How do you cut your XPAN-negatives?

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rfepson

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For my Nikon-Scanner I need to cut the XPAN-film in 3-negative-segments.
I hate doing it with scissors - so I use a paper-cutting knife on a cutting mat.
But hitting the middle of the small border between 2 negatives is not always easy as I have no light from below.
I would like to learn from you, how you master this necessary step?
 
I don't have an xpan, but I have a method for cutting regular negatives with a scissors.
I take a piece of thin card (often from some junk mail) and fold it neatly double. I then slide the negative in between and line up the space between the frames with the edge of the card. I can now easily hold it tight, and I have a nice straight edge to cut past. It works for 35mm as well as 120 film.
 
Also, since I hold the negative between the card it is easy to avoid finger prints. I sometimes cut the width of the card down to one frame length. That way if I have a thin negative that doesn't show the frame line, I can use the previous frame to line it up to.
 
CNNY said:
Also, since I hold the negative between the card it is easy to avoid finger prints. I sometimes cut the width of the card down to one frame length. That way if I have a thin negative that doesn't show the frame line, I can use the previous frame to line it up to.
Click to expand...
This post should be made a sticky somewhere.
 
Monz said:
Small pair of scissors + steady hands + hold negative against white background/ lightbox.
Click to expand...

What Monz wrote, (he has an Xpan so check his work) plus buy a pair of 'cotton gloves' for handling negatives. I'd really use scissors if I was you, but if you're using a razor knife be careful with the negs that you don't scratch them when you set the neg down on the cutting surface. This isn't necessary if you use scissors obviously.

(fwiw my Xpan stuff is on my flickr acct and in an Xpan thread here at RFF)
 
CNNY said:
I don't have an xpan, but I have a method for cutting regular negatives with a scissors.
I take a piece of thin card (often from some junk mail) and fold it neatly double. I then slide the negative in between and line up the space between the frames with the edge of the card. I can now easily hold it tight, and I have a nice straight edge to cut past. It works for 35mm as well as 120 film.
Click to expand...

This is GENIUS. I'm gonna adopt this technique, thanks!
 
Use a guillotine style cutter

Use a guillotine style cutter

I use a guillotine style cutter to cut the negatives into two-pano negs at a time, similar to the one available at <http://www.berezin.com/3d/mounts.htm> , although I got mine several years ago at B&H.

Mike Evans
San Diego
 
Monz said:
Small pair of scissors + steady hands + hold negative against white background/ lightbox.
Click to expand...

Yes, that's it. The scissors need to be delicate enough to be in-scale with the dimensions of the film and the space between frames. Mine have thin blades that are only two inches long at the most. Kitchen shears are definitely out. And I do hold the film over a lightbox to cut.

Someone mentioned using cotton gloves. I never got into that. Instead, I wash my hands with Neutrogena soap, which takes the oil out and keeps the hands clean and oil-free for some 20 or 30 minutes. By then I will probably have raided the icebox or pet the dog, and it's time to wash up again anyhow. :)
 
malthusiantrap said:
This is GENIUS. I'm gonna adopt this technique, thanks!
Click to expand...

You are too generous. I was quite happy with myself when I figured that out though. I had a massive amount of film to cut and file, and I kept thinking "there has to be a better way". It does speed things up a bit, because it takes the need for a "steady hand" (as mentioned above) out of the equation.
 
I use a film cutter made by Gepe, has a light, a guide to slide the film through, and a handle with a cutter blade. Works great. Google Gepe.
 
For archival purposes, I cut into strips of 3 Xpan negatives at a time.

As for the method of cutting, I use disposable gloves and a pair of scissors.
 
That card trick is smart.

Since I file my negs into sleeves directory after drying, I usually sit on the bathroom floor and just cut off strips of 3 (or 6 for non-Xpan rolls) while they are still hanging. Each strip goes right in the sleeve after I cut it.
 
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