removing sheets from holders

I every now and then have the problem that a 4x5 sheet will not come

out of the holder and I can't get a grip on it unless using some

force. It seems that even though I use the lowered bottem section to

get a grip, the sheets wont lift to be extracted.

Recently I even left some clear finger marks on the edge of the

sheet, that show after processing, before I got it out.

 

Anyone ever have the same problem and how do I solve it?

Sheet film holders are a pain in the ass. I swear that they can do things to film that appear to be physically impossible. Yeah, now and then a sheet gets jammed in a holder for no apparent reason. You stand there in the dark saying curse words. When a sheet jams I set the hoder aside and examine it for problems and never find any. I suppose it's possible that you (we) load them incorrectly but I don't know. I have no advice, I thought you'd feel better knowing other people have problems too. - - Don't get me started on dust............

I have found that when unloading sheets, a quick blow of air with pursed lips

will raise it from the base plate enough and you can grab it with your finger.

Always worked for me...

Take a wasted sheet [all LF users have wasted sheets], cut a strip 2" wide across the bottom of a 4x5 sheet, round one end carefully leavintg no sharp point, then use that end to scoop under the sheet in the holder to get a grip. Got that from an old photographer who, like me, had short-cut fingernails.

Yes, sheet film sometimes seems to develop the dreaded static cling syndrome, trying desparately to stay in the warmth and security of the holder. If a fingernail won't fit under the film in the little depression in the holder, Scott's Puff-the-Magic-Drag-out technique always works for me. Just remember to swallow first. ;-)

Yep this is a problem. Normally when this happens, I wet my forefinger and press it to the stuck sheet. There's instant adherence between finger and film, and the sheet follows my finger right out of the holder.

 

Now does anybody have a technique for spotting finger print size areas areas?

 

Seriously:

 

1) Don't nails too short.

2) The idea of inserting a thin strip of film under the sheet in question had worked for me.

3) I'v noticed that the riteway holders are more difficult to work with (tighter tolerances?) than the fidelity ones I've used.

 

RJ

Reinier,

<p>

I think everyone has had the problem you're now experiencing and it isn't much fun

trying to dislodge the film from the holder in the dark.

<p>

An old retired photog once told me that the best way to remove the film under this

circumstance is to "lightly" run your fingernail along the edge of the film looking for

the film type groove indicators. "Usually" your nail will catch the edge and allow room

to bend the film just enough to grasp. I've been using this technique for quite some

time and it's always worked for me.

<p>

Alternatively... if you run into this problem and can't get it dislodged the first time,

set it aside and come back to it when you've cooled down a bit. It'll save having to

deal with scratch and finger marks down the road after processing.

<p>

Hope this helps.

Learn to finger-pick on the guitar... That way you have an incentive to keep the finger nails on one hand nice and long (the right hand if you are right handed, the left if you are sinister)...

 

Cheers,

After the first try at loading and unloading film I realized two

things:

1_ Use the rounded corner or the dark slide to help you raise the

film enough for your fingers to fit, especially behind.

2_ With the Fidelity holders (and every brand) make sure that the

film goes on the proper slot. Sometimes when I load I feel the

the darslide gets tight as I slide it shut, and realize that one or

both edges of the film went into the darkslide slot, not the film

one.

So far, I've used the finger nail technique getting a hook under one of the film notches. Works, and I keep my nails short. Using the darkslide or a strip of film? Good suggestions and probably more reliable than my short nails.

I've loaded and unloaded dozens of film holders of various brands and vintages and have never had this problem. I suspect you might have an older style holder with a less obvious finger relief depression to get under the film. The latest Fidelity and Lisco holders all have a circular well that easily allows you to get your nail behind the film. Blowing on the film may inadvertently get saliva droplets on the emulsion. Maybe you could tap the closed holder back and forth to loosen it up? One thing I've come to the conclusion of when working in the dark with film holders is that the more relaxed and least distracted you are, the easier things go. Don't worry, be happy!

Sometimes it helps just turning the holder upside down, so that you unload the film on the lower side first. It find it difficult to get my head into the changing bag to blow on the edge of the film ;)

Thanks for all the good advice and the knowledge I'm not alone out there ;-)

 

Instead of blowing myself I could use a container compressed air, might do the trick as well.

 

At least I have enough tips when the next b*terd comes along.

 

BTW I hardle ever have any dust on my negs. I useally first clean the holder and have the slide almost full in when I insert the neg. So dust hardly has a chance...

I had to use the point of my pocket knife at times, very dangerous for the film. I've finally settled on trimming my index finger nail into a rounded point which is kept about 2mm long. This has never failed me and is always handy. Just slide the nail under the film edge, press the thumb against the pad of the finger which creates a clamp of nail & skin against the film and lift the edge out. Works every time.

 

Caution, when trimming the nail against a saw blade, make sure to trim the nail and not the finger. From a (retired) middle aged cabinetmaker who can still count to 9.95 by ones. tim |-)