Stupid film holder question...

ambaker · Mar 15, 2014

I purchased a Press Camera with a healthy supply of film holders, and some ancient film. (Kodak Royal Pan exp March 1966). I have also ordered some fresh film. To my surprise many of the holders have film inside. I'm wondering if some have be previously exposed. Is there some sort of code, photographers did/do use to keep track do such things.

I just wonder whether to try to develop a few, shoot and then develop, or just rip all do the old film out, and start over.

I've heard mentions of dark sides in, or out, or bumps in/out. Was there ever a real "standard" common among photographers that would help decide.

Thanks!
-alex

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mopar_guy · Mar 15, 2014

Each Photographer might do this differently, but I was taught that dark side out is for exposed.

Trail Images · Mar 16, 2014

Not sure there really is a standard per se, but I always load my film with the "white" tab facing out. Then remove the dark-slide for exposure and roll it over and insert it back in the holder with the "black" side facing out.

Kawaiithulhu · Mar 16, 2014

Everybody's different. Personally I use white side out (with the bumps) for unexposed (because they develop clear and ...white) and I use the black side for exposed because... they would develop as dark :munch:

MattKing · Mar 16, 2014

If all the holders came from the same photographer, there is a good chance that testing the contents of one will reveal the "rule" that that photographer used, and therefor tell you something about the status of all the rest.

Tom1956 · Mar 16, 2014

The standard is unexposed=silver/white/ braille side out. Exposed=black side out. The reason for this is that you could die and your stuff could end up in an estate sale, and the buyer wouldn't know what of your film needed developing, and what of it he could shoot on.

Ken Nadvornick · Mar 16, 2014

Like everyone else, I use 'white=unexposed' and 'black=exposed'. Don't think I've ever known anyone to do it the opposite. (But of course that doesn't mean your fellow didn't...)

I like Matt's approach best.

Ken

paul_c5x4 · Mar 16, 2014

Ken Nadvornick said:
'white=unexposed' and 'black=exposed'.

Same here. I also put a sticky label on the holder with shutter/aperture settings just in case (I sometimes forget to flip the slide).

When rummaging for a film holder, I know "white" means "loaded, unexposed", "black+label" is "loaded and exposed", and "black, no label" is most likely "empty". If it is "white+label", it means I screwed up and there could be film in there and it might be exposed.

Dr Croubie · Mar 16, 2014

Tom1956 said:
The standard is unexposed=silver/white/ braille side out. Exposed=black side out. The reason for this is that you could die and your stuff could end up in an estate sale, and the buyer wouldn't know what of your film needed developing, and what of it he could shoot on.

For the record, I do it the opposite. Black means it has only seen darkness. White means it has seen the light.
But I never learnt from anyone or googled for a 'standard', I made that up myself when I started 4x5s.
I also have stickers on the darkslide itself, green for unexposed and red for exposed, with a white sticker as well saying what's loaded in it.
And before anyone says it yes, I know that it'll probably eventually ruin the light-tight sealing stuff.

Not saying anyone else should do it my way, just letting you all know in case you get my holders in an estate sale.

Doremus Scudder · Mar 16, 2014

Dr Croubie said:
For the record, I do it the opposite. Black means it has only seen darkness. White means it has seen the light.
But I never learnt from anyone or googled for a 'standard', I made that up myself when I started 4x5s. ...

Me too Dr. C., for exactly the same reasons

If I were working with others (in a studio or business) or had assistants, I would likely change my practice to conform to "standard." But since I work alone, it makes no difference.

Best,

Doremus

Sirius Glass · Mar 16, 2014

White = Unexposed
Black = Exposed

snapguy · Mar 16, 2014

Ink stained wretch

I was a newspaperman in the 1950s when most press photographers still used Speed Graphic. Everybody I knew was aware that "everybody" loaded the film holders with the white side out and when the photo was taken he replaced the holder dark side out. This is so a photog could send the film back to the photo lab and the technician could determine which sheets of film were exposed and which were not. Nobody was allowed to "do their own thing."

wiltw · Mar 16, 2014

I hate to think how badly fogged any ASA 1250 (ISO 1250) film would be after 50 years, due to the unavoidable cosmic ray accumulation!

sly · Mar 16, 2014

Doremus and Dr. C, I'm with you.

Black = never been exposed
White = has seen the light

When I started using a 4x5 I was just bumbling along on my own. Have been doing it the "wrong" way for so long, I'd just confuse myself and ruin lots of film if I tried to switch.

Kawaiithulhu · Mar 16, 2014

Side note: white side out also has bumps, which makes it easy to pick a fresh holder out of a bag without looking and that's my secondary reason.

ROL · Mar 16, 2014

Dear, dear Alex...

There are no stupid film holders, only misunderstood ones.

P.S. I believe most, but not all – and for good reasons of their own, use the convention of white unexposed. That would be your best bet.

Bruce Osgood · Mar 16, 2014

sly said:
Doremus and Dr. C, I'm with you.

Black = never been exposed
White = has seen the light

When I started using a 4x5 I was just bumbling along on my own. Have been doing it the "wrong" way for so long, I'd just confuse myself and ruin lots of film if I tried to switch.

Geeeezzz, I always thought it was

White = unexposed
Black = seen it all.

" I'd just confuse myself and ruin lots of film if I tried to switch ",
Me too.

ambaker · Mar 16, 2014

I figured since what is dated, is dated 1966, that this was an old school photog.

I'll try developing one of each, and see if there is anything...

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Curt · Mar 17, 2014

Sirius Glass said:
White = Unexposed
Black = Exposed

EXACTLY! Anything to the contrary is from the uninitiated, uninformed, and untrained.

Axle · Mar 18, 2014

The trick is to be consistent! Pick a way of doing things and run with it, there is no right or wrong way.

For the record I do it: White/Silver/Bumps Up = Unexposed, Black = Exposed.

Basically that's how I learned it, so I'll stick with it.

dodphotography · Mar 19, 2014

White = Film Loaded / Unexposed

Black = Exposed

This way, the bumps will help you in the dark when loading.

I literally took a silver paint pen and wrote "exposed" on every slide (on the black side). I was freaking notorious for forgetting / double exposing sheets. It took me a while to stick to a routine but I finally got there.

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analoguey · Mar 20, 2014

Aha.
I saw a YouTube video on loading the film n the chap went ' black when loaded initially and white after exposure' which to me didn't make much sense and so I went the other way. Good to know there's a convention on that!

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jamie young · Mar 20, 2014

Like others have said, the most common code is- white side out is unexposed. Black side out is exposed. I was taught this and saw this everywhere I worked, and in school. Every one of the many photo studios I worked at in New York city, throughout photography school at RIT, and anywhere else I have been. While people develop they own methods, this was the industry standard.

tim k · Mar 23, 2014

They need a third side, for empty. How do you smart guys do that?

jamie young · Mar 23, 2014

Black side is also empty. Better to try to develop film from empty holders than to shoot film that isn't there

Stupid film holder question...

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Stupid film holder question...

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