Cutting negatives for scanning...what do you use?

museum

A
museum

  • 3
  • 1
  • 52
Old Willow

H
Old Willow

  • 0
  • 2
  • 81
SteelHead Falls

A
SteelHead Falls

  • 8
  • 0
  • 99
Navajo Nation

H
Navajo Nation

  • 3
  • 1
  • 63
Oranges

A
Oranges

  • 4
  • 0
  • 141

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
198,132
Messages
2,770,119
Members
99,565
Latest member
DerKarsten
Recent bookmarks
0

cayenne

Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2019
Messages
212
Location
New Orleans
Format
Hybrid
Hi all,
First, thank you everyone for such great advice and response on previous posts, I'm learning so much!!

Ok, I have been shooting 120 medium format...various formats. 6x6, 6x9, 6x12 and now even 6x17.

I'm having a lab do them now, but soon, plan to start trying to develop my own.

However, my question is, what do ya'll use to cut negatives out of the rolls you get so you can scan them?

I've been eyeballing it and just using a nice pair of scissors, but sometimes I cut too far one way or another...and wondering if there is a better way....?
A better tool?

Thank you in advance,

cayenne
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
52,410
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format

pentaxuser

Member
Joined
May 9, 2005
Messages
19,731
Location
Daventry, No
Format
35mm
Yes for 35mm film scissors can be a problem as the frame gaps are very small. I have a very similar device to the one at Amazon that Matt links to. It is a much older Rowi cutter designed primarily for 35mm slides. It has a battery and bulb that creates in effect a very small light table so you can see the edges in a 35mm film but my guillotine sometimes has difficulties with a clean cut especially if I cut through the sprocket holes. It may be that my blade is not as sharp as it should be but I am unsure how to be sure to make it sharper rather than make it less sharp.

New and at $35 you'd expect this not to be a problem. Mine only does 35mm but scissors are fine for any negs bigger I have found

If it isn't fitted with one of the newer LED bulbs then these are well worth getting as the light output way exceeds that of any incandescent bulb that is battery operated.

If you are into film processing for the long term then at $35 this may be a very worthwhile purchase

pentaxuser
 
Last edited:

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
52,410
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
If it isn't fitted with one of the newer LED bulbs then these are well worth getting as the light output way exceeds that of any incandescent bulb that is battery operated.
There is no illumination built into the item linked to - it depends on a separate backlight.
 

pentaxuser

Member
Joined
May 9, 2005
Messages
19,731
Location
Daventry, No
Format
35mm
There is no illumination built into the item linked to - it depends on a separate backlight.
Thanks Matt I had wrongly read "illumination through light panel as meaning a light under the panel That's a pity there is no interior light

pentaxuser
 

dkonigs

Subscriber
Joined
Sep 17, 2009
Messages
358
Location
Mountain View, CA
Format
Multi Format
These are somewhat expensive, and the thumbwheel advance will only work for a while, but they work really, really, really well:
https://www.amazon.com/Matin-Multiple-Slide-Cutter-Format/dp/B00DMR8OII

I've heard rambles that they can cause scratches, so the one I bought is still sitting in its package. Then again, I think I've heard that about nearly every option we can stumble across. Its sad, because I really want one of these that's good, doesn't look like a piece of junk, and doesn't have anyone complaining of scratches while using it.

Unlike 35mm, its easy to cut 120 safely between the frames. However, I still struggle to make the cut absolutely straight and perpendicular (which makes loading into scanner holders more annoying).
 

Ariston

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2019
Messages
1,658
Location
Atlanta
Format
Multi Format
I have never had to use anything but cheap office scissors. For 35mm or MF.

Large format is a different story!
 

Pieter12

Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2017
Messages
7,556
Location
Magrathean's computer
Format
Super8
For 120, a good pair of scissors (I use 5" embroidery scissors), working over a lightbox, works just fine. And the lightbox doesn't have to be anything fancy.
61IFys0GmyL._AC_SX679_.jpg
 

grahamp

Subscriber
Joined
Mar 2, 2004
Messages
1,696
Location
Vallejo (SF Bay Area)
Format
Multi Format
I cut my negatives from the hanging strip. I hang with the first frame down, so they cut in order (one less complexity in life...). I find if I have a light background I can see the frame gap well enough to use good sharp scissors (5"+ blades as I find it easier to line up longer blades and make one cut) for 120, and the odd 35mm I still use. I don't cut my 4x10 from 8x10 sheets - easier to file and double index the whole sheet.

Practice helps. After a while I just didn't think about it.
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
52,410
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
I've heard rambles that they can cause scratches, so the one I bought is still sitting in its package.
Scratch free for me, after years of use.
They are particularly good for me, because my right hand lacks the dexterity to either hold the film safely. or accurately use scissors, but is still sufficiently controlled to use the guillotine cutter.
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
52,410
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
Joined
Aug 29, 2017
Messages
9,321
Location
New Jersey formerly NYC
Format
Multi Format
Hi all,
First, thank you everyone for such great advice and response on previous posts, I'm learning so much!!

Ok, I have been shooting 120 medium format...various formats. 6x6, 6x9, 6x12 and now even 6x17.

I'm having a lab do them now, but soon, plan to start trying to develop my own.

However, my question is, what do ya'll use to cut negatives out of the rolls you get so you can scan them?

I've been eyeballing it and just using a nice pair of scissors, but sometimes I cut too far one way or another...and wondering if there is a better way....?
A better tool?

Thank you in advance,

cayenne
I have my lab cut them 3-3-2-2 for the ten 6x7 shots. They insert them in a plastic sheet that way to protect them. It also keeps them flat. Do not have them ship the whole roll to you rolled up because it will be difficult to scan as they will be curled up. The 3-3-2-2 works well for me because my Epson V600 scanner can handle up to 3 shots at a time. You didn't mention what scanner you had so the cut quantity might vary depending on how your scanner operates.
 

RLangham

Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2020
Messages
1,018
Location
USA
Format
Multi Format
For 120, a good pair of scissors (I use 5" embroidery scissors), working over a lightbox, works just fine. And the lightbox doesn't have to be anything fancy.
61IFys0GmyL._AC_SX679_.jpg
Exactly the scissors I use. Never a problem unless I'm being careless. I've even done slides with them judging by eye.
 

jim10219

Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2017
Messages
1,632
Location
Oklahoma
Format
4x5 Format
Fabric shears. Only I use the bigger ones, so I can cut it all the way through in one cut. They tend to cut better than ordinary scissors or kitchen shears. Tough, don't use the same ones that you cut fabric with. It'll dull them. It's easy. It doesn't require special tools. It works without scratching. I can't imagine doing it any other way unless you cut thousands a day for a living. Then, you might need specialized equipment.
 
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom