Loading Film for Processing in Paterson Tank

All the steps to load 35mm film onto plastic Paterson reels and tanks. Bonus section on expanding reels to accept 120 medium format film.
Edit: Misspelled 'Paterson' as 'Patterson' fixed in 2018.

[@phillyblunt138]

Straight to the point, informative, no rambling. Excellent video!

[@concerned_not_alarmed5244]

Best video of film loading on the internet

[@sandrastone7019]

I used to process 35mm film in the 1960s, I always used a changing bag to enclose the tank for loading, this was 100% lightproof and a very comfortable way to work.

[@oosmanbeekawoo]

👏👏👏 I've been reading the manual 1000 times, but nothing beats showing it to us!

[@chinanigans]

Thank you for the bonus part at the end. I was looking everywhere for how to expand my reel and thought I was going to break it when I tried. Glad I found this!

[@kaimcbride1553]

Glad it helped !

[@andrewbarnum5040]

I have been shooting film for a while now but just started developing my own at home. I bought a film picker for about $20 on ebay and use that to extract the film without opening the canister. Then with the light on I can start to load the film on to the development tank reel. Once I have the film started the lights go out (I have a bathroom with no windows). I load the film on the reel, put it in the tank and, seal it and then turn the lights back on. It works great for 35mm. I have not tackled 120 yet but that is next.

[@AleksUsovich]

Fantastic video! I kept having issues with film not wanting to stay in the roll but after cutting the film as instructed, I've no longer got the problem.

[@senorverde09]

I like your tip on placing your two fingers on the hubs to help guide the edge of the film. That solves trying to guess where to stick the film in!

[@kaimcbride1553]

I find that it helps a lot. glad you liked the suggestion.

[@memo-fq3ps]

Thank you! Now I can do this in my photography class without having to look stupid and helpless in the dark room with other kids doing it for me

[@loudhousemovieguy8252]

I totally understand what you're doing here! The only thing I never knew was that the film reels could be taken apart. Great info, dude!

[@JoyceJeffriesReal]

Very helpful; ready to try my first attempt at this. Thanks.

[@mudgie069]

You do realise you can pull the film onto the reel before you need to finish winding the rest of it in the dark? Makes it miles easier for the rest of the process :)

[@putkat]

Thank you for short and to the point on how to do this.

[@KhalidKhan-js1ej]

Great tips. Thank you so much.

[@hallfighter7]

Use a test roll with the lights on to practice starting the film on the reel (1:10) over and over until you have it down. It can be tricky to do, especially in the dark.

[@davidkline3568]

Thank you for making such a great instructional video; it really helps!

[@kaimcbride1553]

glad you found it useful

[@belrickardfilms231]

This was such a helpful video thank you!

[@HoangNguyen-kp5sz]

Great video! Thanks you

[@hotdogs5265]

Great video. Perfect. Thanks.

[@baba-sm1fm]

Thank you so much for this very detailed video. I am totally new at this. this is probably a stupid question but I am assuming the liquid will go in through the funnel before you close with the lid right? Also, could you do a video on how to agitate the barrel, I have seen a few videos with different suggestions and the warning that the film can get damaged if not done correctly, everyone with different recommendations but no definitive answer. Thank you in advance for the answer!

[@humbledtrader760]

I agree with @Jamie. I loved it

[@amosk24]

Thank you!

[@belialuedke1880]

awesome. Thanks. :)

[@JM-nf4rj]

Thank You! I have the very same Patterson Tank.. And there is one thing You didn't use... The "Agitator" tube... What should I use it for? Or isn't that necessary? Thanks for Your answer! :)

[@kaimcbride1553]

I think they are useless. We always agitate by inverting the tanks and rotating.

[@67madchops]

do you need complete darkness to load the film onto the reel or can you use a safe light to help you see

[@kaimcbride1553]

Must be in complete darkness. The film is sensitive to the whole spectrum of light.