Notch code

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
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	____ __ __ __ ___ \/ \/ \/ |___|
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	50/18
Fujicolor 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

An extensive listing of sheet film notch codes, mainly Kodak, including many discontinued types, can be found at the end of the University of Louisville Ekstrom Library's Acetate Negative Survey [1].

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.