Nordic Lab 35mm Film Loading Aid for Paterson Development Reels Made in Germany

• Load in daylight, spool in the dark: You thread the film into the aid in daylight. Then, in the changing bag, you simply finish spooling until the film is on the reel. No more fumbling blindly in the dark.
• No trimming of film ends: The usual beveling or rounding of corners is unnecessary. The film runs cleanly onto the reel without jamming.
• Straight spooling guidance: Holds the Paterson reel and film in line so the film winds evenly instead of slipping inside the changing bag.
• Preload and store: Load multiple reels in advance and keep them ready to use. Develop later at your convenience.

Design & concept: Nordic Lab (Sasha Yakovlev). Licensed design, made in Germany, and fit-tested.

Compatibility

• Fits standard Paterson development reels (Paterson Super System 4 and identical adjustable reels) in the 35mm position.
• Suitable for development in any Paterson-compatible tank.
• For 35mm small format film (cartridge). Not for 120 roll film – there is a 120 version for that.
• Note: Dimensions may vary with reels from other manufacturers (Jobo, AP/Samigon), so fit is not guaranteed.

Scope of delivery

• 1x Nordic Lab 35mm Film Loading Aid
• Without development reel, development tank, or film – these are not included.

Technical details

• Material: Plant-based bioplastic (PLA+), impact-resistant and dimensionally stable
• Manufacturing: 3D printed in Germany (Würzburg)
• Color: Black, matte
• Film format: 35 mm (small format)
• Compatible with: Paterson development reels (Super System 4 / identical)
• Function: Guide for threading in daylight, keeps reel and film aligned
• Made to order (print-on-demand) – short lead time, see shipping info

Details

Threading 35mm film onto the Paterson reel inside a changing bag is often the most unpleasant step in film development: working blindly, the cartridge shifts, the film jams, and in the worst case, the material creases. This loading aid solves that: you thread the film comfortably in daylight, no beveling or trimming of film ends needed. In the changing bag, you then simply finish spooling until the film sits cleanly and straight on the reel – calmly, repeatably, and even beginners can do it. Because it’s affordable, you can prepare several reels and keep them ready on the shelf.

The design comes from Sasha Yakovlev aka Nordic Lab, who develops tools for analog film development in his lab and shares his designs freely. We manufacture the loading aid under license and with his explicit permission here in Würzburg and test the fit on a Paterson reel. Sasha provides the original STL file free on his Ko-fi page – anyone who wants to print it themselves is warmly invited: Nordic Lab on Ko-fi. If you prefer a ready-printed, tested part with fast shipping from the EU, you can get it here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which reel do I need for this?
A standard Paterson reel (Super System 4 or identical) in the 35mm position. The reel is not included.

Is a reel, tank, or film included?
No. Only the loading aid is delivered. You use your own reel, tank, and film.

Does it work in a changing bag/dark bag?
Yes, that’s exactly what it’s made for. The aid guides the film and holds the reel and film together so nothing slips or flies around inside the bag.

Can I prepare multiple reels?
Yes. You can load several reels one after another and store them ready to develop later at your leisure.

Nordic Lab demonstrates the use