Cutting negatives.....

CMoore · Jul 22, 2019

Was there ever a preferred "Method" or a special pair of scissors made.?
I am about to peruse Amazon for a smaller pair of scissors. What i have been using is too big.
So..... what do you Guys/Gals use to cut negatives from a roll of 36 (or whatever) so you can slide them into a Print File holder, or whatever it is you use.?
Thank You

MattKing · Jul 22, 2019

The Matins cutter I've referred to elsewhere: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DMR8OII/ref=ox_sc_mini_detail?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A11ONN57JFWEZB
The wheel doesn't work any more on mine, but it truly doesn't matter.
Some sort of backlighting really helps.

Andrew Kleinfeld · Jul 22, 2019

I use a slide cutter. The light and precision cutter enable me to cut between the frames instead of (not infrequently) ruining one (especially if the negative are thin).

RalphLambrecht · Jul 22, 2019

CMoore said:
Was there ever a preferred "Method" or a special pair of scissors made.?
I am about to peruse Amazon for a smaller pair of scissors. What i have been using is too big.
So..... what do you Guys/Gals use to cut negatives from a roll of 36 (or whatever) so you can slide them into a Print File holder, or whatever it is you use.?
Thank You

large scissors!

CMoore · Jul 22, 2019

RalphLambrecht said:
large scissors!

Are you just making fun of me, or do you really use normal size scissors.?
I see two members have mentioned the slide cutter, i never would have thought about that.

I realize this might sound like a stupid question, most people probably just use whatever scissor is available.
But i know some of you guys have done this Professionally/For A Long Time, so i thought there might have been (at one time) some kind of "Special" scissor made for neg cutting.
Thanks Again

AgX · Jul 22, 2019

I use a common pair of scissors.

I also have a variety of slide-cutters, even illuminated, for precision cuts. The have a guillotine- or roller-knive.
But I never used them for cutting negatives.

cooltouch · Jul 22, 2019

I have a small pair of scissors I always uset. The blades are about 3" long. Also, one thing I do to make it easier to sliide the negatives into the sleeves is I cut the corners off each strip. Maybe just about 1/8" or less, I cut the pieces off at a 45 deg. angle, just enough to remove the sharp corners. They slide into the sleeves much easier when the sharp corners have been removed.

benjiboy · Jul 22, 2019

I have tried all sorts of cutters over the years Chip, but I use a pair of narrow-bladed hairdressers scissors and hold the negatives over a lightbox as I cut them.

AgX · Jul 22, 2019

"common pair of scissors"

Actually there are two types: those who have branches hollow-bent against each other (yielding tension between them) and those who have straight branches. For greater precision I would choose the straight version.

removed account4 · Jul 22, 2019

I use chrome sheers 5-finger-discounted from my mom's sewing basket. Very few things I dislike more than cutting negatives; I'd rather eat 40 hard boiled eggs, and dig ditches on a hot day in a chain gang.

Any big scissors will do unless they are dull.

etn · Jul 22, 2019

CMoore said:
Are you just making fun of me, or do you really use normal size scissors.?

I realize this might sound like a stupid question

I don't think he's making fun of you. I use large scissors too (together with a light table and cotton gloves!)

About the second point: I had a prof at university who said, "no question is stupid as long as it is asked." So don't worry

Kino · Jul 22, 2019

Both Hasselblad and Leitz made film cutting scissors, if you want to pay outrageous amounts of money for a pair of scissors with a small platform attached to the lower blade.

Rick A · Jul 22, 2019

I used to use cutters similar to this: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/318704-REG/Kaiser_202115_2115_AC_Illuminated_35mm.html

Richard Searle · Jul 22, 2019

I use children's craft scissors which have rounded points. Handy for using in a darkroom bag, as well. Less blood on the film.

tezzasmall · Jul 22, 2019

I've used various ordinary pairs of SHARP scissors over the years for the majority of my films. Sometimes I do cut a little wonky and wish that I'd used the following, already mentioned link - the item of which I do have (some where in the darkroom!) It always enables you to cut straight and with precision, especially when put over a light source. If one looks about it is available for a lot cheaper than Matt's link.

MattKing said:
The Matins cutter I've referred to elsewhere: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DMR8OII/ref=ox_sc_mini_detail?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A11ONN57JFWEZB Some sort of backlighting really helps.

And as for Hasselblad's scissors. Well, what can one say apart from that they are ridiculously expensive. And is anyone willing to own up to buying and owning a pair? I'd really like to know if they are worth the money required to buy them...honestly!

Oh, and if the above scissors are of interest to you, there is a much cheaper set available as well, although the box is a bit more tatty. I'm sure the scissors cut as good as the rest though.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hasselblad...74853&pg=2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100623.m-1

Terry S

AgX · Jul 22, 2019

Kino said:
Both Hasselblad and Leitz made film cutting scissors, if you want to pay outrageous amounts of money for a pair of scissors with a small platform attached to the lower blade.

Any tinkerer could make similar oneself for some cents.
Just when this thread started, without knowing these readymade scissors, I considered making such.

MNM · Jul 22, 2019

I've been using plain 'ol scissors. Usually hairdresser's type for cutting developed film and the blunt ended children's scissors inside the dark bag. I'm scanning everything first so I just use the monitor for lighting instead of a lightbox.

Occasionally, I'll miss and lose a fraction of a millimeter of negative but 99% are good.

I'm certainly no veteran or expert though - ymmv.

ic-racer · Jul 22, 2019

I always used stainless steel scissors.

Saganich · Jul 22, 2019

I found surgical scissors are fine for 35mm, although the loops are tight, but I can place negative in holder with them still on my fingers. The Matins slide film cutter in the first post looks intriguing...I am a sucker for gadgets.

jim10219 · Jul 22, 2019

Fiskars fabric scissors. The ones with the orange handles. They're great for just about everything, and they stay sharp for a long time. What I do, is I place the film over a light (or something bright that allows me to see the borders) place the bottom blade of the scissors on the film and line it up along the border I whish to cut. I then note where along the register holes (for 135 film) and make sure they agree, both top and bottom. Then I hold the film from the top (far side away from the bottom where I enter the cut) and squeeze down on the scissors. It's easy. It's quick. It's accurate. And I never mess anything up. Plus, the scissors are easy to store and don't cost too much.

I don't use the Fiskars for fabric. I use Ginghers for that. My wife is convinced they're better than Fiskars, so that's what we use. All I know is the Ginghers cost more, and I need permission to use them, even on fabric. The Fiskars work better than the other common scissors we have in the house, and I don't need permission to use them. But I try not to clip other things with them. A good way to dull scissors is to use one pair for everything.

Helios 1984 · Jul 22, 2019

Richard Searle said:
I use children's craft scissors which have rounded points. Handy for using in a darkroom bag, as well. Less blood on the film.

I, too, use children scissors for when I use my light tight bag. To cut the negatives, I pick my big tailor scissors.

David Brown · Jul 22, 2019

Richard Searle said:
I use children's craft scissors which have rounded points.

When I teach beginner darkroom, this is what we have. The first roll of film ever developed by the students and none of them seem to have a problem using small scissors.

MattKing · Jul 22, 2019

The Matin cutter is good for me because I can operate it with my right hand, whereas that hand lacks the dexterity to use scissors.

removed account4 · Jul 22, 2019

i don't know if this is true or not but i spoken with people who cut things with scissors for a living and they say if you have a pair of fabric scissors don't cut anything but fabric with them, if you have a pair of scissors you cut paper with don't cut anything but paper with them. i have no clue why they say that, other than to maybe boost sales of scissors, but their scissors are always good and sharp and long and mean business. i've also been told never to drink anything but wine out of wine glasses or beer out of beer glasses &c i think it might just be that i am gullible as hell and pretty much belive what sounds plausible to be true like "hmm sure that makes sense" ( for years I believed in the ellusive jackalope, and when I was in boy scouts always searched for left handed smoke shifters and snipes )
so OP if you buy scissors, any kind, to cut your film with ( fancy, not so fancy, expensive, preschool, craft or magical ) don't cut anything but your film with them !

Luckless · Jul 22, 2019

I've been using a pair of bog standard simple office scissors to divide up rolls of negatives, but I'm rather tempted to buy a dedicated negative cutter. - I'm not always as even as I would like, or all that well aligned for that matter. Seems like a negative cutter with a fixed right angle setup would make that harder to mess up.

I've sadly misplaced the pair of rounded tip scissors I had from my school days, which were great for using in a changing bag. Had those since the early 90s, so I hope they turn up in a box somewhere.

jnantz said:
i don't know if this is true or not but i spoken with people who cut things with scissors for a living and they say if you have a pair of fabric scissors don't cut anything but fabric with them, if you have a pair of scissors you cut paper with don't cut anything but paper with them. i have no clue why they say that, other than to maybe boost sales of scissors, but their scissors are always good and sharp and long and mean business. i've also been told never to drink anything but wine out of wine glasses or beer out of beer glasses &c i think it might just be that i am gullible as hell and pretty much belive what sounds plausible to be true like "hmm sure that makes sense" ( for years I believed in the ellusive jackalope, and when I was in boy scouts always searched for left handed smoke shifters and snipes )
so OP if you buy scissors, any kind, to cut your film with ( fancy, not so fancy, expensive, preschool, craft or magical ) don't cut anything but your film with them !

Good scissors for specific tasks can have slightly different edges set to them. Fabric scissors have a fine sharp edge that clearly slices the threads of a fabric, while paper shears tend to have a slightly flatter profile to their edge - Papers can be full of small abrasive particles, depending on what trees the pulp was sourced from, and do a real number on the edge of a good pair of fabric scissors.

In short, cutting paper with expensive fabric scissors dulls them faster than needed. [And cutting fabrics with paper shears is a good way to leave an uneven edge, assuming they don't out right jam on you till you start cursing and toss them out a window or something...]

Cutting negatives.....

CMoore

MattKing

Moderator

Andrew Kleinfeld

RalphLambrecht

CMoore

AgX

cooltouch

benjiboy

AgX

removed account4

etn

Kino

Rick A

Richard Searle

tezzasmall

AgX

MNM

ic-racer

Saganich

jim10219

Helios 1984

David Brown

MattKing

Moderator

removed account4

Luckless

Cutting negatives.....

Moderator

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency