Flattening film

T

Terao

Kiloran
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Any tips on getting film flat for scanning? 35mm and 120.

Just going back through some of my archive and I've noticed that some of the pro developed stuff is absolutely flat - no curl whatsoever. This is Velvia or Scala. Is it a property of those films that they just happen to dry flat or is there a technique? I hang my stuff up to dry naturally for 2-3 hours and weight the bottom of the rolll with a film clip but I still seem to get curling which makes getting it in the holders a bit of a challenge. Home stuff is of course B&W - Neopan 1600, Ilford Delta 3200 so far.
 
How are you storing your processed film???
I place my film in plastic sleeves and place the sheets in a binder...the weight of the other sheets will help in getting the film to lay flat...not perfectly flat mind you...but less curl than when first developed...
I mostly shoot Kodak or Fuji Neopan for B&W...all have some curl at first...
 
Like MikeL, i flatten film in sleeves under heavy books. I did read the books I use, though....lol

I think you've discovred the Nikon 8000's weakness. Worthless film holders. You simply MUSt use the glass carrier for this scanner to get the most resolution from the scan, even with 35mm. Beleive me, i tried EVERYTHING to avoid buying that damned 300 dollar film holder, but it was unavoidable.
 
Terao, most likely your pro developed film has been force dried, which takes a lot of the curl out. Also pro labs sleeve your film as soon as it is dry if they are not making prints from it. I force dry my Neopan in a cabinet and it dries dead straight with no curl at all. Cheers Andrew.
 
Most of the archive has been stored flat in plastic sleeves so that probably contributes to the flatness. Coolscan holders are OK, and I have the glass holder as well so may give that a go to see if it improves matters.
 
The only film I have major trouble with is Bergger 200 in 120. A real bitch to get into the scanner's tray. For 35mm no trouble with any film for me as I use a film roll adaper on my Nikon LS-4000 and it just feeds the whole roll right in.
 
I have found that film that has been in the casettes a long time is very curly. The film that I have loaded off a fresh bulk roll and used and developed in a short time is really flat.
 
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