cutting negatives

[JeremyLangford]

Kind of a wierd question, but should I just use regular scissors to cut a roll of negatives? I have been shooting multiple exposures with my Minolta SRT-101, and it causes the multiple exposure to get very close to the previous exposure and I need to get a clean, straight cut in between the exposures so I can scan them.

[steverett]

yes, you can use scissors

[colyn]

Check with a couple of local photo labs and see if they can help you find a film cutter. I use one that was originally used for cutting Stereo Realist slides but it works fine for what I need.

[bcostin]

I use round-tipped children's scissors. One less sharp point to scratch the film accidentally.

[Chris B]

This is the film cutter I use, a clean straight cut everytime.
http://www.calumetphoto.com/item/GM8007/

[shadowfox]

I use cheap and small scrapbook paper cutter, the one with rulers and blades attached to a rail. Search online for fiskar brand (not affiliated or anything, it's just the closest I can find to illustrate the ones I meant).

Works perfectly for 120 rolls too.

[JeremyLangford]

So will the cutters that just cut straight across the film be fine, or do I need something that cuts straight down?

[JeremyLangford]

This is the film cutter I use, a clean straight cut everytime.
http://www.calumetphoto.com/item/GM8007/

^That seems confusing to me. It looks like there is a piece of plastic that stops the negative strip from going past more a certain length on one side. Would that work with cutting a whole roll into 5 exposure strips?

[JeremyLangford]

this seems like a very cool film cutter, but I can't another anywhere on the web except for this one on ebay which is used and is said to be pretty worn out.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Film-Cutter-DrTs-favorite-Cuts-35mm-MF-film_W0QQitemZ320142350140QQcmdZViewItem

[erikhaugsby]

^That seems confusing to me. It looks like there is a piece of plastic that stops the negative strip from going past more a certain length on one side. Would that work with cutting a whole roll into 5 exposure strips?
The cutter Chris is alluding to is used to cut 120 film into individual frames. It won't work great for 35mm.

I'd suggest just using standard scissors-cheap and clean every time.

[Ronald M]

Hamma slide cutter is best. Illuminated from below, guide points, blade is in a track.

Next best is small scissors, smaller the better. Mine have 1" blades.

[JeremyLangford]

heres a link to the one Im thinking of buying. Seems like a pretty sweet film cutter.

http://www.3dstereo.com/viewmaster/fc-mmf.html

Its made to go on top of a lightbox which makes it look like this

http://home.att.net/~sales3d/cutter3.jpg

[nikonhswebmaster]

I have cut zillions of rolls with just plain old scissors, but they are not the best for slides.

[drewbarb]

I only cut mine with a special mitre saw I have mounted at exactly ninety degrees. It has a fine edge diamond studded blade. Does a wreck of a job.

[Bob Michaels]

Plain scissors over a light box has always worked well for me.

If you don't have a lightbox, spend $30 and get one. You will wonder how you ever did without it.

[infrequent]

@bob - can you suggest any? where does one buy a proper lightbox? is DIY an option?

[Bob Michaels]

Infrequent: try B&H.

I think this is one one I have http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/117090-REG/Porta_Trace_Gagne_1012_2C_10_x_12_Light.html (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/117090-REG/Porta_Trace_Gagne_1012_2C_10_x_12_Light.html)

Not sure of the model as I bought mine at the local photo shop.

This size is good as you can lay a whole sheet of 35mm negs on it. I haven't done proof sheets for years. I just lay the negs on the light box and read them with a loupe.

[ItsReallyDarren]

heres a link to the one Im thinking of buying. Seems like a pretty sweet film cutter.

http://www.3dstereo.com/viewmaster/fc-mmf.html

Its made to go on top of a lightbox which makes it look like this

http://home.att.net/~sales3d/cutter3.jpg

That exact same cutter came in the mail a few days ago. I bought mine from ebay, it was roughly the same price. I dont know why I went in that direction.

I fell in love with this thing on the first cut. It has a sleeve or a tab where 120 or 35mm film slides into to prevent it from pivoting. The semi-transparent part is great over a lightbox, I can see exactly where I want to cut the film. The whole thing is really light so keep the rubber stops on the bottom clean, they work really well until you place them over a dusty area then it just slides all over the place when making a cut.

The one minor thing I dont like are the rolling rubber advance wheels inside. I cut my negatives to fit in a sleeve so they get cut in 6 frames for 35mm or 3 frames for 120 so the little rollers end up slowing me down when I want to pull a few frames of film after a cut. They do hold the film in place but I think the same effect can be achieved by just holding the edges of the film while you cut. But since this is designed to film from framing it makes since to carefully inch out each frame before cutting.

But Im told they wear out after some usage. Looks like I better cut more film to get it just the way I like.

Anyway, this thing is fantastic. It makes perfect straight cuts. As careful as I was with scissors vertical lines wernt always very vertical.

Best 30 dollars I ever spent, until something even better that cost 30 dollars comes along.

[JeremyLangford]

That exact same cutter came in the mail a few days ago. I bought mine from ebay, it was roughly the same price. I dont know why I went in that direction.

I fell in love with this thing on the first cut. It has a sleeve or a tab where 120 or 35mm film slides into to prevent it from pivoting. The semi-transparent part is great over a lightbox, I can see exactly where I want to cut the film. The whole thing is really light so keep the rubber stops on the bottom clean, they work really well until you place them over a dusty area then it just slides all over the place when making a cut.

The one minor thing I dont like are the rolling rubber advance wheels inside. I cut my negatives to fit in a sleeve so they get cut in 6 frames for 35mm or 3 frames for 120 so the little rollers end up slowing me down when I want to pull a few frames of film after a cut. They do hold the film in place but I think the same effect can be achieved by just holding the edges of the film while you cut. But since this is designed to film from framing it makes since to carefully inch out each frame before cutting.

But Im told they wear out after some usage. Looks like I better cut more film to get it just the way I like.

Anyway, this thing is fantastic. It makes perfect straight cuts. As careful as I was with scissors vertical lines wernt always very vertical.

Best 30 dollars I ever spent, until something even better that cost 30 dollars comes along.

thats pretty convincing. Ill probably order on soon.

[ibcrewin]

Probably the best scissors ever made. (at least for cutting film, imho) The bent handle is a must when using a light box
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_no-8-razor-edged-softouch-scissors.aspx