Loading 8x10 holders

Hello,
I've searched the forum archives and cannot find reference to this.

Just started back in to 8x10 work. I see the negs of other people, and they all seem to have a small black border around all four edges. My negs (I've shot 12 sheets so far) have the border on only three edges, and the top (where the notches are) has a border that is twice as wide as it should be. The bottom has image all the way to edge.

I've loaded 4x5 for years and never had this issue. I've tried loading some developed negs into the 8x10 holders to try to duplicate the problem but when I do, they always manage to sit down in there in the bottom tab.

Any ideas on what I am doing wrong?
Thanks
Neal Wilson

Just as with 4x5" holders the film goes under a lip at the darkslide end of the holder, and it sounds like you're not getting the film under the lip. Maybe it's the design of the holders, but I've noticed that this can get trickier as you go up in format size. Maybe the thing to do is sacrifice one sheet (or just use a reject neg) and load it with the lights on and the darkslide removed to see what should be happening.

I agree with David and found out the same thing when I started loading 8x10. Push the darkslide out nearly all the way so you can feel the lip at the bottom end. After inserting the sheet, run your finger along the bottom edge while still gently pushing from the top edge. You should feel the sheet slide that last little bit as the bottom edge tucks under the lip.

My experience is limited to 4x5, but I have found that the borders are not always equal. In fact, it's not uncommon for the rebate on the notch edge (the edge that goes under the hinged flap) is larger than the other two. I've also noticed that on occasion, the width of this border varies - often becomming wider (which means that the border at the opposite end is thinner).

Frankly, I happy just to get four distinct borders. I've had too many instances of the film not going into the holder properly. When that happens, there is a high risk that when I reinsert the darkslide after making an exposure, the film will pop out of the holder.

One of the neat things about LF photography is that it looks so professional. But it kinda spoils that image when the film falls out of the camera in front of a crowd of total strangers.

I've searched the forum archives and cannot find reference to this.

Click to expand...

Neal,
Not sure if this will help, but I recently asked this very question not too long ago. I asked for help with (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Hopefully, you can get some additional pointers on the above thread as I did.

"Waste" one sheet of 8x10 film (or don't waste a good one and use one of your negs that you designate as "scrap,") take an empty holder, and find out what's going on. It' will probably take you less than 5 minutes to figure it out, and if it's something you need to do differently, it will take you 15 minutes of practice in the light to be completely comfortable with it and know it forever. Then practice 5 more minutes with your eyes closed. Voila!

You should have black border all around, and knowing no other details I would guess that you're not quite loading the film correctly. Are you getting it under those little runner things on each side? If not, you'll find that out someday when the film falls out inside your camera (I know from sad experience).

Anyway, play around a little with an empty holder and a scrap neg some evening while you watch "American Idol," and I'll bet you solve your own problem between commercial breaks.

This is an interesting thread since I'm tossing the idea of moving up to 8x10 from 5x7... an evolutionary process.

I agree with David... when I moved up to 5x7 from 4x5 the process of loading the holders felt entirely new for whatever reason. But, after a long bit of trials and tribulations, I've got it down now.

Using an old piece of film rather than a brand new sheet makes a whole lot of sense considering the cost of the stuff.

So, when I finally get an 8x10... I'll now know what to expect in regards to loading holders.

Thanks

Cheers