The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Why would you put it there? The dark slide orientation is the only thing that changes when a sheet is exposed. Marking the holder itself would tell nothing about exposure status. Unless you're suggesting carrying a roll of tape and putting a piece on the holder each time a sheet is exposed, which isn't something I'd even consider.
Since I shoot different films, I mark what film is in each holder. I use these little removable circular "dot" stickums. See link. They're color-coded to the film type. I also write the film type on the "dot" It makes it easier when I pull out a holder to get the right film. Also, when I get home, it helps me separate the holders and film for processing since I shoot bw and color of different film types. So I;,m wondering if the dot would cause focus issues if it's placed there. (The picture says painters' tape, but it's actually these dots.)
https://www.amazon.com/Removable-Col...15&sr=8-4&th=1
Flickr Home Page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanklein2000/albums
I doubt something that thin causes any focus issues by the time you’re at F22 or smaller, or that it creates any light leak possibilities.
However, there’s other ways of doing what you’re doing. For example I use sleeves — sold on the auction site, they’re reversible, red or black, so I’ll use that to differentiate eg b&w vs E6. When I need more than two types I simply use painters tape on the outside of the sleeve and write down the film. If its use changes in the future I simply peel it off and write a new one.
I think it’s a good idea to use sleeves of some sort to avoid dust and alike, so at that point, I think it’s better to mark the sleeve with the film type than the holder. That said you’re probably fine, if you’re really worried just take two identical shots with and without a dot and see if you tell a difference. I bet you can’t, unless you bump into the camera between shots
There are so many chances for tolerances in camera backs, holders and film flatness to accumulate in the wrong direction that I wouldn't put them there. The link you provided indicates those dots are 1/2-inch diameter. Even of it required trimming a bit off them, I'd instead place them on the edge of the holder, i.e. the short surface, as shown. In the worst case, if the dot edge is down (assuming a horizontal image), vertical alignment of the image area with the ground glass might be shifted the thickness of the dot. Not significant.
I am amazed at all the sheet film left in the many film holders I bought when they were too cheap
I stopped processing them when I found most were never shot
Especially Color Film
Now I just Bin the film
OR use it to check Fixer Speed
Tin Can
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