Thank you SO much for this tip!!! It works so well and has reduced my anxiety over loading a Paterson tank.

Thanks, I just ruined my first 120 film because I had not seen a video like this on beforehand.
I expected it to be more like 35mm. I was messing it up completely with backing paper and all, the reel fell apart. I gave up and used the ruined film to practice 🙂. Anyway it was quick shots I had taken to test the camera - so no life memories lost!

I’ve never been more engaged in a tutorial. I’ve purchased a home dev kit, waiting on chemicals so have watched a lot of these. The warmth and happiness you exude is truly lovely - thank you all the way from Ireland

good video, one other tip, roll the 120 tightly, as when the roll is 'exposed' to the air, it can be fogged, as like anything on a bobbin the edge is exposed, not on this film, but any gaps due to looseness can let light touch the film, fogging it, also watch to see the locking strip is intact, some 120 backs for 4x5" like my sinar zoom back 'jettisoned' the tab during wind off,  I recovered it, and 'stuck' it back on successfully and the film {Kodak Gold 200} developed successfully, aka no fogging.

Fabulous! Thank you! Just been standing in the darkroom for almost an hour trying to get 35mm on the reel. Dropped it on the floor couple times too. Turns out I hadn’t the reel locked down, it was loose and too wide and now I know why and how to fix it. Hurrahhhh! Had a coffee so back to the darkroom I go!! 🎉

@TadTadd I also got ready yesterday to develop 120 film for the first time since high school. And that too is a long time ago like @A7Dave777 said.
My memory was limited to the certainty that I could do it and that getting the film started into the rollers is challenging. Your solution was pivotal in my success last night, working in a darkened room and in a darkroom bag.

For people just starting out, this video is excellent. So many of the tips are really good insights, like simultaneously rolling up the backing paper and the film in separate rolls. Its the kind of practice that keeps a person doing film development at home for enjoyment. When it gets to starting the film into the rollers remember TadTadd's tips: fold the end of the film going into the spool first so it doesn't keep trying to curl up; 2./ get your fingers on the two tabs that form the entry point and keep them there because they are feeding the film in to exactly the right spot between your fingers and your custom plastic bit from the drink cup (or plastic milk bottle...).

Thanks, Tad.

Another great video! Just got back home from servicing a tractor so that was spot on;)

Brilliant pieces of advice!!! You single handedly helped change my mind from being “there’s no way I’ll ever be able to load a 120 roll myself” to “ok, with some practice I can do this”. Thank you!! 🙏

and thats not all she wrote, for the volume of the tanks, 350 mL for 35mm 500 mL for 120 BUT for 4x5" in the three reel tank[universal system 4] (with the mod-54 insert) use 1L so beware of this when you buy the chemistry, you can buy bottles for each size, a 1-shot (Ilford simplicity kit- for 35mm{1-2 rolls per sachet}), the 500ml bottles, or a 1L bottle, make sure you buy the right quantity.

Getting ready to develop 120 film for the first time since... a long time ago.  Great tips and covered things that will make my first attempt easy!  The plastic cup piece is genius.  Thank you.

You are lifesaver, i was thinking that my patterson roll doest open ^_^

I've recently been getting into developing, mainly due to the cost of a good lab, but also because I really enjoy hobbies, whatever they are, and so developing my own film is rewarding and enjoyable! I'm seen a lot of videos on the process, most have been really helpful! I've got all my equipment and have done 2 rolls, one was a roll I found (loaded) in a camera from an antique shop. it was a roll of Kodacolour 127 in an old kodak brownie 127! miraculously there was a photo on it after all these years! Once I got that done, I tried a roll of mine. when I tell you, trying to load a roll of film in a dark bag during a uk heatwave is my idea of hell and I'll never do it again! there were so many fingerprints and scratches, the film kept sticking to itself in the bag, I was sweating so much, it was a wreck basically. the photos were there, sure, but behind a plethora of marks. I'm watching this video nervous to begin my next roll, and this guy has calmed me so much! his voice is so calming and he seems like such a lovely bloke! really put me at ease and showed me the best way to do it. While I'm about to begin, and it may not be perfect, I feel a lot calmer, and more ready to try. Thank you for such an amazing video! ❤

I made 5-6 such "ramps" just now from a plastic bottle. .. should last this life time I guess. I had wasted 2-3 rolls in trying to load it on the spool a few days back and its so simple to load now. Thank you for this.

The most complete tutorial on loading ever! Thank you so much. I especially appreciate the advice to just put it away and go and do something else instead of struggling forever. I've literally spent 2 hours trying to load a roll, and it didn't end well! Edited to add that after watching your video and practicing about 10 times, it took me less than 5 minutes from start to finish to get my film loaded. A million thanks!

Thanks! The video helped a lot after my last two frustrating loadings on the 120 reels. The little plastic strip worked wonders and spared me fumbling around with the reel for 20 minutes.

Just loaded my first 120 onto a Paterson reel. Very frustrating 45mins. Realised I was using a copy of a Paterson that’s been fine for 35mm. Swapped to a proper Paterson reel and all done in five minutes. That tips about using a reverse-curl and fingers as a feed roller are priceless, it sounds like it will address the biggest problems I was encountering. Didn’t use any sort of feeder but will try your idea as I think it would have helped. I refuse to be put off an adventure in medium format by processing niggles. If this first neg is duff I’ll use it for loading practice.  Now it’s definitely time for a good cup of tea whilst the alchemy is warming up. 🎉🎉

That's a great video! Just what I needed. Thank you.

These are great hacks!! This will make loading my 120 film so much easier. I've ruined a few rolls by creasing, crumpling and fumbling in the dark bag

Brilliant...just getting back in to darkroom work and this will help a lot!

Your method of loading and holding the spool of film with your fingers while ratcheting it onto the reel is brilliant. I've been away from developing for years and now just getting back into it. I've been having an awful time loading any film. I purchased new reels (Paterson and a cheapo) and they don't seem to grab the film well even when it's in proper position. I love developing old found films but loading the developing reel is a royal pain. If I really didn't like the other parts of this hobby, reel loading would discourage me. Thanks