Newbie question: Which side of film is emulsion side?

[abiggs]

I feel like a complete idiot for asking this question. However, I will feel more like a complete idiot if I shoot 10 exposures and realize I have screwed them all up!

 

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I am new to large format, and have recently finished my first 20 shots with Fuji's Quickload system. Ok, feeling more comfortable. Now, I want to start loading my own film. I just purchased a box of FP4+ and 4 Lisco holders.

 

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Before I start loading the holders in my closet, which side is the emulsion on? In the dark, I stole a sheet from the box to look at in in the light. Wasted exposure aside, I noticed the notches in one corner of the film. One side looks brown, and the other grey. Someone said to lick my finger and see which side turns sticky. Well, both sides turn sticky.

 

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Please save me from myself......

[michael_briggs2]

When you hold the sheet with the notch code in the upper-right corner, the emulsion is facing you.

[robert_a._zeichner1]

With the sheet held vertically, the notch(s) at the top edge and to the

right, you are looking at the emulsion side. With the film held

horizontally, the notch(s) will be on the right side toward the bottom

when the emulsion faces you.

[abiggs]

Thanks for your comments. I figured public ridicule was far better

than going on location and shooting null film.

 

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Thanks

[jim_galli1]

.........like I did. On expensive chrome film too.

[jim6]

With the sheet held horizontally, the notch(s) will be on the left

side toward the top when the emulsion faces you. Not the bottom right

as mentioned above.

[erik_gould1]

"With the sheet held horizontally, the notch(s) will be on the

left side toward the top when the emulsion faces you.

Not the bottom right as mentioned above..."

Jim, you are both right of course. Depends on how you hold the film!

[john_henderson1]

I assumed that Jim was kidding.

[david_clark4]

Hi Andy, although most people on this site perfer loading their film

with emulsion coat towards the lens, I found out when I began loading

that it is possible to get an image even if you face the emulsion face

down in the holder. On one occasion I even formed an image through a

yellow post-it; although, that is another story. Don't let them bias

you on how to load the index notch, experiment. Have fun & good luck,

David

[jim6]

Yes, just kidding,but maybe a little in right brain mode too :),

I agree with David... Just make sure the emulsion is facing the

subject and have fun!

[www.graemehird.com]

I don't know if this will add to, or reduce the confusion, but here's

the way I think of it:

 

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When you're looking at the emulsion side, the corner nearest to the

notches will be in a clock wise direction from the notches.

 

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The orientation of the film (vertical, horizontal etc) then becomes

irrelevant. (In practice, my routine is to hold the film horizontally

with the notches lower on the right hand edge.)

[doug_paramore]

Andy: Quit worrying about "public ridicule" and enjoy this forum.

Everyone on the forum had to learn the ins and outs of LF, and as you

found out, some of the little things are not so obvious. Although we

do get a bit silly once in a while, everyone on the forum is willing

to help you get into LF. Unlike smaller format photography, you often

cannot go to the local film shop for answers. We LF shooters are

rather thin on the ground in many places. I have been shooting LF

since the 1960s, and I still learn stuff from this forum.

 

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Regards,

[erik_ryberg]

I had the hardest time figuring out why my negs were so underexposed

when I began LF. I was loading with the notch in the upper right

corner, just like the book said. But I assumed since most pictures

are taken horizontally, that's how you were supposed to orient the

film when you selected the right corner. I figured it was my

development technique and took a bunch of holders to my father for a

lesson. Boy did he get a good laugh at me when he started removing

the film in the darkroom. It turns out you can get an image with the

emulsion side loaded toward the holder, but you need to overexpose by

four or five stops or so.

[carl_crosby3]

REALLY, really late for this one, but: Orient your film holders vertically, grab the film, also vertical, by the right corner with your right hand, feeling the notches with your index finger. The emulsion is now facing you. Slide the film into the holder. Emulsion is on the proper side, and as long as you have the film notches under your right index finger, nothing can go wrong...can go wrong...can go wrong.....Waste a sheet of film in the light, and practice. It is easy! CC

[nicholas_f._jones]

Since the subject has come up, let me add a little refinement that I picked up from an earlier post. Instead of putting the notches in the upper right (on vertical orientation), which results in the notches being covered by the overlap of the holder, consider putting them at the lower left, where they will not be so covered. That way, if you forget what film you've loaded, it's easier to check: just retract the dark slide a little and pull back the flap. (Actually, I have to admit I don't do it this way myself, because I've put the notches in the upper right from the beginning and I'm afraid that if I change my style I'll start messing up).