the holders, film boxes, etc., can cause that to be transferred to the finger tips.

    I've found that gloves facilitate the mechanics of the loading process by providing a smooth
    gliding surface (cotton glove) and significant tack (nitrile gloves) when needed.

    Just one way of doing things.

    - Leigh
    If you believe you can, or you believe you can't... you're right.

  8. #18
    Vaughn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Humboldt County, CA
    Posts
    9,211

    Re: Loading film – best way to orient the holder?

    Leigh -- vertical and horizontal are pretty common uses for the the orientation of photographs (and used here for positioning the holders). "Portrait" and "Landscape" are relatively new terms.

    My palms never touch the film or holders. Anything fingers touch during the process are also touched by the gloves...no difference there -- but perhaps the gloves would be even more likely to pick up oils, etc since they are more absorptive. I prefer the tactile response of skin over gloves -- agreed, just one way of doing things.

  9. #19
    8x10, 5x7, 4x5, et al Leigh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Maryland, USA
    Posts
    5,454

    Re: Loading film – best way to orient the holder?

    Quote Originally Posted by Vaughn View Post
    Leigh -- vertical and horizontal are pretty common uses for the the orientation of photographs...
    True statement.

    And photographs usually hang on walls, where vertical is vertical.

    - Leigh
    If you believe you can, or you believe you can't... you're right.

  10. #20
    Vaughn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Humboldt County, CA
    Posts
    9,211

    Re: Loading film – best way to orient the holder?

    Quote Originally Posted by Leigh View Post
    True statement.

    And photographs usually hang on walls, where vertical is vertical.

    - Leigh
    Far more photographs are "horizontal" in print boxes and print files than on vertical walls. (at least judging by the boxes of prints I have under my boys' beds!)
    I don't know how to describe the orientation of images on a hard drive since they "look" like this:1001001010100010101010100010101010001...LOL!

Similar Threads

  1. 4x5 Film Loading. Handling film surfaces, and loading technique? Need your expertise.
    By l2oBiN in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 7-Dec-2010, 11:33
  2. Loading a Graflex roll film holder question
    By Rafael Garcia in forum Cameras & Camera Accessories
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 15-Nov-2008, 12:42
  3. film holder loading
    By Kreig McBride in forum Style & Technique
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 3-Nov-2000, 19:10
  4. "Sleeping bag" film holder loading
    By Roger Rouch in forum Location & Travel
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 10-May-2000, 17:12
  5. Tape for film holder loading flap
    By Daniel Wong in forum Cameras & Camera Accessories
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 4-Dec-1998, 02:31

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •