Loading 120 film into a Paterson plastic reel

[mikedevelta]

As soon as my changing bag gets hot and humid things really get cranky, film sticking to film etc. I figure the window of opportunity is pretty small to get it right in there. Outside the bag is a breeze. Any tips?

[luketrash]

@mikedevelta In a classroom environment it seemed like we were always stuck using wet reels because someone had recently used them. With 35mm it was easier to load than 120 because the film is narrower. But water can stop you dead in your tracks because the film emulsion is so sticky. My advice is to relax and try to get your technique down. Iowa is humid in the summer and dry in the winter, so it's only occasionally a problem for me. Usually when I'm loading 12, 4x5" sheets in holders at once

[ADSLISKEWL]

@mikedevelta I put an ice brick in the outer section of mine

[ndjedinak]

Thanks for filming this! I have developed 35mm for years, but just tried 120 tonight for the first time after watching your video... Success! It was a piece of cake to load into the Paterson tank, thanks again!

[ndjedinak]

Thanks for filming this! I have developed 35mm for years, but just tried 120 tonight for the first time after watching your video... Success!

[senseiokamisama]

I'm thinking of getting the stuff to develp my 120s; now I know that I want a Paterson =)

Thanks a lot.

[oldirtymick]

I wish I watched this an hour ago, I have film washing at the moment and after watching this I know its probably 100% fucked, thanks for the vid I have quite a lot of film to get through.

[tnphotographer]

Thanks very much for the straightforward tutorial. I followed it and was able to load my first roll of 120 film on a plastic reel within about 3 minutes. (I had a much harder time with a roll of 35mm I tried for the first time recently.)

[jiro19781025]

thank you for your lecture. it very helps me.

[maxellsector]

Thanks man! Straight, precise and easy.

[MichaelPrvt]

does putting your pinky finger inside the roll as a guide endanger the emulsion?

[jimmytheslacker]

should have watched this before trashing my first attempt at 120 developing!

[baker2niner]

120 on the Paterson is harder than steel reels. The problem occurs when film has been in camera awhile - the end takes a set, so when you pull it through and begin to ratchet the reel, the leading edge will dig and often leave the groove and head inside and jam. The solution is to start over and reverse the roll end; hopefully the other side has less set to the curl and will not dig. The Hewes reel in a steel tank is more positive for me.

[RNGWRM666]

Does the backing paper have to be removed or can the film be processed with it still

on?

[luketrash]

@RNGWRM666 You have to remove the paper. I imagine it'd still develop just fine, but it'd make a huge mess. It'd be hard to load the film into the spool with the paper coupled to the film. It's completely loose from the film.

[AlmondBscotch]

My college has a darkroom. They have steel rings and tanks and dryers that fit the steel rings. After months of frustration and anger and after watching this video, I've decided I'm getting a plastic reel. I'll hang dry.

F#$k - this looks so much simpler.

[molemanstudios]

Thank you SO MUCH for this! :)

Thumbs up + Favorite! :-)

[museumofdirt]

Thanks for this video.

Just loaded my first roll of 120 now - it's doing a stand development as I type. I was surprised at how easy it was.

Thanks again.

[ViolentPassions]

I wish I could roll film that quickly! im definitely trying out this process. thank you!

[0tuco0]

Wow, you're touching the film more than need-be. Hand if from a shower curtain on a clip to remove the backing paper and roll it back up only touching the edges of the film.

[irishsheep]

this was so helpful! thanks a lot! really the hardest part is just to roll all of the film on the reel. you have to do it really fast!

[teoleoni]

Thank you very much for this!

[plqftr]

Great video tutorial ! Thanks so much for taking the time to keep film alive for the rest of us :) !!!!!

[bkaruvar]

Saw this video after sweating it out for about 30 mins. Thanks dude.

[anildeniz]

thanks for the tutorial. I couldn't find another video which shows how to do that. This one is very helpful.

[CoffeeAddictNL]

thnx for this tutorial. have a first scratch roll coming up so will be praticing with a sacrificial roll

[jmclusky]

Thanks for this - very helpful. My first time loading a 120 roll went nice and smooth ;-)

[echijin]

I wish I was that fast with a steel reel

[glenoakbabe08]

this is very helpful, but how do you change the 35mm reel to make it 120??

[pondo0105]

for most plastic reels, if you twist it backwards it should lock out of place so you can adjust the width. however i'm not sure how to tell what kinds of reels can or can't do this.

[roblarosa]

Very helpful, thanks!

[andyeah]

hey! thank you so much for this video. It was really helpful to me!!!

[MacBubbles]

This was BADASS. Thanks!!!

[burnddddfdfdfdfdfafa]

cheers dude

[gaszman]

Glad I found this. I'm going to try developing 120 film soon.

[AfterSimplicus]

by coiling the negative in the palm of your hand , do you not get the natural oils off your hands onto the negative?

[luketrash]

It must be insignificant, because it never affects the final result. I don't handle the emulsion side if possible.

[bonifaceplymouth]

Wonderful instructional video. I'll be recommending this to my students. Thanks for the great work!

[zOmegaXz]

You spool so quickly!

When practicing in the light with an already developed negative, the film goes on VERY easily.

However, I've done this twice in a dark bathroom, and it takes me an hour of fumbling before the film finally goes on =/

I can get it started, but it always gets caught or comes back off of the spool a few rotations in. Annoying!

[martinus197333]

I just spent 2 hours on that, with some shouting and cursing.. Now I will try again with this method. Thanks for posting this.

[luketrash]

Be sure to let me know if it helps out ;) Good luck!

[corwin]

great

[bluedesires]

thank you!! very helpful!

[liquidpyxie]

You can only read so many poor instructions, waste so much film, and cry so many nights before deciding to give up. I'm glad I found your video before I got to that point.  Thanks so much!

[luketrash]

When I first started, I read quite a bit, and nobody really described their process exactly like mine. I think the two important parts are pulling the film onto the reel rather than pushing it in and then using your hands in a manner to keep the film aligned in a straight shot to be loaded. It was a really nightmare the first time I tried 120.

[menosdetres3]

this was an incredible help, thanks for posting this.

[kipkeston]

hey luke, cool videos