drying negatives

When drying negatives do you cut them up into small parts (e.g.6 frames) or do

you hang the entire roll?

Entire roll. Can't see any reason whatsoever to cut them before drying. Just means more

pieces of wet film to handle, and thus more chances to ruin something with fingerprints or

dust.

That's all I needed to know. cheers :)

Daniel, are you seriously considering cutting wet film? I can't think of a better way to make a mess. Besides, how would you hang them to dry without ruining the image on some of your negatives? Use a clip on one end, and another at the bottom as a weight to keep the film from curling up. Without the leader and trailer, the clips would be encroaching onto the image area of your film. Cut the film AFTER it has dried.

Frank:

That's why I was asking. I was wondering how the hell would I dry the negatives without damaging the images if I cut them up. I just wanted to make sure :).

It only means less expenses for me - instead of 12 clips I only need 2 :).

Clothespins, or clothes pegs for the Brits. You know the kind. Made of wood. Have a spring loaded hinge in the middle. They work just as well as the camera store variety. Run a piece of string from one one end the room to the other. Clothespins cost what, $2 for 50? Been using them for years. No problems. Now someone will come along and say something about how the wood is porous and can contaminate your film by depositing carried over residue on it. Oh my God! You mean the negatives I made 40 years ago (and are still in good shape thank you) have been contaminated by a dirty clothespin and are in danger of self destructing any second now? Whatever shall I d to correct this?

Thanks for the tip Frank :)

Hang the whole roll, and when dry cut into strips to suit your sleave pages: 5 frames to the strip are the most common.

 

There are pegs purpose-built for film strip drying: they come in pairs and one has some extra weight in it, to hang on the bottom. I used clothes pins too, but if you're in a shop buying chemicals I'd get the real thing.

I hang the negatives with the paper clips on either side in the notches, guaranteed not to damage the film

do you guys have any tips for dust or cabinets? i know bathroom is good after you run the shower but we dont have one of those at my school darkroom...

I hang up my film using bulldog clips (metal stationery spring loaded clips) from top and bottom - usually from my shower rail, but anywhere out of a draught will do.

 

Charlie

dear daniel,

IF you've got a dedicated darkroom, consider setting up a system for hanging film held by

regulation filmclips: a nylon string stretched up high between screwed-in metal hooks or

eyes works well, or substitute braided stainless steel picture wire. Also, finish nails driven

into fronts or sides of shelves; also metal rods in rack coming out from a wall which can

be folded back out of way when not in use.

 

HOWEVER, because of the nature of your question i'm wondering if the best thing you

could do for yourself is to go to someone experienced who has a darkroom and ask if you

can accompany him and watch. YOU won't take it all in the first time, but you'll be so far

ahead of yourself if you had just learned what you know from books.

 

YOU may find he /she does what seems to you some strange things, but ask why and

make some mental notes. MOST darkroom workers are a little quirkey in what thy say/do

but hang on for all the classic ideas and proceedures they follow. REpeat the process a

few times, too.

 

MOST darkroom workers have learned it thru reading, observing, and making many

mistakes, then reading and chatting some more ? at least in the beginning ? so feel no

embarrassment.

 

GOOD luck; i hope you enjoy it. REMEMBER that wet process photography is to digital

photog as fly fishing is to worm fishing; OR hiking is to sportscar driving OR building

furniture versus shopping for it. EACH is its own sport with its own satisfactions.

 

phil temple

pepperell, massachusetts