Redscale film: a photographer's DIY

By Raz Cuculea

Something quick and fun you can do to spice up your analog photography is something called redscale film. Redscale film is basically film that is shot backwards – meaning light passes through the back of the film, exposing the more sensitive red layer first. Now, you can buy rescale film at stores like Urban Outfitters for $15 plus tax OR you can make your own. I prefer the latter, not only because you save $10, but because it’s super easy to do and it makes me look knowledgeable.

1. Take two canisters of film and sacrifice one by pulling all of the film out ( you should mark it somehow).

2. Cut the film out of the sacrificed canister but leave about 1 inch of material behind (save the “unusable” film you just cut, I’ll show you something cool you can do with it later).

3. Now take the other canister and tape the film in BACKWARDS. Meaning, do not tape the sides that look the same together.

4. Tape the film together. Try not to overlap the tape too much so that it fits into the canister.

5. Wrap a little electrical tape around the canisters to prevent light leaks.

6. Roll the film from the unused canister to the sacrificed one.

7. Undo the tape, cut the film, and put in camera ( you may or may not need to cut a lip for the film, some cameras need that lip to auto load).

8. Take some photos.

I’d suggest you label it and insert it in the camera as per usual. Keep in mind that doing something like this will make your pictures darker, so shooting in well-lit areas will definitively help.  ‘Till next time.

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