Framing Large Format E-6 transparencies

[abruzzi]

I shot some slightly expired 120 E-6 film on a 6x9 folding camera and was really blown away, just holding and looking at it without any enlargement or anything else. Since I just got a 4x5 camera, the idea came to me of shooting E-6, then sandwiching the resulting image between two pieces of glass, framing it, as is, and hanging it where it will have enough backlight to be viewable.

Has anyone tried this? What kind of longevity will the film have? I imagine if it is exposed to a outside window, the sun and the UV will kill it off eventually. I don’t care about long term archival of the image, but if it’s only going to last a year exposed to UV, it might not be all that worth it.

 

[mshchem]

I don't think it would last a month exposed to sunlight. Backlight from a cool source with a motion detection switch. Comes on when you walk up to it. I have 5x7 Ektachrome from the past. It really is amazing.

 

[abruzzi]

I did look and find glass that has anti UV coating. That might reduce some of the destruction. I may take one of those 6x9 images, and hang it up to see what happens.

 

[removed account4]

I'm not sure if I would put the original in there but you could easily have overhead transparancy film made with multiple images you cut out and frame like you want, and when it shifts or fades or ? you just switch it out for another one
I always liked the idea of photographic stained glass ...

 

[DREW WILEY]

People have made even lampshades out of a bunch of color slides, kinda like a Tiffany lamp that changes over time via progressive fading. No harm in doing this. Just don't use valuable transparencies you might want to print. Any UV resistant glass or coating might prolong life 5 or 10%, but it won't help much in the long run. The trick is to use lighting without UV or excess heat in the first place. Sunlight reflected off interior white wall paint is nowhere near as bad as direct sunlight.

 

[thuggins]

A 6x9 fits perfectly in a baseball card frame. I posted info on mounting one to a nightlight a while back. I think it was in the medium format forum.

I have been thinking about mounting two strips of slide film in a 9x12 or 4x5 holder. These would require some sort of mount to hold them properly.