Arrangement of these descriptions: we have grouped these by physical type of film markings: V-shaped notches, square notches, combinations of V-shapes and squares, and no notches at all.

Description of notch on this type of  film	Wording on the film	Is this type cellulose nitrate?
1.	(A) Kodak Safety Film	no  (but see also samples 14 and 18)
2A.	(A) Kodak Safety	possibly
2B	(A) Kodak Safety Film	no
3.	(A) Kodak Safety	no
	(A) Kodak Safety Film	no
	(A) No wording	no
8.	(A) No wording (A) Eastman Safety Kodak	no
14.	(A) No wording	yes
18.	(N) Eastman-Nitrate-Kodak (N) Nitrate Kodak	yes
19.	(N) Eastman-Nitrate-Kodak	yes
20.	(N) No wording	yes
21.	(S) No wording	?
23.	(N) Eastman Nitrate Kodak (N) Eastman Kodak [can be safety, though]	possibly
24.	(A) Eastman Safety Film	no
6.	A) Ansco Safety Film	no
7.	(A) Eastman Kodak Safety (A) Eastman Safety Kodak	no
10.	(A) Ansco Safety Film	no
11.	(A) Agfa Safety Film	no
29.	(A) Ansco Safety Film	no
4.	(A) Eastman Safety Kodak	no
5A.	(A) Eastman-Safety-Kodak	no
5B      .	(A) Eastman-Safety-Kodak (A) Eastman-Safety-Film (A) Kodak Safety Film	no
9.	(A) Kodak Safety (A) Kodak Safety Film (A) Eastman Safety Kodak	no
12.	(A) Eastman Safety Kodak	no
25.	(A) Eastman Safety Film	no
13.   No notches.	(A) Kodak Safety Film (A) Kodak Safety	possibly
15.  No notches; film size 2 1/4"	(A) Kodak Safety Film	no
16.  No notches; film size 2 1/4"	(A) No wording	possibly
17.  No notches	(A) No wording	possibly
22.  No notches	(A) Kodak Safety	no
26.  No notches	(A) Agfa Superpan Press	no
27.  No notches	(N) Eastman Nitrate Kodak	yes
28.  No notches	(A) Agfa	no
30.  No notches	(A) Ansco Superpan	no

Additional online resources for identification of nitrate negatives:

More notch codes (source of this guide is unknown): http://www.srv.net/~vail/notch.htm

Code notches for KODAK sheet films: http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/support/techPubs/f3/f3.jhtml

Identification of film-base photographic materials (National Park Service Conserv O Gram Number 14/9, Sept. 1999, 4 pages): http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/14-09.pdf

A short guide to film-base photographic materials: Identification, care, and duplication (by Monique Fischer, Photograph Conservator, Northeast Document Conservation Center, updated Nov. 2003, 11 pages):  http://www.nedcc.org/leaflets/nitrate.htm

The dangers of cellulose nitrate film (includes a brief historical note of assistance in identifying this type of film) (by the Health and Safety Executive in the U.K., Aug. 2003, 16 pages):  http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/cellulose.pdf

Methods that can be used to identify cellulose acetate within collections (National Library of Australia, Preservation Services, National and International Preservation Activities [NIPA], Australian Network for Information on Cellulose Acetate [ANICA]): http://www.nla.gov.au/anica/Guide_pg3.html

From Richard Pearce-Moses (ed.) Visual Materials Bibliography (available in Conservation OnLine):

        Horvath, David.  "The Acetate Negative Survey: Final Report:" A project funded by the University of Louisville
        and the National Museum Act.  Louisville, Ky: Photographic Archives, Eckstron Library, University of Louisville, 1987.
        Unpublished report which received limited distribution.  A  history and analysis of acetate negatives, their stability,
        and recommendations for preservation.  Includes a guide to notch codes.  91 pp.

Caring for cellulose nitrate film (National Park Service Conserv O Gram Number 14/8, April 1998, 4 pages): http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/14-08.pdf

This guide was compiled by J. Todd Ellison, Certified Archivist, Center of Southwest Studies, Fort Lewis College, in July of 2004, and is for study/ comparison purposes only.

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Page last modified: July 20, 2004