Management for exposed film.

[12pmc]

Hello -

I am looking for a procedure, to list and or keep track of film on a long photo trip where I may expose 50 or 60 sheets of film and need to ID / match them to exposure notes etc when I return to the dark room. If suggestions would be appreciated.

Peter

[JeRuFo]

The first time I took a photo trip I put the negatives in between folded paper with a number on it, this works quite well if you have enough boxes, because the paper adds quite a bit of thickness.

I sometimes use numbered negative sleeves now. I was afraid of scratching at first, but I haven't seen any. Just practice a little bit so you can put them in in a clean motion in the dark.

[vinny]

aquire 30 holders and some tape. here's a before/after of how I do it. https://www.flickr.com/photos/62218065@N00/11759612694/

[Bruce Barlow]

Number your holders, using a Sharpie to put the number on the white part.

Then use small files to notch the fold-over part of the bottom. I use Roman numerals - 1s on one side, a 5-notch in the middle, and 10s opposite the 1s. The notches will show on the film edge of your proofs.

A notebook keeps notes by holder number, and if you use the same number multiple times, you'll still be able to figure out which is which. I suppose you could have separate empty film boxes for each run-through of numbers, but that's probably overkill

I have 30 4x5, 24 5x7, and 22 8x10 holders, all using this system. Works like a charm. All credit to Richard Ritter, who showed it to me.

[12pmc]

Thank you all very much. I will try the Roman numerals.

Cheers

[civich]

With pictures!

http://www.jbhphoto.com/articles/filmno/filmholder1.htm

[jbenedict]

Might I hazard the wrath of someone?

I've been thinking of taking a digital photograph of something I have shot on LF. Even the less expensive ones have a zoom lens so the composition can be duplicated. Depending on the digicam, it might be possible to make notes on each image.

[Brian C. Miller]

Lately I've been using my Fuji 645zi like jbenedict does. I photograph the scene with the LF camera, and then I photograph it with the 645zi, which has date stamping.

Another holder mnemonic is to tape a tiny bit of Scotch tape on the flap, with a number or something written on it. The Graphlex Grafmatic holder has a couple of cutouts just for this. Yes, it intrudes a bit into the image, but I don't mind the slight crop.

And if you don't want to use Roman numerals, there's always binary.

[Bruce Barlow]

And if you don't want to use Roman numerals, there's always binary.

Binary makes me think too much. Roman numerals are almost immediately understandable to my limited brain, especially if I'm matching them to a log page. Works for me, YMMV.

[jbenedict]

Am I correct in thinking that all 4x5 Grafmatics have an ID wheel that can show up on the short side of the negative? I had a 4x5 Grafmatic which did but have a 2x3 Grafmatic in front of me that does not.

(I always wondered why Grafmatic septums had that cut out. The 2x3 septums have them also.)