I've ordered some Efke PL 100 M iso 100 3.25 x 4.25 inches/50 sheet film from Freestyle. Could anyone familiar with this film and its packaging tell me if inside, once the boxes are all opened, if there is just a single packet of 50 sheets, or is it divided up into several packets?

I do not have a dark room, but do have a dark bag, and I have been practicing, using Paul Butzi excellent guide 'Loading Large Format Film Holders' with some old exposed negatives. In loading them, I try to just touch the edges of the film as I load them into the dual sided dark slides, but there seems to be no way to keep your fingers off the face of the film. (My hands of course are dry and clean.)
Nor does there seem to be anyway to keep the fabric of the dark bag from coming in contact with the film. Am I being overly concerned?

I also will have to unload them, to put them back in used triple box, for shipping to the lab for development. But I have no real finger nails, can one use something like tweezers, or is there another suggestion, to extract them after they are exposed?

Any suggestions and directions would be appreciated.

hey peter k

#1 most sheet film will have triple box with 2 packs of 25 sheets each & Efke PL 100 M
will have a peace of paper between each sheet of film

#2 #A I use Basic H from Shaklee its a PH balanced cleaner BUT any
PH balanced cleaner will work in all parts of the Darkroom

#B you can use anything that you can find around the house to make tint poles
to hold the bag up I am taking about like a DOME tint

#3 finger nails let them grow BUT something like a guitar pick mite work
BUT not tweezers ! anyway the tweezers I have mite damage
#4 you can go to you tube "Loading Large Format Sheet Film Holders"
banjo

Keep the inside of the changing bag clean and the bag lightly touching the film should not be a problem. I wash my hands with Dawn dish soap and dry thoroughly before handling film. You can also use cotton gloves,
http://www.freestylephoto.biz/194356-Cotton-Darkroom-Gloves-4-pair .

The tip to make a tent may not work unless you have a very large changing bag.

Using any tool to lift the film up that has sharp edges or a point is a potential for scratches. A flat toothpick or a round toothpick could be used to lift up the edge but may be hard to find in the dark bag.

I switched to a http://www.freestylephoto.biz/25001-Photoflex-Changing-Room several years ago and it works well for up to 4x5/standard film holders. 8x10 is very cramped but just doable.

If there is an old film box in the kit then use it to store the exposed film until ready to ship to the lab. Get some black storage bags for shipping to the lab such as http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/15808-REG/Delta_13510_Light_Tight_Safe_T_Bags_with.html
. Be sure to mark the package Exposed film, open in total darkness only.