SECRETARY' S NOTES
Having spent a large amount of time over the winter sorting and mounting slides, it is perhaps worth while passing on a few tips to members.
My slides are kept in foolscap style plastic envelopes, each holding 24 slides. By the side of the cabinet is a light box with which I can inspect any envelope. The envelopes are grouped into areas, countries and special subjects such as aircraft or wild flowers. Within an area envelopes are filed in alphabetic order.
If you are projecting a lot, then it is a good idea to standardize on a common type of mount. Pick a type that is common and likely to be available in the future. Many types have changed in style and thickness over the years and this causes a lot of refocusing during projection which is annoying.
Two types which are good are:- T.F.M. from Kevin and Sandra Craske, and Gepe from Capital cameras, Crawley. Capitals are at least £1.00 cheaper per 100.
Spots. It is required to spot your slides in the bottom left corner of the mount. In the past it was usual to put sticky coloured spots on the slide. These frequently fell off when placing a slide in the filing envelope. It is far better to draw a 5mm dia. circle on the slide with a pen which uses permanent ink. This ink will not rub out when touched with your fingers. The pens are obtainable in Art shops and shops which stock office supplies. They are made for drawing and writing on plastic sheet used as transparencies in Overhead Projectors.
Types I have used are:- Zig PROJECTION F; Pilot SC-UF ULTRA fine Permanent; Staetler Lumocolour 318F permanent AV.
The Zig and Pilot have the finest tips and can be used to write titles as well as draw the circle.
Circles are easily drawn by making a template from a piece of clear plastic or celluloid about 75mm square. Bore a 5 or 6mm hole 15mm in from two opposite corners. To use place hole over the slide in bottom Left corner. Run pen round inside of hole. Its quicker than sticking on a spot.
Now - enough of sitting inside and sorting slides. As I write this piece the sun is shinning brightly outside. Time to get out the camera and have a look at Spring. Don't forget to have a go at:- Blossom, Spring Flowers, Buds opening, Infants human and animal, Green landscapes, Streams, waterfalls etc. etc. Hope you get super results.