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Beyond the rubber band system..


rob_barker

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Most of us are familiar with the convention for using darkslides which dictates that unexposed film is indicated by putting the white side of the slide outermost, while exposed film is indicated by having the black side of the slide outermost. Most holders also give us little pimples on the white side, to help in the darkroom.

 

Some of us go further than this as the slide convention doesn't tell

you if the holder itself contains film or is empty. That's where the

rubber bands come in.

 

A rubber band stretched round longways can be used to indicate a full

holder - it also prevents the slide slipping out by mistake if the

little catch flips round. When the holder is left empty, the rubber

band is stretched round the holder widthways. Simple!

 

The only problem is that the rubber band doesn't tell you what sort

of film is in the holder..

 

That's where coloured rubber bands come in!

 

I now have a little colour code which I use as follows:

 

White rubber band = Velvia

Blue rubber band = Provia

Yellow rubber band = Astia

Green rubber band = FP4

Red rubber band = Velvia 100F

 

which accounts for 99% of the film that I use.

 

This system is clearly so ingenious it just had to be shared!

 

Happy twanging..

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I have yet to find a better system for me than the "Baggie System." I use ziplock bags to hold different types of film in my pack. Each is clearly marked in black magic marker on the outside of the bag. I keep post-it notes handy to write processing notes to myself for a film holder, if the shot needs different than "normal" developing.

 

When I get back, I put them into similar bags until processing time. The baggies help to keep dust, dirt and humidity out of the film when in the field and at home. This climate is brutal, with a fine dust patina settling on everything unless things are wrapped up. tucson, az.

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If you keep your holders in baggies the easiest way I've found to indicate whether the holder is empty or is loaded with unexposed film (the black side of the dark slide tells you if it's loaded with exposed film) is to place the holders in the bag with the top of the holder facing up if the holder has no film and facing down if it contains unexposed film (or vice versa, whichever you like). I use only one type of film for 90% of my photographs so on the rare occasions when I load something different I just write the film type in pencil on the holder and rub it off when I'm done. Rob's rubber band idea is ingenious and I'd be tempted to try it if I used as many different films as he does.
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A lot of fine ideas presented here. Let me tell how I do it. I write the type of film in pencil in the white area of the holder but only on one side. I place the holder, top end up, in a 6mil zip lock baggie. I always shoot the marked side first and turn the dark slide to the black side. After using the second side I place the holder, now with both black slides facing out, in the baggie. If there is any development changes to make, or if I want to note the details of exposure, location, etc, I use a small post-it and place it on the holder in the bag. When the holder is empty I return it to the baggie, but top down. Works fine for me.
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