How do you flatten film strips that are curled?

[DG]

Hello and thanks for the help,

I have some Kodak Kodacolor medium format film strips (taken around 1968)
that I would like to scan with my Epson 4870.

Unfortunately, these strips are not flat. They curl, even when placed in a
film strip holder.

I've tried placing them in sheaths (to protect them) and then putting them
under books for several weeks. But they spring back to their curled shape
once they are removed from the sheaths.

So do you have any experience that you could share on how to flatten film
strips that are curled?

thanks,
DG

 

[-]

Have you tried flipping the film the other way and inserting it into the
Epson carrier? Sometimes that will "work" better on controling the film.
The flattening under weight would have been my first suggestion. I am
surprised it didn't work better. Did you scan the film immediately after
taking it out from under pressure? With film that old, I worry about other
techniques.

Doug

 

[UrbanVoyeur]

So do you have any experience that you could share on how to flatten film
strips that are curled?

thanks,
DG

Under stacks of heavy books for several weeks. It helps if it is a
little humid and warm. (like NYC in the summer)

 

[CSM1]

Hello and thanks for the help,

I have some Kodak Kodacolor medium format film strips (taken around 1968)
that I would like to scan with my Epson 4870.

Unfortunately, these strips are not flat. They curl, even when placed in
a film strip holder.

I've tried placing them in sheaths (to protect them) and then putting them
under books for several weeks. But they spring back to their curled shape
once they are removed from the sheaths.

So do you have any experience that you could share on how to flatten film
strips that are curled?

thanks,
DG

Try on one piece before doing all of the film.

If you are brave enough, wash the film in cold water. Then dry.

I hang the film strip with wood clothes pins and I used a hair drier when I
was processing my own film. Don't overheat the film. If you heat both sides
of the film, you can stop the curling.

If you hang to air dry, the film will curl.
You can also dry between terrycloth towels with a light weight.

They should have a PhotoFlo treatment after washing.
http://www.adorama.com/KKPF200P.html?searchinfo=photo flo&item_no=1

Different brand. Lower cost.
http://www.adorama.com/CHRHW16.html

 

[kolwicz]

I hang my 220 strips from the top of a door with a spring clamp on the
bottom that is heavy enough to pull the strip straight. It usually
straightens out overnight or in 2 days at the most.

Frank

 

[Roy]

Try on one piece before doing all of the film.

If you are brave enough, wash the film in cold water. Then dry.

I hang the film strip with wood clothes pins and I used a hair drier when
I was processing my own film. Don't overheat the film. If you heat both
sides of the film, you can stop the curling.

If you hang to air dry, the film will curl.
You can also dry between terrycloth towels with a light weight.

They should have a PhotoFlo treatment after washing.
http://www.adorama.com/KKPF200P.html?searchinfo=photo flo&item_no=1

Different brand. Lower cost.
http://www.adorama.com/CHRHW16.html

Plastic Clothes Pegs are better. Some wooden ones can stain the Film.

Roy G

 

[Tom Ellliott]

Rewash, re photoflow, plastic clothes pins with heavy weights.
Then I use optical glass (from a glass 4x5 (or 8x10 contact printer) glass
neg carrier. Then all you have to worry about is newton rings, but then
there are AnitNewtonRing glass that comes in various sizes from either a
photo store (B&H will more than likely have it) or Edmund Scientific. Edmund
has all sorts of neat stuff.
Yours,
Tom