Supplying exposed sheets to the lab

[craigmagee]

Hi folks got another newbie question for you.

Finally got a camera sorted, an Ebony SW45, and have lens/DDS/Film all coming for my first venture out this week.
I've decided that as Fuji have killed quickloads i'm going to start off and stick to using normal sheets with DDS's.

What I'm wondering is, how should i supply the local lab, the film to process??
Not got any of my film yet, so just guessing, but I assume each sheet isn't in its own little light proof envelope i can reuse, just all in a mylar packet!?!

So should I just give the lab the DDS's or keep an empty box spare or is there another option?

Cheers

[dave_whatever]

Get hold of an empty film box (the triple-box type) and unload your exposed film into it, then tape it up and send it to the lab. If you want the box returned with your film (probably a good idea if you're just starting so you've got some spare boxes) it might be wise to include a note with the order.

[Patrick Dixon]

Sheet film comes in a light proof bag, in a box with an extra lid. Once you get going you will have lots of spare boxes to send exposed sheets to the lab. Obviously you need different boxes to send C41 and E6 if you do both (most people process their own B&W). If you PM me your address I can send you a spare empty box and some ruined sheets of film to practise with. Once you start you will generate plenty of your own.

I stick a label on the box with my name and address, film type and a 'please return', request - which seems to work fine.

IIRC there are some YouTube videos of how to load and unload DDSs, which I found useful when I started.

[craigmagee]

Cheers folks,
Yeah just found a few vids on youtube, probably should have checked there first oops..
Was just wondering if anyone had some other fancy way of doing it

I can hopefully scav some old boxes and duff exposures off a guy I know, cheers anyway patrick.

[hmvmanuk]

Craig,

This was going to be my very next newbie question so you've saved me asking it! Cheers.

I'm going to ask a photographer colleague who used to shoot 5x4 if he's got any old boxes I could have but if not I might be asking the kind folks here if they can spare one or two!

Gavin

[dave_whatever]

Whichever lab you're planning to use should be happy to give you a box or two to get started. Peak sent me a couple in the post, gratis.

[hmvmanuk]

Good thought, Dave, thanks. I use Peak anyway for my medium format processing.

Cheers,

Gavin

[David Evans]

Hi folks got another newbie question for you.

Finally got a camera sorted, an Ebony SW45, and have lens/DDS/Film all coming for my first venture out this week.
I've decided that as Fuji have killed quickloads i'm going to start off and stick to using normal sheets with DDS's.

What I'm wondering is, how should i supply the local lab, the film to process??
Not got any of my film yet, so just guessing, but I assume each sheet isn't in its own little light proof envelope i can reuse, just all in a mylar packet!?!

So should I just give the lab the DDS's or keep an empty box spare or is there another option?

Cheers

Two excellent sources of information on this:

Paul Butzi's article h[url]ttp://www.butzi.net/articles/filmload.htm[/url]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikOI1XLB ... re=related and there's a Part Two video as well.

Peak Imaging gave me two empty boxes when I asked them.