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- Jun 16, 2005
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- Format
- 4x5 Format
One of the challenges in using sheet film is making images that are free of dirt shadows. Manufacturers take great care in providing sheet films free of dirt. Photographers typically subject film to a much dirtier environment than the film factory. As a result, processed film commonly has shadow images that require retouching on the films or prints to hide them.
To reduce shadow images I suggest procedures to follow based on clean-room best practices, my film manufacturing experience, my experience as a sheet film user, and from observing the practices of many photographers who are admired by the readers of this site.
Film handling environment: comfortable room temperatures 65-85F is fine. Deviations are not particularly troublesome. Relative humidity 30-50%. Deviations can be more susceptible to static electricity. Slowly separating sheets can minimize static discharge.
Air flow: Select a dark area with low air flow. Turning off fans for 10 minutes before loading film to allow airborne particles to settle.
Work surface: clean the counter surface and surfaces above the work surface with a moist, clean cloth a half hour before loading.
Conscientious film manufacturers (this excludes those who show videos of furry cats wandering in their film manufacturing facilities) take a great deal of care to make sure you film is free of contaminants. You can assume the film as sold is free of dirt that will degrade your images. You are probably opening the film packaging in a much dirtier environment than the film factory.
Sheet Film holders:
Film holders are the most likely source of dirt that deposits on the film surface during exposure. Consider their design and typical use. Each time the dark-slide is inserted and removed from the holder it passes through a tight light-lock that captures and releases dirt particles. Freed particles can deposit on the film that will cause shadows during exposure. I suggest you wipe off both sides of the dark-slide with a clean, soft brush each time it is inserted into the film holder.
Inspect the dark-slide and the interior of the holder and remove any visible particles. Wiping of the dark-slide before inserting into the camera back is another worthwhile step. The less dirt that accumulates in the light trap the better.
Loading Film Holders
Don’t lean over the film or holders while you are working. Loose hair, eye lashes, and other particles can drop onto the film. Stand erect with your arms extended a little.
Use a recently cleaned work surface with three separate areas: an area for uncleaned holders, a work area, and an area to stack the clean holders.
1. Use a clean soft brush to remove any dust. When brushing have the holder lower than the film loading work surface, brush way from the worksurface. Before opening the slide, brush the dark-slide while it is closed in the holder
2. Remove the dark-slide and clean both sides. With the silver side out, reinsert 1 ½-inches.
3. Open the flap and brush out the film holder. Inspect the interior of each holder and remove any foreign matter.
4. Set the holder aside far enough away so that airborne dust from cleaning will not land on the dark-slide or holders.
5. Prepare up to 5 holders in a batch.
Opening the factory sealed film package in the dark:
1. Cut seal with a sharp object. Don’t crudely tear it, this will create loose particles.
2. In the dark open the box. Don’t depend on the interior wrapping to be lighttight. There can be unintended pinholes or tears in the interior wrap. This shouldn’t happen but there is no reason to take a chance.
3. Remove the interior wrapped film from the box.
4. In the dark, carefully cut the wrap with a sharp object preserving as much of the wrap as possible.
5. Remove the film and place it on a clean work surface emulsion up.
6. Set the wrap on top of the inner section of the box for later use.
7. Load the sheets holding the film only touching the edges.
8. Close each dark-slide after each sheet is loaded.
9. If some sheets are not loaded reinsert them into the barrier wrap, fold the wrap and place in the original box. Do not put the film in the paper box without the wrap. Cardboard is inherently dirty. Fiber can deposit on the film’s surface.
After loading:
Place the holders into new individual seal-able plastic bags.
Store the bagged holders in a clean sturdy carrier i.e. ammunition boxes.
Exposure
Remove the holder from the plastic bag.
Tap the bottom edge of the holder (as it will be exposed) on a firm surface to dislodge particles
Brush and inspect the dark-slide surface.
Insert in camera.
Pull dark-slide and make exposure.
Brush off both sides of the dark-slide, inspect, insert in the holder.
After exposures are made return holder to its baggy and container.
www.makingKODAKfilm.com
To reduce shadow images I suggest procedures to follow based on clean-room best practices, my film manufacturing experience, my experience as a sheet film user, and from observing the practices of many photographers who are admired by the readers of this site.
Film handling environment: comfortable room temperatures 65-85F is fine. Deviations are not particularly troublesome. Relative humidity 30-50%. Deviations can be more susceptible to static electricity. Slowly separating sheets can minimize static discharge.
Air flow: Select a dark area with low air flow. Turning off fans for 10 minutes before loading film to allow airborne particles to settle.
Work surface: clean the counter surface and surfaces above the work surface with a moist, clean cloth a half hour before loading.
Conscientious film manufacturers (this excludes those who show videos of furry cats wandering in their film manufacturing facilities) take a great deal of care to make sure you film is free of contaminants. You can assume the film as sold is free of dirt that will degrade your images. You are probably opening the film packaging in a much dirtier environment than the film factory.
Sheet Film holders:
Film holders are the most likely source of dirt that deposits on the film surface during exposure. Consider their design and typical use. Each time the dark-slide is inserted and removed from the holder it passes through a tight light-lock that captures and releases dirt particles. Freed particles can deposit on the film that will cause shadows during exposure. I suggest you wipe off both sides of the dark-slide with a clean, soft brush each time it is inserted into the film holder.
Inspect the dark-slide and the interior of the holder and remove any visible particles. Wiping of the dark-slide before inserting into the camera back is another worthwhile step. The less dirt that accumulates in the light trap the better.
Loading Film Holders
Don’t lean over the film or holders while you are working. Loose hair, eye lashes, and other particles can drop onto the film. Stand erect with your arms extended a little.
Use a recently cleaned work surface with three separate areas: an area for uncleaned holders, a work area, and an area to stack the clean holders.
1. Use a clean soft brush to remove any dust. When brushing have the holder lower than the film loading work surface, brush way from the worksurface. Before opening the slide, brush the dark-slide while it is closed in the holder
2. Remove the dark-slide and clean both sides. With the silver side out, reinsert 1 ½-inches.
3. Open the flap and brush out the film holder. Inspect the interior of each holder and remove any foreign matter.
4. Set the holder aside far enough away so that airborne dust from cleaning will not land on the dark-slide or holders.
5. Prepare up to 5 holders in a batch.
Opening the factory sealed film package in the dark:
1. Cut seal with a sharp object. Don’t crudely tear it, this will create loose particles.
2. In the dark open the box. Don’t depend on the interior wrapping to be lighttight. There can be unintended pinholes or tears in the interior wrap. This shouldn’t happen but there is no reason to take a chance.
3. Remove the interior wrapped film from the box.
4. In the dark, carefully cut the wrap with a sharp object preserving as much of the wrap as possible.
5. Remove the film and place it on a clean work surface emulsion up.
6. Set the wrap on top of the inner section of the box for later use.
7. Load the sheets holding the film only touching the edges.
8. Close each dark-slide after each sheet is loaded.
9. If some sheets are not loaded reinsert them into the barrier wrap, fold the wrap and place in the original box. Do not put the film in the paper box without the wrap. Cardboard is inherently dirty. Fiber can deposit on the film’s surface.
After loading:
Place the holders into new individual seal-able plastic bags.
Store the bagged holders in a clean sturdy carrier i.e. ammunition boxes.
Exposure
Remove the holder from the plastic bag.
Tap the bottom edge of the holder (as it will be exposed) on a firm surface to dislodge particles
Brush and inspect the dark-slide surface.
Insert in camera.
Pull dark-slide and make exposure.
Brush off both sides of the dark-slide, inspect, insert in the holder.
After exposures are made return holder to its baggy and container.
www.makingKODAKfilm.com
