Making your own film...

[rbiemer]

Wacky idea, maybe?
I was daydreaming a bit yesterday and it occurred to me that it might be possible to modify an inkjet printer to make film. Not so easy for 35mm film but for sheet film sizes, perhaps?
My printer will feed acetate sheets and I don't think there are any internal lght sources in it, so if you disconnected the power light, put the printer in a darkroom, and fed photo emulsion through the ink system, you ought to be able to coat your own...
Might be a way to get film for some of the odd sizes?
Might be worth thinking about in case I out live film production...
Rob

 

[like2fiddle]

Cool idea, but what about regulating the thickness of the emulsion?

Side note: Lucky you, Raquette Lake (I'm assuming NY). Camped there a couple of times, just gorgeous.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Yeah, but then you have to fill your back yard with all those dead animals to get the gelatin. The wife would likely object. 😉

 

[dmr]

On APUG there's a long discussion about a film coating machine which would do 35mm. There are several discussions about making emulsions and coating sheet film.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

I can't figure how you could make economically feasible 35mm film in your garage, despite the discussions on doing it.

 

[like2fiddle]

I can't figure how you could make economically feasible 35mm film in your garage, despite the discussions on doing it.

Especially with the Arista (maybe Kodak) films for about $2 per roll.

 

[rbiemer]

Yes, RL in NY state. Very happy to get to work up here most of the year!
Ink jet printers deliver a precisely controlled amount of ink, that function might be used to control how much emulsion is applied and thickness could be controlled by how many times the base was coated?
You don't really need the whole animal, just the skins and bones, I think so the mess wouldn't be too much...the smell however would be fairly awful!😀
I guess I need to go look at those APUG threads, DMR.
Rob

 

[rbiemer]

Currently, I think it couldn't possibly be economically feasible but economics might not be the reason for doing it--maybe to recreate some gone and lamented films?
Rob

 

[wlewisiii]

Read the discussions on APUG. It's not even slightly easy & celluloid based film is probably never going to be practical in less than a true factory. Dry emulsion plates are probably possible at the garage level.

William

 

[Mackinaw]

I think making sheet film would be the only realistic medium for homemade use. Or papers. You can even buy ready-made emulsions so why not?

But roll film? Good luck!

On APUG, last year I believe, somebody showed a homemade-out-of plywood-coating machine (for roll film), they made in their garage. If I remember correctly it was built by a retired Kodak engineer living in Australia. From what I recall, the thing worked. Haven't heard much about since though.

Jim B.

 

[Mackinaw]

Here are pictures of the coating machine and the APUG thread:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dark_orange/sets/72157603226919391/

http://www.apug.org/forums/forum205/45479-film-coating-machine-homemade-flickr.html

Jim B.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Well, there is the Class 3 cleanroom you would need to keep the dust from settling on your film while coating it. 😉

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Just doesn't seem practical to me.

 

[Mackinaw]

Just doesn't seem practical to me.

Agreed, but he did show us that it's possible.

Who knows? Maybe in twenty years this will be the only film-making machine operating.

Jim B.

 

[JohnTF]

Well, there is the Class 3 cleanroom you would need to keep the dust from settling on your film while coating it. 😉

That's why you use photoshop once you scan the negs. ;-)

I do have a friend who coats glass plates with liquid emulsion to shoot in his plate cameras.

Foma in Czech stopped making glass plates, about twelve years ago.

Regards, John

 

[JohnTF]

Here are pictures of the coating machine and the APUG thread:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dark_orange/sets/72157603226919391/

http://www.apug.org/forums/forum205/45479-film-coating-machine-homemade-flickr.html

Jim B.

That is really interesting, now if he can make 127 cheaply---

I would think salvaging parts from a tossed out processor would be a good starting place, and would not be surprised if there are some Noritsu parts in that machine?

We may all end up using motion picture film scraps though-- which might bring 35mm photography full circle?

John

 

[chippy]

That's why you use photoshop once you scan the negs. ;-)

I do have a friend who coats glass plates with liquid emulsion to shoot in his plate cameras.

Foma in Czech stopped making glass plates, about twelve years ago.

Regards, John

John, you can still buy dry glass plate, it costs a heap though, primarily its the science and astro folk that use it. dead flat!

 

[MartinP]

Yeah, but then you have to fill your back yard with all those dead animals to get the gelatin. The wife would likely object.

Surely that's what why people have barbecues ?

 

[venchka]

DIY film is called wet plate photography. Alive and well.
DIY inkjet negatives for alternative process contact printing. Also alive and well.

GOOGLE knows.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

So the buggies are going to cost $10 at any garage sale, but the whips are going to be $100 each. 😱