Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

It's just a touchy / feely kind of thing.

Close your eyes and go for it.....

chazz4623 Loc: Prairieville, La

You just catch the lip of the canister and peel it open, then carefully remove the film and put in developer sol'n

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Next to impossible? I wouldn't say that. Before I acquired a proper scanner, I used my DSLR to "scan" hundreds of negatives. Yes, it is difficult to achieve correct color balance at first, but once you get it right, you record the adjustments you made as a profile to re-use on further scans. And a trick is to white balance off an unexposed section of film, essentially neutralizing the orange-brown cast of the film; once you do that, you're already 90% there!

twowindsbear

There is a 'knack' for loading a developing reel. I'll suggest 'sacrificing' a roll of film to practice. You're right, the film MUST go into the reel properly, or you'll muck it up! When you have the film properly aligned it will wrap into the reel really easily. IF you feel like you need to force the film, you've got something not quite right with the alignment.

Good luck!

twowindsbear

ooooops!

dupe post deleted

Michael Hartley Loc: Deer Capital of Georgia

Do ya put the solution in the can before hand, then drop the loaded reel in, while it's still in the dark?

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

You put the reel in the tank first, close it, and then pour in the developer though the hole in the lid.

Getting the film on the reel takes a little practice. Some people find plastic reels easier to start with but stainless steel is better once you learn to load it.

corryhully Loc: liverpool uk

[quote=Nightski]:lol: :lol: :lol:

I've done some reading and research on youtube. I think I might like to try developing a b&w. I think the thing that will be the hardest is removing the film in the dark and loading into that developing wheel without mucking it up. How do you do that in the dark? I have a feeling that doing it will bring all kinds of revelations. :sho

if your camera allows it on rewind, leave the film leader out of the canister. if not i use a piece of film to fish the leader out of the canister. you can also get a tool called a leader picker/retriever also on ebay to do the job.
once you have the leader out of the canister cut the film square across and most important round off the edges. now feed the start of the film into the start of the patterson reel until it passes the little ballbearings. this can be done in the light.
now put tank, reel, with film attached and scissors into the changing bag.
now wind the film unto the reel keeping your thumbs on top of the of the film guide on the reel pulling the film from the canister as you go. when you reach the end snip with scissors. the film canister never needs to opened. one more thing. keep the reel dry. you will have problems if it is damp/wet. put canister into tank. lock it shut. you are now ready for developing
this is by far the easiest way to load a patterson tank.

corryhully Loc: liverpool uk

if your camera allows it on rewind, leave the film leader out of the canister. if not i use a piece of film to fish the leader out of the canister. you can also get a tool called a leader picker/retriever also on ebay to do the job.
once you have the leader out of the canister cut the film square across and most important round off the edges. now feed the start of the film into the start of the patterson reel until it passes the little ballbearings. this can be done in the light.
now put tank, reel, with film attached and scissors into the changing bag.
now wind the film unto the reel keeping your thumbs on top of the of the film guide on the reel pulling the film from the canister as you go. when you reach the end snip with scissors. the film canister never needs to opened. one more thing. keep the reel dry. you will have problems if it is damp/wet. put canister into tank. lock it shut. you are now ready for developing
this is by far the easiest way to load a patterson tank.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

I spoiled myself. I had a bunch of plastic automatic Patterson reels for my tanks. Once the film was caught on both reels, you simply rotated the reels back and forth in opposite directions while a set of ball bearings caught the holes on the edges of the film and fed the film evenly onto the spools. Before I got my darkroom set up (the garage bathroom), I had a dark tent and could load 10-12 reels in one sitting.

corryhully Loc: liverpool uk

they are the type of reel i am talking about mogul. once you are used to them you can load a 35mm film within a minute. 120 can be a bit more tricky but as long as you round off the leading edge, no problem.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

When spooling 120/220, did you ever use stainless steel reels and, if so, did you find it more advantageous to use them warm or cold?

corryhully Loc: liverpool uk

ive never used stainless for 120 so unable to comment on that. i did make the mistake one time though of trying to load a 120 in a patterson right after being on a long bike ride. bad idea when too sweaty. took me best part of an hour. ive learnt from that mistake.

superpijak Loc: Middle TN

Use a sacrificial roll of film to practice with. Then use a changing bag.

Nightski

[quote=corryhully]

No, my camera does not leave that tail out ... but I was wondering if I could fish it out ... thanks for the tip and all the other information. It's funny. I can watch all kinds of youtube videos, but I never get the valuable little tidbits that I get here when I ask. Thanks Corryhully.