Re: filmscanners: To clean/wash old negatives on glass ?

[Michael Moore <miguelmas@qwest.net>]

Ezio: I will also be checking with some museum types I know... meanwhile my
suggestion is to NOT CLEAN the negs... leave them alone for now... if you have a
darkroom, make paper contact prints from them.... and work with those until you
get more info on how to deal with your glass plates... you could also scan them
and do your retouching in PhotoShop... but DO NOT try to clean them until you
have them checked by an expert in photographic preservation...

Mike M.

Tim Atherton wrote:

> Start with the distilled water and cotton buds, cleaning very gently. If the
> emulsion is flaking in any way, there isn't much you can do about it.
>
> Avoid the chemicals if at all possible.
>
> I'll try and check for more with our Museum Conservator on Monday or Tuesday
> for more.
>
> Tim A
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-filmscanners@halftone.co.uk
> > [mailto:owner-filmscanners@halftone.co.uk]On Behalf Of Chris Hargens
> > Sent: March 17, 2001 9:56 AM
> > To: filmscanners@halftone.co.uk
> > Subject: Re: filmscanners: To clean/wash old negatives on glass ?
> >
> >
> > Ethol sells an anti-static film cleaner. I use it on my negatives and get
> > good results. I'm not sure how effective it would be with glass negatives,
> > but it is gentle and evaporates cleanly. For scratches or water residue
> > stains/deposits, I've found Edwal's No Scratch to be effective. It works
> > best if you spread it very thinly (a small amount goes a long
> > way) over the
> > scratch or "stained" area. If there are multiple areas
> > (unfortunately, this
> > sometimes happens) you can also spread it over the entire surface of the
> > negative, again very thinly. To wash off the No Scratch, I use
> > Ethol's film
> > cleaner -- usually about 2 to 4 applications.
> >
> > Chris
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Maris V. Lidaka, Sr. <mlidaka@ameritech.net>
> > To: filmscanners@halftone.co.uk <filmscanners@halftone.co.uk>
> > Date: Saturday, March 17, 2001 8:06 AM
> > Subject: Re: filmscanners: To clean/wash old negatives on glass ?
> >
> >
> > >NO - NO - NO - not the chemical products for the windows.  You
> > might check
> > >the archives as cleaning film has been discussed here recently, but the
> > >suggestions essentially were:
> > >
> > >Photo cleaning fluid - Kodak's was found to be not particularly effective
> > >but a product called PEC-12 was.  If you photo store does not carry it I
> > >have saved the message where the manufacturer (a Mom-and-Pop
> > operation) was
> > >listed.
> > >
> > >Dry anti-static cloths - but be very careful with these and test the on
> > >something else first.  Cloths for household cleaning were being used but
> > >many of them have chemicals in them which could smear and/or
> > further damage
> > >the negative.  They are essentially for cleaning dust off, not the stuff
> > you
> > >found.
> > >
> > >Compressed air - again for dust.
> > >
> > >A sticky roller especially manufactured for film cleaning.
> > >
> > >I guess, for your situation, I would try the PEC-12 if available or the
> > >Kodak or other film cleaner if not.
> > >
> > >Maris
> > >
> > >----- Original Message -----
> > >From: "Ezio" <ezio@iname.com>
> > >To: "Film Scanners News Group" <filmscanners@halftone.co.uk>
> > >Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2001 4:24 AM
> > >Subject: filmscanners: To clean/wash old negatives on glass ?
> > >
> > >
> > >| Dears, after many months of 0 activity on digital photography
> > ... I have
> > >| started again and hence here I am to bother you all ... I beg your
> > pardon,
> > >| but I need your valuable help and advices.
> > >|
> > >| I have found some negatives (B/W) on glass 4'x6' (inches) and
> > I am trying
> > >to
> > >| scan them using a flatbed HP 6200 and Vuescan 7.0 .
> > >| The very first problem I have found is that the negatives are
> > particularly
> > >| DIRTY , spots, shadows of liquids (humidity condensed ? ) etc. ...
> > >| SO ! how do you suggest to clean/wash them ?
> > >|
> > >| May I use some chemical products I have at home to clean/wash
> > the windows
> > >?
> > >| ... alcool , and some other shining chemicals + soft paper ?
> > >| OR should I try to used distilled water only ?
> > >|
> > >| I want to avoid to waste these old glasses .... they are
> > family portraits
> > >| and I am sentimentally involved with this stuff.
> > >|
> > >| My goal is to print them after having scanned and worked with PS.
> > >|
> > >| Sincerely.
> > >|
> > >| Ezio
> > >|
> > >| www.lucenti.com  e-photography site
> > >|
> > >|
> > >|
> > >
> > >
> >