Do You Scissor Or Splice Your Neg's, and ....

DF · Jul 20, 2021

I'm looking to getting a splicer for our community darkroom because my ability to get the scissors right in between the frames is diminishing. I didn't realize they were as costly - used, not to mention new. Is there a one-size-fits-all or must one (myself) get a 35mm or medium/large format ?

AgX · Jul 20, 2021

I am puzzled. A pair of scissors is to divide things, a splicer is to connect things.

A filmstrip may be cut by a device used to cut off frames to make slides. Here there are models where one can move the filmstrip by a sprocket or friction wheel.

MattKing · Jul 20, 2021

I expect the OP means a slicer/cutter.
I use one of these:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/323831111499

AgX · Jul 20, 2021

Thank you Matt, such I was referring to.

A splicer in photography is a device to connect filmstrips to each other for continuous roller transport processing. Yes, expensive...

MattKing · Jul 20, 2021

Of course, there are/were film splicers that had a cutter built in, so perhaps the OP was thinking of re-purposing one of those.

AgX · Jul 20, 2021

I thought so too. A splicer cuts off the leader and cassette first, before connecting the strips. But for amateur use it would be overkill and I would not know how to use it just for slicing.

Maybe the OP refers to a basically very simple device of 35mm cine-splicer, which cuts and connects strips.
Problem here may be the non-standard frame-stand of exposed film in still photography, which just would be hampering what he actually is trying to achieve.

Andrew O'Neill · Jul 20, 2021

Scissors.

Nicholas Lindan · Jul 20, 2021

1) A small guillotine paper trimmer.

2) A Polaroid slide mounter. I have the earlier non-illuminated type and just use it on the light table. $10-20 on the usual web site.

3) Sometimes I cut right through the middle of the negative - sometimes things are improved that way.

bdial · Jul 20, 2021

I use a scrap booking paper trimmer over my light box. It works well it's easy to line up whatever gap you have between frames on the cutter path, 10 or 15 USD from chain art store.

John Bragg · Jul 20, 2021

I went back to scissors after using a Kaiser cutter and experiencing tramline scratches.

winger · Jul 20, 2021

I use a small pair of scissors. Including the handles, they're about 4" long. The working part of the blade is about 2" or less. The bigger the scissors, the tougher it is to be accurate.

foc · Jul 21, 2021

winger said:
I use a small pair of scissors. Including the handles, they're about 4" long. The working part of the blade is about 2" or less. The bigger the scissors, the tougher it is to be accurate.

Yes the longer the scissors the less accurate you can be. A new sharp short scissors used only for neg cutting is, IMO, the best solution. Trimmers and cutters, unless professional-grade, will only cause scratches and bad cut marks.

I also think the way you grip the negatives is important. Hold the negatives, by the edge, between your thumb and fore finger.
Like this.

NOT like this

fdonadio · Jul 21, 2021

MattKing said:
I use one of these:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/323831111499

I can also recommend this. I have been using one and it works great.

Kino · Jul 21, 2021

fdonadio said:
I can also recommend this. I have been using one and it works great.

I agree.

The OP was probably referencing a 35mm guillotine splicer, like the famous one designed by the Italian Film Editor, Leo Catozzo.

Https://www.cir-srl.com/splicers/splicer-for-archive-video-transfert/

Wonderful machine (we use many of them at work), but definitely overkill unless you can find one used and cheap (unlikely now days).

bernard_L · Jul 21, 2021

I use scissors. Locate your eye in the cutting plane of the scissors, the plane where the two lades meet, and visualize where that intersects the film. If and when the cut is properly started, the edge of the partly-cut film can used to guide the scissor blade to continue along the same line. Works for me.

Don_ih · Jul 21, 2021

I cut the film using whatever scissors are handy, while the film is still hanging (after it's dry).

Donald Qualls · Jul 21, 2021

I bought one of the small, hand-operated 35mm cine splicers, specifically to use in putting leaders on unexposed rolls for my RB67 pano use -- and haven't ever used it. As noted, for cutting processed negatives, the fixed distance from perf to cut is a problem for still camera negatives, since still cameras don't have a fixed perf location relative to the frame gate. Not to mention some of my cameras don't have perfect spacing anyway (both of my 35mm folders and at least one of my Kiev 4).

AgX · Jul 21, 2021

Don Heisz said:
I cut the film using whatever scissors are handy, while the film is still hanging (after it's dry).

I do so too.

BUT the OP stated that he is loosing the ability to hold the scissors right. Thus we should come up with some mechanical aid.

If a respective slides-cutter, as hinted at above, turns out to be scratching the strip, one could modify some miniature guillotine cutter to lead the strip on guides just at the edges. As the film strip is lightly warped, this might not even be necessary.

Donald Qualls · Jul 21, 2021

The device linked above is probably the right tool, but it shouldn't be difficult to 3D print something that does the same job. I won't get around to designing one in the near future, though, too much on that plate already.

removed account4 · Jul 21, 2021

I use small chrome scissors ( not sure of the brand )
I lifted/ 5 finger discount from my mom's sewing basket in 1980
I hate cutting film ...

gone · Jul 21, 2021

I cut it w/ scissors too after taking it down from drying. Then the negs go right into the print file w/ the date, type of film, what camera, development, etc. For me. it helps to have good lighting when you cut the negs w/ scissors. I would imagine that one could set up a little jig w/ a box cutter to cut it as well, but I just use the scissors and eyeball it.

MattKing · Jul 21, 2021

It really helps to have a backlight for the film!

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