A notch code is a set of notches or recesses cut into the edge of a piece of sheet film to provide a tactile way to identify the film brand, type, and processing chemistry (e.g. black and white, color negative, or color reversal) in the dark. It enables photographers to identify the emulsion side of the film when loading sheet film holders, and helps processing lab technicians avoid placing sheets in the wrong processor. After processing the notches serve as a permanent visual record of the same information. When the film is oriented vertically (portrait format), the notches are in the top edge near the upper right corner when the emulsion faces the viewer.
Code notches and ISO speeds for Kodak sheet films
Type Code Daylight ISO Tungsten ISO Commercial 6127, 4127__________ __ _____ \/ |__| 20/14 8/10 Contrast Process Pan 4155______ _ ___ _ ____ \/ \/ \/ \/ 100/21 80/20 Contrast Process Ortho 4154______ _ ___ _____ \/ \/ |__| 100/21 50/18 Ektapan 4162____________ _ ___ \/ |___| 100/22 100/22 Fine Grain Positive 7302_______________ ___ |___| 40/17 10/11 Kodalith Ortho 2556, Type 3 Unnotched 10/15 6/9 Kodalith Pan 2568_______ _ ___ _____ \/ \/ \/ 40/17 36/16 Plus-X Pan Professional 4147____ _ _ ___ __ \/ \/ \/ |___| 125/22 125/22 Plus-X Pan Professional (PXT) http://125px.com/docs/unsorted/kodak2/f8.pdf ______ ___ _ __ \/ \__/ \__/ 125/22 125/22Portra 160_____________ __ __ ╰╯ \____/160 Tri-X Pan Professional 4164_________ _ _ _____ \/ \/ \/ 320/26 320/26 Tri-X 320 (TXP)_______ _ ___ \/\/\/ |__| 320/26 320/26 Super-XX Pan 4142____________ _ _____ \/ \/ 200/24 200/24 Tri-X Ortho 4163__ _ ____ _ __ \/ \/ \__/ \__/ 320/26 200/24 Royal-X Pan 4166___ _ _ ___ ___ \/ \/ \/ |___| 1250/32 1250/32 Royal Pan 4141____________ ___ ___ \/ \/ 400/27 400/27 T-Max 100 Professional 5052_____ ________ _____ \/ \/ 100/21 100/21 T-Max 100 (100TMX)_________ ____ \/\/\/\/ 100/21 100/21 T-Max 400 Professional 5053_______ _ _ ____ \/ \/ |___| 400/27 400/27 T-Max 400 (400TMY)_________ _ ___ \/\/ |__| 400/27 400/27 Professional Copy 4125__ ____ _ _ __ \/ \/ \__/ \__/ 25/15 12/12 Pan Masking Film 4570__ __________ __ __ \/ \/ \/ Matrix Film 4150_ _ _ ____ ___ \/ \/ \__/ \__/ Pan Matrix 4149__ ____ ____ ______ \/ \/ \/ Separation Negative 4131, Type 1____ _ _ ______ \/ \__/ \__/ Separation Negative 4133, Type 2_______ __ _____ \__/ \__/ High Speed Infrared 4143____ __ __ __ ___ \/ \/ \/ |___|Ektar 100 Color Negative Film_____________ _____ \___/100 Ektachrome 64 Professional 6117___________ _ __ ╰----╯ \/ 64/19 16/13 (with 80A) Ektachrome 100 Professional 6122_____ _ _ _ __ \/ ╰----╯ \/ \/ 100/21 25/15 (with 80A) Ektachrome 100 Plus Professional 6105________ _ _ __ ╰----╯ \/ \/ 100/21 25/15 (with 80A) Ektachrome 200 Professional 6176__ _ _ _ _ __ \/ \/ ╰----╯ \/ \/ 200/24 50/18 (with 80A) Ektachrome 64T Professional 6118________ _ _ __ \/ ╰----╯ \/ 40/17 (with 85B) 64/19 Ektachrome Duplicating 6121_____ _ _ _ __ \/ \/ ╰----╯ \/
Code notches and ISO speeds for Ilford sheet films
Type Code Daylight ISO Tungsten ISO Ortho Plus_______________ _____ ╰╯ 80/20 40/17 FP4 Plus (New)____ _ _____ ___ ╰--╯ ╰╯ ╰--╯ 125/22 FP4 Plus (Old)________ _______ ___ ╰╯ ╰╯ 125/22 HP5 Plus (New)__ ______ ___ ___ ╰-╯ ╰╯ ╰-╯ 400/27 HP5 Plus (Old)___ ___ _______ ___ ╰╯ ╰╯ ╰╯ 400/27 Delta 100 Professional_ __ _ ___ _____ ╰-╯╰╯╰╯ ╰-╯ 100/21 Delta 400 Professional (New)_ ____ _ _ _____ ╰-╯ ╰╯╰╯╰-╯ 400/27 Delta 400 Professional (Old)__________ _ __ ___ ╰╯╰╯╰╯ 400/27 XP2 Super (New)_ __ _ _ __ ___ ╰-╯╰╯╰╯╰╯╰-╯ 400/27 XP2 Super (Old)____ _ __ _ ______ ╰╯╰╯╰╯╰╯ 400/27
Code notches and ISO speeds for Fuji sheet films
Type Code Daylight ISO Tungsten ISO Fujichrome Velvia__________ ________ ╰---╯ 50/18 16/13 Fujichrome Velvia 100_ ______ ________ ╰╯ ╰---╯ 100/21 32/16 Fujichrome Velvia 100F__ __ __ ________ ╰╯╰╯╰---╯ 100/21 32/16 Fujichrome Astia 100F_ _ ____ ________ ╰╯╰╯ ╰---╯ 100/21 32/16 Fujichrome Provia 100F_______ _ _ ____ ╰╯╰---╯╰╯ 100/21 32/16 Fujichrome T64_______ _ _ __ _ ╰╯╰---╯╰╯╰╯ 64/19 32/16 Fujicolor Pro 160S________ ___ __ \_____/ ╰╯ O 160/23 50/18Fujicolor Pro 160C__ _____ _______ ╰╯ \_____/ O 160/23 50/18 Fujicolor NPL 160__ _ __ ___ __ ╰╯╰╯ \____/ ╰╯ 0 100/21 160/23 Fujichrome Duplicating Film CDU Type II__________ ____ __ ╰---╯ ╰╯ Fujicolor Internegative Film__________ _ ___ \____/ ╰-╯ 0
Historic Notch Codes
Sources
Note 31.3 of the RIT PhotoForum List FAQ File Kodak Tech Pub F3 Kodak Technical Publication P7-4A: Reference Data for Kodak Professional Photographic Products. More film notch codes. Kodak information on Plus-X Pan Professional with correct notch code http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/support/techPubs/f8/f8.pdf
References