Info stamped on slides processed by Kodak

PhilBurton · Dec 10, 2023

I've started to scan my large collection of slides, almost all Kodak film processed by a Kodak lab. When I examine the information printed on a slide mount, I'm, sure how to interpret codes such as R12 or that sometimes the code is printed in black ink, other times in red ink.

I've done the usual searching and I can'[t find this information anywhere on the web.

Also I found that some slides don't have this information. Anyone know why or the range of years that Kodak did this.

AnselMortensen · Dec 10, 2023

There's usually the date (month/ year) and the location of the lab that processed the film.
You can also tell the approximate year by the reverse side of the slide mount, if the stamping is illegible.
See photo:

MattKing · Dec 10, 2023

I don't know that the colour of the ink will tell you much. It probably reflects the particular slide mounting equipment in use when the film was processed, and that equipment tended to last for years, but was also replaced by different labs when and if replacement was necessary.

PhilBurton · Dec 11, 2023

AnselMortensen said:
There's usually the date (month/ year) and the location of the lab that processed the film.
You can also tell the approximate year by the reverse side of the slide mount, if the stamping is illegible.
See photo:

Thanks. I already discovered that chart. But I was hoping to narrow the date down to at most a 2 year range.

When I started to "catalog" all my slides boxes by film type, date, and process codes, I assumed that all Kodak and many non-Kodak-processed slides would have dates. I was so wrong.

Alan Edward Klein · Dec 11, 2023

Which side the printing is on reflects which way to load into the projector to orient the display correctly. (upside-down, reversed, etc) I always get it wrong but at least I'm consistent. Maybe someone can clarify the right way.

PhilBurton · Dec 11, 2023

Per my post #1 in this thread

Also I found that some slides don't have this information. Anyone know why or the range of years that Kodak did this.

Turns out was wrong. By looking at some slides at an angle, I can barely make out that this information was stamped into the cardboard mount, but without any ink. So the info is there, but my aging eyes have a real problem to actually read this info. Any suggestions on how to make this information readable?

MattKing · Dec 12, 2023

PhilBurton said:
Per my post #1 in this thread

Also I found that some slides don't have this information. Anyone know why or the range of years that Kodak did this.

Turns out was wrong. By looking at some slides at an angle, I can barely make out that this information was stamped into the cardboard mount, but without any ink. So the info is there, but my aging eyes have a real problem to actually read this info. Any suggestions on how to make this information readable?

With a pencil rubbed gently over the indentation.

PhilBurton · Dec 12, 2023

MattKing said:
With a pencil rubbed gently over the indentation.

Thanks. I'll try that when I discover a box with the dates and lab codes not visible.

I just finished a tally of all my slide boxes, since I'm about to start my massive scanning project. 418 total boxes, almost all 36 exp. Plus maybe 2000 slides in Carousel trays and Neumade slide cabinets.

(Anyone want to buy these cabinets?)

Alan Edward Klein · Dec 12, 2023

Phil: Can I ask why you have to scan every last slide ever took? Can't you be selective? How do you intend to scan and edit?

Sirius Glass · Dec 12, 2023

PhilBurton said:
Per my post #1 in this thread

Also I found that some slides don't have this information. Anyone know why or the range of years that Kodak did this.

Turns out was wrong. By looking at some slides at an angle, I can barely make out that this information was stamped into the cardboard mount, but without any ink. So the info is there, but my aging eyes have a real problem to actually read this info. Any suggestions on how to make this information readable?

When I was much younger I too had problems reading the indentations the Kodak had stamped into the slides. I used bright lights, but @MattKing's suggestion of using pencil rubbings would help, just be careful the graphite does not cause new problems.

PhilBurton · Dec 13, 2023

Alan Edward Klein said:
Phil: Can I ask why you have to scan every last slide ever took? Can't you be selective? How do you intend to scan and edit?

Alan,

Clearly I don't need to scan every last slide. I got a Kaiser Light Table and a 10X loupe so I can cull before scanning.

Once I do a cull (and dust removal), then I load slides into the SF-210 batch feeder for my Nikon scanner. Eventually those images will be imported into Lightroom for post-processing as needed.

Many of the slides are family, and as far as I know my now-adult children want basic JPG exports only. They do NOT want the original slides. I also have a lot of slides of railroad and rail transit subjects, for which one organization would want the original slides as well as scans. I am a railroad hobbyist.

PhilBurton · Dec 13, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
When I was much younger I too had problems reading the indentations the Kodak had stamped into the slides. I used bright lights, but @MattKing's suggestion of using pencil rubbings would help, just be careful the graphite does not cause new problems.

Of course. I will proceed cautiously, probably with some discard slides first to work out the technique.

Alan Edward Klein · Dec 13, 2023

PhilBurton said:
Alan,

Clearly I don't need to scan every last slide. I got a Kaiser Light Table and a 10X loupe so I can cull before scanning.

Once I do a cull (and dust removal), then I load slides into the SF-210 batch feeder for my Nikon scanner. Eventually those images will be imported into Lightroom for post-processing as needed.

Many of the slides are family, and as far as I know my now-adult children want basic JPG exports only. They do NOT want the original slides. I also have a lot of slides of railroad and rail transit subjects, for which one organization would want the original slides as well as scans. I am a railroad hobbyist.

They're adding a side rail right now a couple of miles from where I live at a small light used rail here. I ought to take some pictures.

That's what I did with my family's slides. I didn't have as many pictures as you did though. I scanned and edited them and made a video slide show with appropriate background music using Adobe Premier Elements. Then copied them on DVDs and gave to my daughter for keepsake. I had to copy the video slide shows onto memory cards recently because she no longer has a DVD reader. The memory cards are actually handier. She can now plug them into her smart TV's USB jack and play the "show" on it as well as on any computer. Also, beside the video slide show, I included on the memory card a folder of all the pictures in large jpeg files so she can use those to make photo prints or make her own slide show in the future from them. Good luck.

PhilBurton · Dec 16, 2023

Alan Edward Klein said:
They're adding a side rail

Side rail?

Alan Edward Klein said:
right now a couple of miles from where I live at a small light used rail here.

NJ Transit?

Alan Edward Klein said:
I ought to take some pictures.

Always a good idea.

Alan Edward Klein said:
That's what I did with my family's slides. I didn't have as many pictures as you did though. I scanned and edited them and made a video slide show with appropriate background music using Adobe Premier Elements. Then copied them on DVDs and gave to my daughter for keepsake. I had to copy the video slide shows onto memory cards recently because she no longer has a DVD reader. The memory cards are actually handier. She can now plug them into her smart TV's USB jack and play the "show" on it as well as on any computer. Also, beside the video slide show, I included on the memory card a folder of all the pictures in large jpeg files so she can use those to make photo prints or make her own slide show in the future from them. Good luck.

My plan is to create a "family pictures only" Lightroom catalog. (Neither adult child uses Lightroom right now, but it's for the future possibility.)

Export all digital photos as both TIFF and JPG. plus NEF or DNG. For scans, TIFF and JPG. I am guessing that the total size of the exports will be more than 1 TB. So I'll just get an external USB drive for each child to send them the entire set of files.

Alan Edward Klein · Dec 17, 2023

I may be using the wrong term. What I meant by a side rail is where the engine and caboose are right now on a side. They'e building another side rail in the space beyond the train to store more cars when they need too. The rail that goes through is closest to the camera.

After all these years, they're suddenly getting much busier and more cars being move each week. More tanker cars and construction material cars. Not a lot maybe a half dozen to ten a week that I see plus two cars dropping off power poles here for the utility company. No, it's not NJ Transit.

Good luck with the family pictures and "albums". If I can make one suggestion. While all the pictures and backups to the kids are great, I made one file for each "show" that automatically plays back the slide show so they don't have to mess around with lots of other stuff they're not familiar with. One double click and a video slide show pops up on the computer or they can click on the smart TV to show it there. My kids just aren't into photography like we are.

PhilBurton · Dec 17, 2023

Alan Edward Klein said:
I may be using the wrong term. What I meant by a side rail is where the engine and caboose are right now on a side. They'e building another side rail in the space beyond the train to store more cars when they need too. The rail that goes through is closest to the camera.

I think the term is "siding."

Alan Edward Klein said:
After all these years, they're suddenly getting much busier and more cars being move each week. More tanker cars and construction material cars. Not a lot maybe a half dozen to ten a week that I see plus two cars dropping off power poles here for the utility company. No, it's not NJ Transit.

OK a freight line parallel to the Amtrak Northeast Corridor.

Alan Edward Klein said:
Good luck with the family pictures and "albums". If I can make one suggestion. While all the pictures and backups to the kids are great, I made one file for each "show" that automatically plays back the slide show so they don't have to mess around with lots of other stuff they're not familiar with. One double click and a video slide show pops up on the computer or they can click on the smart TV to show it there. My kids just aren't into photography like we are.

Good idea. My kids are not into photography the way I am.

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