Slide Holder Fronts

The “Front” side of a 2" X 2" slide, some of which are 35mm slides, 110 slides, 126 slides, 127 super slides and 828 slides is the emulsion side. In most cases you can identify it by the processor logo (e.g., Kodak, Fotomat) or an imprint such as “This side toward screen.” When you look through the front of the slide toward a light, any photographed text will appear backwards—that’s normal. If you can picture in your mind the lens of camera with light and a "photo" being let through the lens and exposing onto the camear film inside, then you can understand why the Emulsion is "up" and any text in the photo is backwards. If you look through the back of the fime, text will read correctly and the back of the film will be the Non-Emulsion side of the film.

Front side of a 35mm slide mount with logos—example view
Fronts: look for logos or “This side toward screen.” Text in the photographed scene appears backwards when viewed through the front.

Quick Tips

  • Logos/imprints = front. Many plastic mounts say it explicitly.
  • Backwards scene text when you look through the front.
  • Rare exceptions: some DIY/overseas processing mounted film backwards.

See: Slide Holder Backs →

Order Scanning