My problem is that after my negatives have been dried, and cut into 5-negative long strips, they will not lay flat. I have too problems here. 1) They curl in length (as if to roll back up to be stored in a canister), and 2) each negative strip bows a little concave toward the emulsion side (as if they wanted to form a tube -- but not that much).

Is there anything I can do to produce negatives that lay flat? While this may sound like a trivial problem, I have accidentally scratched several negatives in the darkroom when the negative strip curved up while I was placing it in the carrier.

Details: I use 35mm TMAX Film, TMAX developer, Rapid Fix + hardener, Some washing agent (can't remember the brand), and photo-flo. I hang the developed roll of negatives to dry with a weighted clip (made for this purpose) on the end.

Thanks for your consideration!

-- Walt.Bowen (Walt.Bowen@jhuapl.edu), January 31, 2002

Answers

I use the same method I use for curling prints--I place them under a heavy book for a few days.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edb@unblinkingeye.com), January 31, 2002.

Under or in a book solves the problem perfectly. Actually, I usually just place them under a box of 11x14 paper until the next time I am in the darkroom.

-- Ed Farmer (photography2k@hotmail.com), January 31, 2002.

I agree that placing them under a weight will do the trick. Another thing that will help is to dry the negatives slowly. When the humidity is very low and prints and negatives dry quickly, they both have a tendency to curl. If you run your shower for a few minutes, then hang your negatives in the bathroom, the added humidity will slow the drying process and you'll find the negs will have less tendency to curl.

Or, you could always put them in a drymount press: 250 degrees for 5 minutes should do the trick ... Just kidding! Don't try it!

-- Ted Kaufman (writercrmp@aol.com), January 31, 2002.

I used to have this problem nd then I lowered the temp of my drying cabinet and used a humidifyer (on low) while the dryer was running also. Perfectly flat and dust free! I also don't use hardener!

-- Scott Walton (scotlynn@shore.net), February 01, 2002.

'How to get developed negatives to lay flat'
Look them straight in the eye, show no fear, and say "SIT" in a commanding tone of voice - or is that dogs?

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), February 01, 2002.

sit on that my dear

-- g.s.s. (g700@rediff.com), February 02, 2002.

I store my 5 negative strips in archival holders, 7 strips per page. They do not curl when I take them out to print.

-- jeff schraeder (jeff@circlesofclarity.com), February 07, 2002.