How to mark 4x5 holders as loaded

[ic-racer]

White showing on the darkslide means "UNEXPOSED." Black means "EXPOSED" or "EMPTY." I don't ever place the "EXPOSED" and "EMPTY" in the same place. Not even on the same table top.

 

[Maris]

I use the "white side out" on the darkslide to indicate "loaded with unexposed film" and it's ok to put this into the camera and take pictures on it. The "black side out" alternative means "empty" or "exposed" and it's not ok to put this into a camera. And to determine if a holder contains film I shake it lengthwise and listen for the faint click as the film slides back and forth. This works with all my holders except Grafmatics. For them I write the film type on the data panel with whiteboard pen. No info means no film.

 

[dpurdy]

I follow the same white black rule as everyone else but I generally have my exposed stack sitting on my processing table waiting.

If I ever wonder or want to make sure, I give the holder a shake sideways. Film rattles. Empty holders don't.
Dennis

 

[seabee1999]

I'm at work and I don't have my film holders in front of me to comment which side of the dark slide top is white or black. However, I know that I ensured that I kept things constant when I did the following; with a silver Sharpie, I wrote "EXPOSED" on the dark slide itself. I got the idea when I was at a local camera shop in Ventura and there was an old wooden film holder that had "EXPOSED" stenciled on the dark slide. It has really simplified my loading, storing and downloading film. For me, I know that a film holder with "EXPOSED" has film in it that needs to be developed. A film holder that has no writing on the slide and is sealed up on the bottom means it has film. Finally, a film holder that has a no writing on the slide but the bottom is open (not sealed) means it ready to be loaded with film.

R/
Dave

 

[Sirius Glass]

I'm at work and I don't have my film holders in front of me to comment which side of the dark slide top is white or black. However, I know that I ensured that I kept things constant when I did the following; with a silver Sharpie, I wrote "EXPOSED" on the dark slide itself. I got the idea when I was at a local camera shop in Ventura and there was an old wooden film holder that had "EXPOSED" stenciled on the dark slide. It has really simplified my loading, storing and downloading film. For me, I know that a film holder with "EXPOSED" has film in it that needs to be developed. A film holder that has no writing on the slide and is sealed up on the bottom means it has film. Finally, a film holder that has a no writing on the slide but the bottom is open (not sealed) means it ready to be loaded with film.

R/
Dave

Great idea.

 

[winger]

I very frequently empty and reload them in relatively quick succession. Once they're loaded, they go in large ziplock bags in the camera bag. I also use the white=unexposed, black=exposed. If I unload them and don't reload, then they get left with the white side out and on the shelf. Loaded ones are never put on the shelf.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I use 1/2" white tape and write the film lettered designation TMX for Tmax 100 and TMY for Tmax 400. When I've shot the film, I reverse the dark slide and tape the film holder shut. The tape is handy to make notes like N+1 etc.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Working with my first 4x5 I noticed after loading film and mixing up the holders with empty ones that I have no way of knowing which holders have film. I got the white side / dark side to indicate if the film was exposed. How do you mark that it's loaded with film? Write on it?

white is loaded;black is exposed but it's really up to you;there is no law and no holder police

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Peel off red dot for exposed, green dot for unexposed, yellow dot for "...ummm..."

Sent from my SM-T805 using Tapatalk

 

[wiltw]

The locking lugs are turned closed if the film holder is loaded with film...regardless if exposed (black) or unexposed (white) showing.

Tape is reserved for specific notes related to processing adjustments to be made (e.g. for Zone system development compensation)

 

[Sirius Glass]

I very frequently empty and reload them in relatively quick succession. Once they're loaded, they go in large ziplock bags in the camera bag. I also use the white=unexposed, black=exposed. If I unload them and don't reload, then they get left with the white side out and on the shelf. Loaded ones are never put on the shelf.

Loaded two sheet holders and Grafmatic 45s go in Zip Lock bags to keep the dust out. Empty two sheet holders and Grafmatic 45s go in Zip Lock bags to keep the dust out, but are placed in a different location.

 

[Nige]

after reading all the various techniques employed, I'm sticking with mine as it is foolproof... it works for me!

wiltw, I can't rely on the locking lugs staying put on my holders, which is why I employ rubber bands to keep the dark slides in.

 

[nbagno]

Thanks for all the input. The responses generally break down like this

Separate loaded from unloaded - 10
Write on holder - 5
Rubber band - 2
Shake holder - 1
Turn lock lugs - 1 (my holders have a lock button)

Leaning towards the separate from loaded by having two zip-lock bags. One for loaded/exposed and another for empty.

 

[wiltw]

Why even CARRY unloaded film holders?! Leave them at home, and lessen your load.

At home and/or in studio, you can store loaded film holders with darkslide handle UP, empty film holders could be stored with darkslide handles DOWN

The status of the locking lug is further confirmation of film load status, in addition to handles up/down.
I only learned to shoot with sheet film in the mid-1960s, so what do I know?! It works in a darkened room for loading and unloading by touch.

 

[nbagno]

Why even CARRY unloaded film holders?! Leave them at home, and lessen your load.

At home and/or in studio, you can store loaded film holders with darkslide handle UP, empty film holders could be stored with darkslide handles DOWN

I only learned to shoot with sheet film in the mid-1960s, so what do I know?!

I was at home and mixed them up when loading 4x5 holders for the first time. This is what prompted this thread and wondering what others do. Not sure what you mean by having the dark side handle up or down unless you are referring to to the dark side of the handle showing or the white side showing. My holders don't have locking lugs, they have locking buttons.