Cutting negatives into strips.

MattKing · Aug 8, 2012

Thomas Bertilsson said:
Matt, that's a really good point that I did not consider. I actually want to apologize for overlooking the possibility of having a physical impediment to using the tools I am used to. Thanks for the reminder.

Thomas:

Absolutely no apologies are necessary.

And for those who recommend sharp scissors, I would add:

1) A light source below the negatives or slides will improve accuracy and repeatability; and
2) If you are like me, and are left handed, make sure the scissors are specifically designed for left handed users.

Poisson Du Jour · Aug 8, 2012

cliveh said:
Like others, I find this post amazing. Without meaning to be personal, perhaps you need reading glasses. This is not a question of kit or special cutting devices, just correct observation and a sharp pair of sissors.

The comment is unnecessary.
Many other considerations come into play. For example, people who lack fine motor control, who are not ambidextrous, who have little experience in placement and measure with unfamiliar tools... still those too, with visual impairment, Graves disease or trembling. None of these is or should be a consideration to forbid 'having a go' at something which can be a marvellous personal achievement in the face of adversity.

So...there is a lot we can all learn by sitting back and reading of individual methods of achieving things.

cliveh · Aug 8, 2012

None of these symptoms were mentioned in the original post.

tkamiya · Aug 8, 2012

To OP:

I find it easier and allows more accurate aim if I cut my strips over a light box. I also find it easier if I flip the negative up side down (emulsion side up) and cut. I observe where the center is relative to the sprocket holes and aim. Smaller scissors with thin and skinny blades are easier than big ones.

Poisson Du Jour · Aug 8, 2012

cliveh said:
None of these symptoms were mentioned in the original post.

We're not talking about symptoms, but different capacities of individuals. It matters. Not everybody can master cutting negs/trannies with precision. Likewise, sewing for many people is difficult and challenging. You learn something about yourself by making mistakes doing things like cutting negs/trannies. It galvanises you to do better. My first mistake many moons ago was using a pair of crosscut-jaw dressmaking scissors to cut my unmounted Kodachrome. Needless to say it was the worst hatchet job you could imagine. AND, I had better vision way back then than I do now.

cliveh · Aug 8, 2012

Well we learn by our mistakes.

cepwin · Aug 8, 2012

The Dr. T film cutter sounds like a plan...I use regular scissors and I'm always worried about messing it up..The gadget sounds a lot easier and less stressful.

Nige · Aug 8, 2012

Whenever I chop my negs (using scissors) I think of a paragraph posted years ago (maybe on photo.net before it was semi-graphical in nature.. maybe before photo.net even on greenspun.net or whatever it was...) on the subject (I made a copy but can't locate it) that managed to describe the tension and emotions of cutting negs in a paragraph of several lines. Wish I could find it as I think some here would appreciate it.

SkipA · Aug 9, 2012

Was it this one, Nige?

You have stumbled on one of life's great questions - how not to make mistakes. The obvious answer is to do nothing. But this is the biggest mistake of all, since you will end up having accomplished nothing. The best solution is to not shy from anything - but to learn to concentrate on what you are doing. This sounds obvious, but how often are you thinking of the next thing you need to do or of something you've already done while you do a simple task, and end up screwing up? I find that concentrating on whatever I'm about gets the job done quicker, easier, and more often correctly and even creatively than when my mind is divided. The trick is to learn to do it amidst all the distractions that beset us nowadays. So go ahead and attack your film with scissors. Just pay attention!

-- Keith Nichols, February 15, 2001.

Found it here: http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=004cTG

Nige · Aug 9, 2012

well done! my searching abilities obviously need work... however my memory isn't to bad!

Poisson Du Jour · Aug 9, 2012

I've bought a Dr. T film cutter from eBay a few minutes ago. Just want to see how much less of a chore it is to cut several trannies for use. He assures me it has a very sharp blade and is friction fed with no danger of scratching. Still need a cotton gloved hand on the left side to progressively pull through. I'll keep the Fiskars hands for trimming archival card / polypropylene masks.

SkipA · Aug 9, 2012

Nige said:
well done! my searching abilities obviously need work... however my memory isn't to bad!

My google-foo is mighty! Also, I'd come across it previously too, and your mention struck a chord.

tron_ · Aug 9, 2012

SkipA said:
Was it this one, Nige?

Found it here: http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=004cTG

I shed a single tear after reading that

I do think he makes a good point though. People tend to live in the future too often.

cowanw · Aug 9, 2012

I use scissors so that I can nip the corners off at a 45 degree angle. The film slides in the sleeves much easier that way. Large format gets snipped at all 4 corners as well.

MattKing · Aug 9, 2012

cowanw said:
I use scissors so that I can nip the corners off at a 45 degree angle. The film slides in the sleeves much easier that way. Large format gets snipped at all 4 corners as well.

Nail clippers are another good way to nip off the corners.

removed account4 · Aug 9, 2012

i hate cutting negatives ... 6x6, 6x9, 1/2 frame, 35mm
its a pain .. but i use old scissors stolen from my mothers sewing basket
and a newer pair of scissors i found a few years ago they just ended up in the darkrom.
i just hold the film to the light, and cut .. its not really rocket science .. and if i screw-up, oh well ..
thats a great reason for shooting sheet film, you don't have to cut the negatives, unless you are
shooting split frame ...

markbarendt · Aug 9, 2012

jnanian said:
i hate cutting negatives ... 6x6, 6x9, 1/2 frame, 35mm
its a pain .. but i use old scissors stolen from my mothers sewing basket
and a newer pair of scissors i found a few years ago they just ended up in the darkrom.
i just hold the film to the light, and cut .. its not really rocket science .. and if i screw-up, oh well ..
thats a great reason for shooting sheet film, you don't have to cut the negatives, unless you are
shooting split frame ...

Well that makes one easy thing bout sheet film.

Poisson Du Jour · Aug 9, 2012

My bran' neu Dr T film cutter is winging its way from the US of A to my lightbox. This should be interesting... Many other uses for my not-quite-redundant Fiskars... trimming my goatie and mo' with lethal accu--ouch!

Felinik · Aug 9, 2012

I leave the cutting to the missus, my hands are too big for that kind of stuff.

Cutting negatives into strips.

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Cutting negatives into strips.

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