No 100% bullet proof method.
I too use Toyo film holders and until recently a Harrison Film Tent (10x8).
After pulling back the darkslide I locate the end of the film rails with my finger and thumb of my left hand, so when I feed the film into the film holder with my right hand, I can feel that the film is going under my fingers and hence under the rails.
After initial problems with incorrect loading of my film holders, I've loaded many thousands of sheets using my finger on the rails method without further problems.
I practiced in the light at first using a sacrificial sheet of film, followed by doing it with your eyes closed and finally in the dark - just like I learned how to load 35mm on to film reels - YMMD.
BTW - I don't find it easier to load film in the darkroom than when using a changing bag - just different.
Good luck.
Martin
After inserting the film, and before inserting the dark slide, I lift the end of the end of the film and feel the resistance which causes it to snap back into place. If not under both rails, it will lift out.
I am gonna have to just pay a bit more attention to loading the film. I am attentive to it, but I guess it happens sometimes.
The suggestions about using a fingernail to make sure the film is actually under both rails at the open and of the film holder are all good.
But I'll also second Alan Klein's note in Post #16 that if there is any resistance when pushing in the dark slide back in, then the film is not seated correctly. That has been my observation as well. There have been a few times when I've done the fingernail check (or thought I did), then inserted the dark slide and encountered resistance, then gone back and do the fingernail check again and lo and behold, the film was not under the rail.
Bob
"Landscapes exist in the material world yet soar in the realms of the spirit..." Tsung Ping, 5th Century China
Apparently there is, since it has never happened to me. I keep my left hand fingers on the end of the rails so I can feel the film going under and prevent it from going over. If I have any doubt, I can lift up on the film with the right hand. If it isn't under both rails, I will know immediately.
Now if we were talking about Midos...that's a different ball of wax.
Bookmarks