Embarrassed to ask...how do you hang 4x5 film to dry?

hoffy · Jul 5, 2015

OK, this feels like a bit of a 'duh' question, but what is the best way to hang your 4x5 film to dry?

I am processing with a Jobo drum and have been using pegs. The problem is there is not quite enough rebate to grab hold onto, so I am getting little marks right on the corner.

Cheers

Europan · Jul 5, 2015

No duh question but one of great importance. I was also sceptical and so wrapped my film in a damp soft leather to take away water.
Later I replaced the leather by two viscose sponge cloths, of course damp also, that I sandwich the film between. After that I use a hair dryer two feet away.

dasBlute · Jul 5, 2015

I use clothespins on a string, the mark on the corner will probably be covered by the negative carrier anyway (if you wet print), a minor crop.

hoffy · Jul 5, 2015

dasBlute said:
I use clothespins on a string, the mark on the corner will probably be covered by the negative carrier anyway (if you wet print), a minor crop.

You are probably right! I can see the marks when I scan, but have yet to wet print.

Ken Nadvornick · Jul 5, 2015

I use those tiny electrical wiring component alligator clips into which I have screwed small hardware hooks so they can hang on my drying wire over the sink. The clips have tiny little teeth that clamp together firmly with a pretty good spring action. A couple dozen cost almost nothing to make.

They can grip 4x5 and 8x10 sheets strongly enough that I've never had one come loose, and never think twice about moving the negatives around by holding only the clips. The marks they leave behind are negligible and normally located within that extended area of exposure around the film holder hinge line which is always part of the minimum required crop anyway. The maximum contiguous exposed rectangle is never compromised.

These guys...

Ken

LJH · Jul 5, 2015

Hoffy, cut/file the end of the peg flat. It'll square off the clamp point and give you better grip in a smaller space. (Hope this makes sense).

hoffy · Jul 5, 2015

Yes, it makes sense LJH

railwayman3 · Jul 5, 2015

I have a stock of ancient metal Ilford film clips, with a hook to hang on a line, but with the sprung film-end a tiny point which left little more than a pin-prick on the margin of the film or paper. I've seen them come up on Ebay occasionally.

pdeeh · Jul 5, 2015

there's Kodak and probably lots of other versions of the above. Careful not to jiggle the line they're hanging on, or they can spring off and with sickening inevitability, the film lands emulsion-side down ...

rbultman · Jul 5, 2015

This are a little expensive...
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/123163-REG/Delta_58050_Stainless_Steel_Film_Clips.html

Roger Cole · Jul 5, 2015

dasBlute said:
I use clothespins on a string, the mark on the corner will probably be covered by the negative carrier anyway (if you wet print), a minor crop.

This.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk and 100% recycled electrons - because I care.

JackRosa · Jul 5, 2015

These

rbultman said:
This are a little expensive...
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/123163-REG/Delta_58050_Stainless_Steel_Film_Clips.html

I use these with both, my 4x5 and 8x10 negs with success.

Molli · Jul 5, 2015

Hi Hoffy,

I just use these:

I can only contact print 4x5 so not having marks anywhere on the negative matters to me. I've found these to leave the least noticeable dents. They're about thumb-width in size (maybe pinkie-width for you men) and cost me about $1.50 from Officeworks for a twelve pack. Given that I only have two double dark slides and so only develop four sheets at a time, I'd be happy to send you the remaining eight if you don't have a stationery store nearby... or I could even splurge on a whole new packet for you

ic-racer · Jul 5, 2015

markbarendt · Jul 5, 2015

You aren't the first to ask

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?43930-4x5-Film-Drying

And then my pref-

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/86317-REG/Carr_102_Stainless_Steel_Cut_Film.html

(they can be found used)

Bruce Osgood · Jul 5, 2015

dasBlute said:
I use clothespins on a string, the mark on the corner will probably be covered by the negative carrier anyway (if you wet print), a minor crop.

PLUS 1, but I use the plastic variety rather than wood as wood seems to absorb and hold moisture where plastic doesn't.

Molli · Jul 5, 2015

markbarendt said:
You aren't the first to ask

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?43930-4x5-Film-Drying&p=420917&viewfull=1#post420917

....

I like Ralph Barker's drinking straw separators! I'd just been using a peg between each binder to stop them sliding along the string. His idea is much prettier Off to make that adjustment now.

summicron1 · Jul 5, 2015

i just hang them in the film hangers i process them in, but early on when i was using a Yankee tank and didnt have the hangers it was a problem. What i would do is lay a row of paper towels up against the edge of the wall on the back of the drainboard and then lean the negs against the wall so they were an inch or so away at the bottom, on the paper, and touching at the top. They were stiff enough so they dried nicely.

But the film hangers are best.

paul_c5x4 · Jul 5, 2015

A couple of alternatives that you may well find in a local discount store.

I use both and just clip on the corner of a sheet - There is usually just enough space without marking the emulsion.

dasBlute · Jul 5, 2015

Yes, plastic is better, I've had splinters come off the wooden ones...

Bruce Osgood said:
PLUS 1, but I use the plastic variety rather than wood as wood seems to absorb and hold moisture where plastic doesn't.

Bob Carnie · Jul 5, 2015

I use these as well . mine have a little hole drilled into a plastic cap so the fit on an inside bar in the dryer.

These are used in mini lab operations and you can google mini lab supplys and find them.

Ken Nadvornick said:
I use those tiny electrical wiring component alligator clips into which I have screwed small hardware hooks so they can hang on my drying wire over the sink. The clips have tiny little teeth that clamp together firmly with a pretty good spring action. A couple dozen cost almost nothing to make.

They can grip 4x5 and 8x10 sheets strongly enough that I've never had one come loose, and never think twice about moving the negatives around by holding only the clips. The marks they leave behind are negligible and normally located within that extended area of exposure around the film holder hinge line which is always part of the minimum required crop anyway. The maximum contiguous exposed rectangle is never compromised.

These guys...

View attachment 112114

Ken

Ian C · Jul 5, 2015

I first slowly and very gently wipe the film with a fine-pore photo sponge. The sponge must be scrupulously clean. This removes all the large drops of water leaving only miniscule droplets that evaporate without leaving marks or residue.

I dont hang damp sheet films. Instead I simply set the sheets on a shelf leaning so that the top edge rests against the wall at about a 20° angle from the wall with the emulsion facing the wall in a relatively dust-free area. This is something like a ladder leaning against a wall.

In this way only the bottom edge of the film rests on the shelf and the top edge rests against the wall. This leaves no marks on the film and both sides are open to the air to promote drying. The stiffness of sheet films keeps them flat as they dryno hangers required.

If youre concerned that the bottom edge of the film might slide along the shelf outward from the wall and allowing the damp film to fall, you can first lay down an object such as a long ruler or steel scale taped down to the shelf for the bottom edge of the film to rest against so that the film cant slide.

Sirius Glass · Jul 5, 2015

I put a loop in a nylon fishing line and place the loop over the shower head. The line has knots to hold clothes pins from sliding. The line goes over the top of the shower stall and a weight holds the line so that it does not sag. A corner 4"x5" negatives are held on with the clothes pins without touching the image. I do not sponge or squeegee the negatives but I will sometimes use a paper towel to touch the corner of the negative to draw away the excess water.

GregW · Jul 5, 2015

I'm also a 'leaner' but i rest them on a sheet of paper towel so they don't collect a bead of water along the bottom edge, it's wicked away.

Fotoguy20d · Jul 5, 2015

I use an HP tank and I just use the film holder out of the tank, on my sink counter. Its convenient having two of these for when I have a pile of film to process.

Ive done binder clips over a metal hanger but now stick with those for roll film.

Dan

Embarrassed to ask...how do you hang 4x5 film to dry?

hoffy

Europan

dasBlute

hoffy

Ken Nadvornick

LJH

hoffy

railwayman3

pdeeh

rbultman

Roger Cole

JackRosa

Molli

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ic-racer

markbarendt

Bruce Osgood

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Molli

summicron1

paul_c5x4

dasBlute

Bob Carnie

Ian C

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GregW

Fotoguy20d

Embarrassed to ask...how do you hang 4x5 film to dry?

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