Help scanning old negatives

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Archive 2009 · Help scanning old negatives

chez
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p.1 #1 · Help scanning old negatives

I have a large project on the go scanning hundreds of large format negatives from the 20's and 30's. Some of these negatives are in rough shape. I am using a flatbed ( Epson V700 ) scanner which is doing a good job. What I need help with is ideas on how I can restore some of the negatives prior to scanning. Some are scratched quite heavily which the digital ICE usually takes care of. The bigger issue is that some of the negatives have something spilled on them which when scanned causes blurriness in that area.

From my previous darkroom work I know there was an agent that can be used to clean the negatives. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to go about this process and what would be the best agent to use.

thanks in advance.

harry

Nov 15, 2009 at 12:28 AM

Cicopo
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p.1 #2 · Help scanning old negatives

It's been a long time since I processed film but water was a part of the process so maybe a mild detergent test wash would be worth trying.

Nov 15, 2009 at 12:42 AM

Peter Figen
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p.1 #3 · Help scanning old negatives

You can also try PEC-12 film cleaner, which will even take Sharpie ink off.

Nov 15, 2009 at 01:23 AM

chez
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p.1 #4 · Help scanning old negatives

Peter Figen wrote:
You can also try PEC-12 film cleaner, which will even take Sharpie ink off.

Peter, how do you apply the PEC-12 film cleaner. Do I soak the negatives in the solution or does the film cleaner come with pads and you gently wash the negatives with the pads.

thanks harry

Nov 15, 2009 at 01:30 AM

mhayes5254
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p.1 #5 · Help scanning old negatives

Perhaps investigate the use of wet scanning. The scanning fluid can mask some defects. Scanscience has a wet scanning kit that I use with my v750. contact them to get some info.

Nov 17, 2009 at 03:16 AM

anthonygh
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p.1 #6 · Help scanning old negatives

Try this. Electronic stores have cleaning sprays used for cleaning electrical contacts etc. Smells a bit like lighter fluid....evaporates very quickly. It cleans negs brilliantly ( small squirt then rub with a soft cloth).

However, I would do a test first.....I only use it on B+W negs, so don't know how it will work with colour stock.

I would avoid soaking film in water.

Nov 17, 2009 at 05:16 PM

Peter Figen
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p.1 #7 · Help scanning old negatives

Buy the PEC Pads with the PEC-12. Spray the PEC Pad with PEC-12 and wipe your neg down. For a really dirty neg, you can spray the film itself, let it soak for a few seconds and then wipe. The PEC Pads are lint and scratch free. PEC-12 is pretty nasty stuff, but it claims not only to be the only archival film cleaner on the market but to remove residual chemistry not washed out during the original processing. I have no idea whether that last claim is true but I know I have seen crap come off of old film that other film cleaners never touched.

Nov 17, 2009 at 05:37 PM

JoelWilcox
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p.1 #8 · Help scanning old negatives

+1 on Peter Figen's post.

I've had no problems soaking smaller format film in warm water to get off serious crud (think chunky) before using PEC-12. A half capful or so of wetting agent aids drying without marks. (Started with distilled water, then found tap water dried just as cleanly. Have NOT tried any detergents.)

HOWEVER, I've only washed negs this way up to 6x9 cm. I'd be leery of washing a larger and especially thicker stock 4x5 or 5x7 inch neg. I have a feeling, unproven, that these could warp. However, for the thin stock smaller negs, this was the only way I COULD lessen serious kinks and bends, which was often the only reason I soaked them.

Nov 18, 2009 at 12:38 AM

chez
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p.1 #9 · Help scanning old negatives

Thanks for all your ideas. I think I'll first try the PEC-12 solution to see if that does the trick. Mike, in your experience does wet scanning hide scratches? Digital ICE does an OK job on the scratches, but does not eliminate all of them so on some of the scans, I have a ton of PS work. Also, the scan with ICE softens just slightly the images. I am wondering if I can eliminate Digital ICE by using wet scanning.

Nov 18, 2009 at 01:38 AM

mhayes5254
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p.1 #10 · Help scanning old negatives

I have only been scanning new MF and LF negatives so I have no experience with how it handles defects like you describe.

Nov 18, 2009 at 02:46 AM

Geofn
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p.1 #11 · Help scanning old negatives

mhayes5254 wrote:
Perhaps investigate the use of wet scanning. The scanning fluid can mask some defects. Scanscience has a wet scanning kit that I use with my v750. contact them to get some info.

+1 Wet scanning will mask a lot of small defects. Clean the negs first, then wet scan for the best results. Good luck!

Nov 18, 2009 at 03:38 AM

Peter Figen
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p.1 #12 · Help scanning old negatives

Wet scanning (I use Kami Scanning Fluid) fills in micro voids in the emulsion, minimizing scratches but probably not eliminating them. What wet scanning does that most people don't know, is actually make the d-min of the film (the clear base on negs or the transparent whites on slides) just a little bit more transparent. When wet scanning on a scanner that can tell the difference, can give you ever so slightly more discernible and usable highlight detail. And of course, the wet scanning drastically reduces dirt in the scan and completely eliminates Newton's Rings.

Nov 18, 2009 at 06:04 AM


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