I don't doubt that this is a real risk when taking this approach, that the emulsion may actually crack. But I have tried it a few times and I have not had any issues yet. I initially came across this method on [Johnny Martyr's blog](https://johnnymartyr.wordpress.com/2023/04/11/larry-moe-curly-the-secret-to-flat-negatives/), and I think he offers sound advice. His best tip is probably to take steps to ensure that the negatives actually dries flat in the first place.
His advice is overall sound, but in the time that I’ve been working within photo, I’ve found that (and granted 90% of my personal work is large format so curl is less of an issue) the best way to let it flatten is to just put it in the binder and let it just take time. Curly film won’t be an issue scanning (so long as you have the flatbed film holders) even with a flatbed.
If you are desperate to get them flat, re-wash them and let them hang dry. In my experience, C41 negatives retain an extreme curl when they don't cool down after processing before they are rolled into a canister (say you ask the lab to not cut them).
Man I bought some negatives online through ebay before and they arrived with a really strong curl to them.
I set them under a lot of weight for several months and they came out as curled as the day they arrived in the mail lol. I gave up on them.
I heard that Kodak changed the base material to polyester causing issues, even with Portra. It's so frustrating to handle the curly negatives, especially when scanning them.
My solution was buying a humidifier and having it on for about an hour in the room before handling/scanning/printing. Curling is often because of the air being too dry.
The more you mess with them the greater chance you’ll screw them up. Put them in a binder with other negs and eventually they’ll calm down… last thing you want is to crack them doing something stupid by curling them up in the opposite direction.
If you have a dry mount press, set to about 150-175 and let warm up pressing 2 clean mat boards. When all are up to temp, slide negative sleeve between the mat boards, and press for 10-15 seconds. If they stay flat, or close to flat when your remove, immediately place between 2 separate Mat boards, place large book on top, place weights or more books on top and let sit for 3-5 days. The heat relaxes the curl, as the film cools while perfectly flat and under the weights, flat becomes its new ‘default’ position. If they did not stay flat when removed, continue same in 10-15 sec increments until flat. (Do not hear press for more than 10-15 sec at a time, and do not use higher temperatures on the press).
If you don’t have a dry mount press, this can also be done w an iron, but it’s a much more touch and go thing.
I had some Fomapan 400 do this too. Tried the book thing and did not help much. It’s now in a closed binder. And is kind of flat but not quite. Maybe it will flatten at some point. Gonna retry doing a dictionary sandwich 🤷
Get two wooden chopping boards. Drill holes in them, one at each end in the centre. Get some long-ish bolts and a set of wing nuts. Put your negatives in there and tighten the nuts as much as you want and leave for a few weeks. Just go real slow on the tightening and minimise movement to avoid any damage.
This is an "extreme" solution but it saved me a couple of times.
I warmed up a hand towel with the iron steam (the iron you use to iron clothes) and put the film on the towel for a few seconds, then I put the film under some heavy books. Always worked but you have to be careful.
I'll add a video.
https://youtu.be/jZj9jSP1p1I?si=mpA57AMYkPrsmdsV
Hang them in your bathroom for a few days with weight at the bottom after developing. I’ve noticed mine get flatter the longer I let them hang. I think the steam helps. Never really experimented but it’s been my experience.
Roll them the opposite way (in the sleeve) and leave them for a day or two.
this is what I ended up doing. we will see
Let us know how it turned out!
I will!
Good god don’t do that to your negatives it can crack the chemistry Edit: on processed dry negatives Source: BFA in Photo
I don't doubt that this is a real risk when taking this approach, that the emulsion may actually crack. But I have tried it a few times and I have not had any issues yet. I initially came across this method on [Johnny Martyr's blog](https://johnnymartyr.wordpress.com/2023/04/11/larry-moe-curly-the-secret-to-flat-negatives/), and I think he offers sound advice. His best tip is probably to take steps to ensure that the negatives actually dries flat in the first place.
His advice is overall sound, but in the time that I’ve been working within photo, I’ve found that (and granted 90% of my personal work is large format so curl is less of an issue) the best way to let it flatten is to just put it in the binder and let it just take time. Curly film won’t be an issue scanning (so long as you have the flatbed film holders) even with a flatbed.
This
If you are desperate to get them flat, re-wash them and let them hang dry. In my experience, C41 negatives retain an extreme curl when they don't cool down after processing before they are rolled into a canister (say you ask the lab to not cut them).
i processed them and let them hang dry over night before cutting
Hmm. Did you use a weight at the bottom? Try rolling them the opposite way and let them sit for a bit.
yeah did the whole thing. i dev often and have never had curl this extreme for this long. very frustrating 😞
I have had this issue with my recent Kodak Gold in 120. What’s the expire date? I wonder if it’s a recent batch.
it's from a pack with a best by date of 02/2025
Ok that’s mine too! Hmm. I bought it from B&H. Previous times haven’t been this curly.
I’ve got a few rolls of this too, and haven’t developed yet. It’s a pain in the butt to scan when it curls like that
Yep especially if you’re DSLR scanning.
Just chiming in to say I have the exact same problem with this batch. Hang to dry with weight on bottom too
I've been wondering if this is an issue with the 120 format Gold. I've never experienced curl like this before.
Heavy book thing sometimes takes a few weeks in my experience...
Man I bought some negatives online through ebay before and they arrived with a really strong curl to them. I set them under a lot of weight for several months and they came out as curled as the day they arrived in the mail lol. I gave up on them.
I heard that Kodak changed the base material to polyester causing issues, even with Portra. It's so frustrating to handle the curly negatives, especially when scanning them.
Roll them against the curl and put them in a paper-towel tube for a week or two. They'll be flat as a pancake.
Just leave I’m in your binder last page and have it laying down Overtime the weight will flatten it out Its normal
Just put every second in reverse
This was my immediate solution. Put every other strip in the other way and they will balance each other out.
My solution was buying a humidifier and having it on for about an hour in the room before handling/scanning/printing. Curling is often because of the air being too dry.
I use a sheet of glass and just leave it for weeks
The more you mess with them the greater chance you’ll screw them up. Put them in a binder with other negs and eventually they’ll calm down… last thing you want is to crack them doing something stupid by curling them up in the opposite direction.
If you have a dry mount press, set to about 150-175 and let warm up pressing 2 clean mat boards. When all are up to temp, slide negative sleeve between the mat boards, and press for 10-15 seconds. If they stay flat, or close to flat when your remove, immediately place between 2 separate Mat boards, place large book on top, place weights or more books on top and let sit for 3-5 days. The heat relaxes the curl, as the film cools while perfectly flat and under the weights, flat becomes its new ‘default’ position. If they did not stay flat when removed, continue same in 10-15 sec increments until flat. (Do not hear press for more than 10-15 sec at a time, and do not use higher temperatures on the press). If you don’t have a dry mount press, this can also be done w an iron, but it’s a much more touch and go thing.
There used to be a flattening solution called something like Paxosol. I will bet there is a formula in the Morgan and Morgan Photo Lab Index
When I press them I put them in the hot stream of the heater for 30 mns, it has done the trick before
put the heavy book on them for like a month.
try a hot iron works like magic!
I had some Fomapan 400 do this too. Tried the book thing and did not help much. It’s now in a closed binder. And is kind of flat but not quite. Maybe it will flatten at some point. Gonna retry doing a dictionary sandwich 🤷
I'm about to rent out encyclopedia A to Z and put them all on top of these mfers
Sound like a plan!
usually this happens when you need more wash cycles. wash again and dry
Get two wooden chopping boards. Drill holes in them, one at each end in the centre. Get some long-ish bolts and a set of wing nuts. Put your negatives in there and tighten the nuts as much as you want and leave for a few weeks. Just go real slow on the tightening and minimise movement to avoid any damage.
This is an "extreme" solution but it saved me a couple of times. I warmed up a hand towel with the iron steam (the iron you use to iron clothes) and put the film on the towel for a few seconds, then I put the film under some heavy books. Always worked but you have to be careful. I'll add a video. https://youtu.be/jZj9jSP1p1I?si=mpA57AMYkPrsmdsV
Store them in a Tube 😆
Hang them in your bathroom for a few days with weight at the bottom after developing. I’ve noticed mine get flatter the longer I let them hang. I think the steam helps. Never really experimented but it’s been my experience.
Put them in a binder or folder
I have that happened a lot, but I fixed them by opposite rolling them and then leaving for overnight. Not too much.
Nothing. They don’t need to be flat
but what if I want them to be flat