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Masking Tape
Keep a roll in your camera bag
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A china marker (grease pencil) makes bold lettering on masking tape but an ordinary pen or pencil will do equally as well.
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What is handier to a photographer than masking tape with its myriad uses?
Duct tape, you say? Stage tape or gaffer’s tape, perhaps? You might be right, especially where heat is involved, so we could rightfully include them as handy things to have, too. But, masking tape is something else. It is so versatile that it falls into a category of its own.
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Why? Because it holds things down or together and yet lifts easily without leaving much of a trace of its presence and without removing paint from the surface to which it was applied. (Keep in mind that masking tape is made for temporary use. If it is left in place too long, masking tape can be difficult to remove and can leave a sticky residue.)
Why else? Because you can write on it with just about anything. it is available almost everywhere, even from neighborhood convenience stores. it is inexpensive. It comes in different widths. You can tear it easily. It is light-colored and stands out against a darker surface.
KEEP A ROLL IN YOUR CAMERA BAG
Once you begin to carry a roll of masking tape in your jacket pocket or gear bag, you'll be amazed how often you use it. Use it to tape down the leading edge and sides of seamless backdrop paper. It’s great for emergency repairs. Wrap a little bit around a film cannister and use it as a label on which to write notes about the film. Tape a paper backdrop to a wall with it. Attach cables to a studio floor with masking tape so people don’t trip on them. Wrap strips of it around a cable you want clearly identified to make it look different from other cables. Wrap it around spare batteries to keep them together. Use it to tighten up a garment's fit at the back, or to wrap several times around a seat belt buckle in an aircraft to prevent accidentally undoing it when taking aerial photos. You will be amazed at how useful it is once you keep it handy.
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Attach the marked-up masking tape to identify your film cannisters.
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Voila! Now you know what is on this exposed film.
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DON'T BE WITHOUT IT.
Masking tape has a zillion uses for photographers. Like elastic bands or paper clips in an office, you won't know how useful it is until you don't have a roll of masking tape when you need it.
USE GOOD QUALITY MASKING TAPE.
A word of caution when buying masking tape. We have found that the national brand name tapes are superior to most generic or store-name types, which can sometimes tear too easily, be difficult to lift from a surface and may leave a sticky residue even after a short period of time. Quality is important, even in something as ordinary as masking tape.
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