Film loaded backwards or a copy of a negative

nbagno

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I'm looking at a B&W negative from a press photographer in the early 60's. (I have the negative). If words found in the actual image are readable, the film rebate lettering, in this case, "Kodak safety film" is reversed. Would that mean that the film was loaded backward in the camera or?
 

Craig

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Not necessarily, it could be that the edge print was exposed on the other side. Is the negative sheet or roll film?

If the image was exposed through the base it's very different than being exposed on the emulsion side, and would typically be very underexposed.
 
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nbagno

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Roll film. It's not underexposed, the negative actually looks really good.
 

MattKing

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What does the edge printing say?
It could be an inter-positive.
 

Craig

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Did you reverse that scan, or does the negative edge really appear black (as opposed to clear)?
 

ic-racer

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I had a batch of Shanghai 8x10 with notches on both corners. I did load a bunch of them backwards both in the film holders and in the Jobo tank, but amazingly 1) the Jobo tank got developer to the back side to develop them properly, and 2) the film base is essentially clear so no under-exposure in the camera.
 

MattKing

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After inverting and flipping that edge, I see a ghost image of the edge printing.
That makes me suspect that this is a copy negative, prepared either using reversal processing or an inter-positive.
 

AgX

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Wha you call a ghost image to my looks like motion blur. Maybe already having happened at signing the edge.
 
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nbagno

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I don't want to show the negative because it's not mine, but one I'm working on. Here the whole frame with the image obscured.
 
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