Can you help me identify the film?

Valerian · Feb 8, 2024

Hi! So, I came by some ultra ultra large (100x80cm) what turned out to be film while I was sure it was paper. I didn’t see the label (it was covered by tape) before I could unwrap it and see what’s inside. The label clearly says 3 things on what was left from the label. “Film-pelicula; Kodak; precision” There are at least 25 large sheets of that film and I just can’t wrap my head around where would you apply such large film. What is it for? Some ultra large scanning? Is it X-ray film? Doesn’t look like it.
I probably already spoiled it with the red light I was using thinking it was paper. I got it for 10 bucks from a guy on a flea market, but I’m still hopeful I’ll find some use for it. Really need this omniscient internet super mind of ours to understand what’s going on here

Don_ih · Feb 8, 2024

It's probably graphic arts film. Probably high contrast and orthochromatic - so not impacted by your safelight. You can cut a corner off a piece and drop it in some paper developer for a couple of minutes (under safelight) - if it develops and fixes clear, it should be fine.

There is a slight chance it's direct positive - in which case, it would develop completely opaque. If that happens, make a 4-5 second contact print of a 35mm negative onto a piece of it and develop that.

Valerian · Feb 8, 2024

Don_ih said:
It's probably graphic arts film. Probably high contrast and orthochromatic - so not impacted by your safelight. You can cut a corner off a piece and drop it in some paper developer for a couple of minutes (under safelight) - if it develops and fixes clear, it should be fine.

There is a slight chance it's direct positive - in which case, it would develop completely opaque. If that happens, make a 4-5 second contact print of a 35mm negative onto a piece of it and develop that.

That sounds like exactly what I would need for a project of mine. I will try what you said and will post the results. Thank you!

Don_ih · Feb 8, 2024

Cut some of the film from the top sheet in complete darkness, though. There is a chance it's panchromatic.

Dustin McAmera · Feb 8, 2024

These people had some Kodak Precision Line Film to sell (it's gone already):

Kodak precision line film 10x8” box of 100 sheets cat no 168 5023

Kodak precision line film 10x8 box of 100 sheets cat no 168 5023 new unopened out of

www.profilmdirect.co.uk

The rear label on that packet says safelight 1A, whatever one of those is.

Dustin McAmera · Feb 8, 2024

.. and if that's what it is, this article may be of some interest.

1983AASPB..34....6M Page 6

MarkS · Feb 8, 2024

LPD7 was a high-contrast, blue-sensitive graphic-arts film for making direct positive images. Very slow, its counterpart was the negative-working LPF7, two stops faster and still very slow. the "7" meant a 7-mil base, these films also came in 4-mil thickness as LPD4 and LPF4. There were no doubt, many, different "Precision Line" films.
Well into the 1990s, we used those films on the job to make title masks (friskets) for overhead projection of enlarged film images (among other uses). A practice made obsolete by PowerPoint...
It's most likely that your film (whatever it turns out to be) will be high-contrast and develop in ordinary paper developer.

Valerian · Feb 9, 2024

Don_ih said:
Cut some of the film from the top sheet in complete darkness, though. There is a chance it's panchromatic.

Dustin McAmera said:
These people had some Kodak Precision Line Film to sell (it's gone already):

Kodak precision line film 10x8” box of 100 sheets cat no 168 5023

Kodak precision line film 10x8 box of 100 sheets cat no 168 5023 new unopened out of

www.profilmdirect.co.uk

The rear label on that packet says safelight 1A, whatever one of those is.

MarkS said:
LPD7 was a high-contrast, blue-sensitive graphic-arts film for making direct positive images. Very slow, its counterpart was the negative-working LPF7, two stops faster and still very slow. the "7" meant a 7-mil base, these films also came in 4-mil thickness as LPD4 and LPF4. There were no doubt, many, different "Precision Line" films.
Well into the 1990s, we used those films on the job to make title masks (friskets) for overhead projection of enlarged film images (among other uses). A practice made obsolete by PowerPoint...
It's most likely that your film (whatever it turns out to be) will be high-contrast and develop in ordinary paper developer.

Thanks everyone for your help!
The film is defiantly negative and it is most certainly developed in a bw paper developer. It is also not affected by red safelight. I guess we have no way of knowing which one out of those you mentioned it is, but it’s one of them all right.
The result is quite satisfying. And I can see multiple ways of using the film in my following exhibition. Thank you guys!
Ps
Sorry for the pink in the photos, it’s the tv in the apartment I’m renting that is impossible to set up right.

Don_ih · Feb 9, 2024

Looks like you got a good deal. Sometimes, you can get lucky.

Dead of Winter · Jul 2, 2025

Just found this thread after seeing some of this film (or similar) for sale. I love the results. What ISO did you shoot at?

Can you help me identify the film?

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