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Negative Flaw: Loading Creases

1,039 views · Published 17 December 2018 · 3:15 · Indexed 25 September 2026

Channel: David Hancock · 2018 · Howto & Style

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Thank you to ShootFilmNotMoose:
https://www.instagram.com/shootfilmnotmoose/

Today’s video looks at a user-error flaw that is typically associated with 120 film, but can sometimes occur with 35mm and 110. These crescents have a few names, colloquially they’re half-moons or crescents. I’ve heard that the technical term is a “D” mark. They’re caused by the film being kinked during loading, and this is slightly more common with plastic reels than metal, unless you’re using the clip in the metal reel and don’t have sufficient leader space in front of the images to absorb the marks.

I have never been able to find a suitably good explanation on what happens within the film to cause this. The emulsion receives some stress and I’ve read theories ranging from piezoelectric processes to static to heat.

Frankly, I don’t know the answer as to what the underlying mechanism of action is. But I do know how to prevent it from ruining your images. Here are some things you can do:
- When loading on a plastic reel, trim the corners of the film just slightly to make it easier for it to pass without getting caught.
- When taking photos, make sure to align your film properly. This will prevent the first frame from being too close to the leading edge of the 120 film, and the leading edge is most susceptible to crescents. If your image is slightly further back, only dead leader will show crescents.
- Use quality film stocks. Low-end stock, I’ve specifically had this issue with ShangHai GP3 and Ultrafine 100, tend to provide shorter lengths of film to make their production costs lower. By trimming about 1.5cm off the leading edge of the film, low-end stocks place the first image near, or often right in, the part of the film most susceptible to crimping crescents.
- Practice loading film if you find you’re having issues. Practice is the best way to fix this if it happens repeatedly.

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Gear I used for Filming and Editing:
Video Capture and Film Digitization- Pentax K-3 (http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/products/k-3/) or Pentax K-1 (http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/products/k-1/)
Secondary Capture- Sony CX330 (http://www.sony.com/electronics/camcorders/t/handycam-camcorders)
Lens- Pentax 31mm FA Limited (http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-FA-31mm-F1.8-Limited-Lens.html)
Off-camera Audio- Tascam DR-70D or Tascam DR-60D MKII and Tascam DR-05 (http://tascam.com/product/dr-70d/ or http://tascam.com/product/dr-60dmkii/ and http://tascam.com/product/dr-05/)
Video Editing- Sony Movie Studio Platinum (http://www.vegascreativesoftware.com/us/vegas-movie-studio-product-comparison/)
Audio Processing- Adobe Soundbooth (https://www.adobe.com/sea/products/soundbooth/)

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