[Leica] Filing Film

[lea <lea@whinydogpress.com>]

Numbers. It's all in the numbers.

Each roll of color I've ever had processed (going back to when I was 11 years old)
was given a number. So the first roll is roll 1, second, roll 2 and so on.

Each print from each roll then gets that number written on the back. Any reprints
from that roll also get the roll number on the back. Some days I do the frame
number as well. Some days I don't. Depends on the subject and my mood.

The negatives (in the plastic sleeves from the camera shop) get folded and put in
numerical order one behind the other in plastic or cardboard school pencil boxes
with the numbers forward.

A little self-discipline here...I don't allow anyone to see my prints before I
number them and I don't put them in albums before they are numbered.

For black and white I make a contact sheet and 3-hole punch these then put them in
2.5" or 3" binders with their negatives. These are done chronologically
also...starting way back to my high school days when I first started processing my
own film. As I develop a roll it goes in the binder on top of the last one so my
most recent work is on top.

Each book is given a letter and each contact sheet is given a number. I start
renumbering at 1 with each book. Any prints then get the book letter and the
contact number printed on the back in permanant ink.

Going back to find a negative is easy this way as each print has the contact page
number and book letter on it.

Several weeks ago I went thru my negs and made lists of my 'work' negatives (these
are images from my card line that I typically reprint with some frequency) that
appear in each book. I created a table in Word, typed in the image name and its
page number then had the program alphabetize the list. I printed it and slipped it
in the spine of each binder so now at a glance in the darkroom I can find any image
simply by looking at the lists on the spines. I don't have to riffle thru pages of
negs and contact sheets or depend on my brain to remember.

This system is simple as can be and could easily be converted to track any type of
image...kids, spouse, pets, house, garden, whatever. I happen to need it for my
work images.

I would be happy to send you a jpg image of this system if you'd like to make it a
bit clearer. It isn't hard to do but of course it takes a bit of time. Once it's in
place, it's a cakewalk.

Lea



ternahan wrote:

> > Just a few....let's see. Over 400 rolls of color and 600 black and white have
> > at
> >> least one image of her on them.
>
> How do you keep all your images and negs orgainized? I am drowning.....
> trish

- --
Lea Murphy
Whiny Dog Press
816-333-9111
Home: http://www.whinydogpress.com
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