A (New?) Way To Flatten Negatives

I get my C-41 done outside my darkroom and it always comes back uncut (at my
request) in a film canister curled up (which sucks). I cut it into strips of
five and put it in Print Files. I've tried letting them hang weighted,
rewashing and using heavy books to flatten my curlie film all with varying
degress of sucess. Then, this morning I discovered a neat trick I thought
I'd share. We have a buckwheat hull pillow (10"x12") that we often throw in
the microwave for 3 minutes for curing sore backs and aching joints. The
pillow comes out of the mic' with a nice even heat probably around 50 to 70
degrees celcius. Not only is it the perfect size but it's also heavy enough
to hold a Print File full of curlie negs nice and flat. After about 30
minutes my negs are nearly perfectly flat. I leave it on long enough that it
cools and allows the negs to set in their new position.

"Alan Smithee" ha scritto nel messaggio
news:ZLQFg.425153$Mn5.164631@pd7tw3no...
I get my C-41 done outside my darkroom and it always comes back uncut (at
my
request) in a film canister curled up (which sucks). I cut it into strips
of
five and put it in Print Files. I've tried letting them hang weighted,
rewashing and using heavy books to flatten my curlie film all with varying
degress of sucess. Then, this morning I discovered a neat trick I thought
I'd share. We have a buckwheat hull pillow (10"x12") that we often throw
in
the microwave for 3 minutes for curing sore backs and aching joints. The
pillow comes out of the mic' with a nice even heat probably around 50 to
70
degrees celcius. Not only is it the perfect size but it's also heavy
enough
to hold a Print File full of curlie negs nice and flat. After about 30
minutes my negs are nearly perfectly flat. I leave it on long enough that
it
cools and allows the negs to set in their new position.


well worth keeping in mind:-)
thx, Luca_______Italy

In article ZLQFg.425153$Mn5.164631@pd7tw3no,
says...
I get my C-41 done outside my darkroom and it always comes back uncut (at my
request) in a film canister curled up (which sucks). I cut it into strips of
five and put it in Print Files. I've tried letting them hang weighted,
rewashing and using heavy books to flatten my curlie film all with varying
degress of sucess. Then, this morning I discovered a neat trick I thought
I'd share. We have a buckwheat hull pillow (10"x12") that we often throw in
the microwave for 3 minutes for curing sore backs and aching joints. The
pillow comes out of the mic' with a nice even heat probably around 50 to 70
degrees celcius. Not only is it the perfect size but it's also heavy enough
to hold a Print File full of curlie negs nice and flat. After about 30
minutes my negs are nearly perfectly flat. I leave it on long enough that it
cools and allows the negs to set in their new position.

I suggest finding a different photofinisher! Delivering the film in a
canister can lead to scratches and dirt.
A better place would offer the options of uncut in a long acetate sleeve
or even cut to your specs and inserted into Print File pages that you
provide.
When I get film returned uncut the place I use sleeves and keeps it
hanging until I pick it up so it is never rolled up. They do this for
both 35mm and 120.
--
Robert D Feinman
Landscapes, Cityscapes and Panoramic Photographs
http://robertdfeinman.com
mail:

"Alan Smithee" wrote in message
news:ZLQFg.425153$Mn5.164631@pd7tw3no...
I get my C-41 done outside my darkroom and it always comes back uncut (at
my
request) in a film canister curled up (which sucks). I cut it into strips
of
five and put it in Print Files. I've tried letting them hang weighted,
rewashing and using heavy books to flatten my curlie film all with varying
degress of sucess. Then, this morning I discovered a neat trick I thought
I'd share. We have a buckwheat hull pillow (10"x12") that we often throw
in
the microwave for 3 minutes for curing sore backs and aching joints. The
pillow comes out of the mic' with a nice even heat probably around 50 to
70
degrees celcius. Not only is it the perfect size but it's also heavy
enough
to hold a Print File full of curlie negs nice and flat. After about 30
minutes my negs are nearly perfectly flat. I leave it on long enough that
it
cools and allows the negs to set in their new position.

Thanks!