35mm negative handling and storage

Joseph Bell · Jul 11, 2019

Hello! I hope I am posting this in the right place. I am looking for some advice RE the handling and storage of 35mm negatives. I always wear cotton gloves when handling the negatives, but I find it very difficult to put my negatives into my Print File archival sleeves without touching the emulsion side. When I hold the strip by the edges I can't seem to slide it into the sleeve. I assume it is bad practice to touch the actual image, even with cotton gloves, and I wonder if anyone has any tips or advice to share? Thank you most sincerely!

MattKing · Jul 11, 2019

Round the corners of each strip slightly using nail clippers. Make sure you don't leave a jagged, part sprocket hole.
Given that you are in Toronto, and it is July, this may be a hard suggestion to follow, but it is best to insert the strips when the humidity is moderate or low.
The non-emulsion side is quite robust, so try to make sure that any contact from your gloved fingers is on that side. The other side is fairly robust as well, so if there is incidental contact between your gloved fingers and the emulsion side, it probably doesn't matter.
Consider nitrile gloves, rather than cotton gloves, if you find the handling with cotton gloves to be too slippery.
FWIW, I don't use gloves at all, but I've been doing this since before Print File were known.
I do heartily recommend a negative cutter like this:https://www.ebay.com/itm/Film-Cutte...lm-Compact-lightweight-easy-use-/371113609074

Sirius Glass · Jul 11, 2019

I agree round the negative corners. I do not use gloves because I handle the negatives by the edges.

Ariston · Jul 11, 2019

I don't use gloves, either.

bdial · Jul 11, 2019

With 35mm you have a lot of room in the sprocket area to grip the film if necessary.

mooseontheloose · Jul 11, 2019

As suggested, nitrile gloves may be a better bet than cotton. I always wear a nitrile glove on my right hand, as that one handles the film the most, when loading into Printfile sleeves. As I cut the film into strips I also clip the corners (no need to be rounded) to make them slide into the sleeves easier. It's pretty hot and humid here in Japan too (more so than Toronto, having lived there before) but I don't notice that to be an issue.

Joseph Bell · Jul 11, 2019

MattKing said:
Round the corners of each strip slightly using nail clippers. Make sure you don't leave a jagged, part sprocket hole.
Given that you are in Toronto, and it is July, this may be a hard suggestion to follow, but it is best to insert the strips when the humidity is moderate or low.
The non-emulsion side is quite robust, so try to make sure that any contact from your gloved fingers is on that side. The other side is fairly robust as well, so if there is incidental contact between your gloved fingers and the emulsion side, it probably doesn't matter.
Consider nitrile gloves, rather than cotton gloves, if you find the handling with cotton gloves to be too slippery.
FWIW, I don't use gloves at all, but I've been doing this since before Print File were known.
I do heartily recommend a negative cutter like this:https://www.ebay.com/itm/Film-Cutte...lm-Compact-lightweight-easy-use-/371113609074

I love everything about your comments and I thank you most sincerely!

Joseph Bell · Jul 11, 2019

mooseontheloose said:
As suggested, nitrile gloves may be a better bet than cotton. I always wear a nitrile glove on my right hand, as that one handles the film the most, when loading into Printfile sleeves. As I cut the film into strips I also clip the corners (no need to be rounded) to make them slide into the sleeves easier. It's pretty hot and humid here in Japan too (more so than Toronto, having lived there before) but I don't notice that to be an issue.

Thank you! Clipping the corners is a great idea!

Joseph Bell · Jul 11, 2019

Sirius Glass said:
I agree round the negative corners. I do not use gloves because I handle the negatives by the edges.

Nice, thank you! I'll certainly try rounding the corners.

Agulliver · Jul 13, 2019

I don't personally clip corners but I can see how it might be useful. I tend to handle without gloves, by the edges. If I do occasionally touch an image, I clean by spraying IPA and swabbing gently with cotton. I have cotton gloves for editing 8mm film and I agree that they'd make handling 35mm or 120 negatives quite tricky. Nitrile will give better grip, but honestly fingers grip even better.

35mm negative handling and storage

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