How can I straighten some rolled up film ? I have a partial roll of 35mm B&W negs that have been in a plastic film can for a long time. I bought a used scanner from a neighbor which...

HowManyPicturesHaveWeTaken Loc: CO

I have a partial roll of 35mm B&W negs that have been in a plastic film can for a long time. I bought a used scanner from a neighbor which has a built in holder for that size film. How can I flatten out the film for scanning ?
Thanks .... AR

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

HowManyPicturesHaveWeTaken wrote:

I have a partial roll of 35mm B&W negs that have been in a plastic film can for a long time. I bought a used scanner from a neighbor which has a built in holder for that size film. How can I flatten out the film for scanning ?
Thanks .... AR

Hang it in the bathroom and turn the hot water in the shower with door closed for 30 minutes.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

PixelStan77 wrote:

Hang it in the bathroom and turn the hot water in the shower with the door closed for 30 minutes.

Good idea! Hang it where the water will not hit it and place a weight, such as a clip, a the end of the roll. If that does not work, you might consider re-washing the film in a solution of Photo-Flo wetting agent and drying in a dust-free place.

If the film is not especially brittle, you might consider scanning it as-is before steaming or re-wetting just to make sure you have some retrievable images in the event of damage.

HowManyPicturesHaveWeTaken Loc: CO

I like Shapiro's Photo-Flo idea .... Thanks

ELNikkor

Yeah, what Shapiro said.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

E.L.. Shapiro wrote:

Good idea! Hang it where the water will not hit it and place a weight, such as a clip, a the end of the roll. If that does not work, you might consider re-washing the film in a solution of Photo-Flo wetting agent and drying in a dust-free place.

If the film is not especially brittle, you might consider scanning it as-is before steaming or re-wetting just to make sure you have some retrievable images in the event of damage.

Exactly what I’d do... have done. Re-washing and Photo-Flo 200 work wonders. 68-degrees Fahrenheit or 20-degrees Celsius. Dry in dust-free area with no air movement.

ecurb Loc: Metro Chicago Area

HowManyPicturesHaveWeTaken wrote:

I have a partial roll of 35mm B&W negs that have been in a plastic film can for a long time. I bought a used scanner from a neighbor which has a built in holder for that size film. How can I flatten out the film for scanning ?
Thanks .... AR

Have you tried reverse rolling the film and putting it back in the can for a few days?

ecommons

Don't waste water. Take a shower yourself ( or to save more water... with a significant other) with the film hanging in the bathroom.

charles tabb Loc: Richmond VA.

HowManyPicturesHaveWeTaken wrote:

I have a partial roll of 35mm B&W negs that have been in a plastic film can for a long time. I bought a used scanner from a neighbor which has a built in holder for that size film. How can I flatten out the film for scanning ?
Thanks .... AR

My goodness... I had the same problem a few days ago. I wish I could have heard the suggestions.
My Dad was an Armature Photographer back in my young days.
My wife found, in our attic in a cigar box with about 20 of his Kodak film cans which were all full of 35mm film strips. that he had at the time taken when I was a child. I am now 81 years old.
I finally kept trying and got what was good scanned. I had a hell of a time being careful and got what was possible to get. I had a heck of a time with the film curl also.
He even had a couple of pictures of The St. Mary steam ship in New York, at dock.

JIM H Loc: Broad Channel NY

Try placing the film between two pains clear glass

coolhanduke Loc: Redondo Beach, CA

If you have two pieces of glass, lay them in between and put some weight on them.

redorb

You can cut them into strips of five frames and put them into plastic film sheets.

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

ecurb wrote:

Have you tried reverse rolling the film and putting it back in the can for a few days?

There would be a danger of scratching the emulsion. Personally, I would load the film onto a developing tank spiral, and soak in water with a few drops of Photo-Flo added, for half an hour or so. The rolled film needs to be returned to a flat state gradually. Removed from the spiral, and hung to dry, as others have suggested. P.S. You might not have a Developing Tank and Spiral...Pity... Good luck..