A miller Posted February 22, 2015 Share #1 Posted February 22, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have been using a rocket blower. The upshot is that it is improving my firm handshake. I find that having negatives processed and printed or scanned causes MUCH more dust and scratches than having the film developed only and then delivered to me uncut. This is my normal workflow. Then I blow, blow, blow. Call me "blow hard." I recently asked my lab what they do, and they referred me to a canned air product called Dust Off XL Plus by Falcon. They say that they use it and that, unlike other compressed air products, it shoots dry air rather than wet air, provided the can is held upright. So I am going to try it. What do others do?? Dust is not a huge deal for me, at least not for 35mm film. For MF film it is more of a problem, particularly with B&W where the dust removal feature of my nikon coolscan isn't available. I do find, though, that running the dust removal ever so slightly takes some of the clarity off the image. And it increases the scanning time by a lot. So I avoid it whenever possible. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 22, 2015 Posted February 22, 2015 Hi A miller, Take a look here How to do remove dust from negatives before scanning??. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jdlaing Posted February 23, 2015 Share #2 Posted February 23, 2015 I have been using a rocket blower. The upshot is that it is improving my firm handshake.I find that having negatives processed and printed or scanned causes MUCH more dust and scratches than having the film developed only and then delivered to me uncut. This is my normal workflow. Then I blow, blow, blow. Call me "blow hard." I recently asked my lab what they do, and they referred me to a canned air product called Dust Off XL Plus by Falcon. They say that they use it and that, unlike other compressed air products, it shoots dry air rather than wet air, provided the can is held upright. So I am going to try it. What do others do? Dust is not a huge deal for me, at least not for 35mm film. For MF film it is more of a problem, particularly with B&W where the dust removal feature of my nikon coolscan isn't available. I do find, though, that running the dust removal ever so slightly takes some of the clarity off the image. And it increases the scanning time by a lot. So I avoid it whenever possible. Have you tried an Arctic Butterfly? It uses static electricity to capture the dust and may work very quickly and not send dust particles in to the air en masse just to be attracted back to the negatives. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
2wk Posted February 23, 2015 Share #3 Posted February 23, 2015 Ilford Antistaticum cloth. It changed my scanning life! 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicaBraz Posted February 23, 2015 Share #4 Posted February 23, 2015 I use a Kinetronics StaticWisk Model SW-030 brush, cheap and does a very good job. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
A miller Posted February 23, 2015 Author Share #5 Posted February 23, 2015 thanks, JD and 2WK. JD - is the Arctic Butterfly a product for negatives as well as sensors? 2WK - I have a similar orange cloth and haven't had much success with it. But I will try this one. I Typically will wash and dry my hands between each negative loading and run my fingers across the negative strip before loading it into the carriage, followed by blow, blow and blow... The orange cloth seems to just get in the way, and touch other things that have dust, like the table. Perhaps I'm just too clumsy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted February 23, 2015 Share #6 Posted February 23, 2015 thanks, JD and 2WK. JD - is the Arctic Butterfly a product for negatives as well as sensors? 2WK - I have a similar orange cloth and haven't had much success with it. But I will try this one. I Typically will wash and dry my hands between each negative loading and run my fingers across the negative strip before loading it into the carriage, followed by blow, blow and blow... The orange cloth seems to just get in the way, and touch other things that have dust, like the table. Perhaps I'm just too clumsy. I would think it could be. It is very soft and when it sweeps the surface the bristles would pick up the dust without blowing it all over. If I remember right negatives are loaded with static. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
2wk Posted February 23, 2015 Share #7 Posted February 23, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) thanks, JD and 2WK.2WK - I have a similar orange cloth and haven't had much success with it. But I will try this one. I Typically will wash and dry my hands between each negative loading and run my fingers across the negative strip before loading it into the carriage, followed by blow, blow and blow... The orange cloth seems to just get in the way, and touch other things that have dust, like the table. Perhaps I'm just too clumsy. This cloth is a bit special I have come to believe...I think it is coated with something. I pull the whole roll tightly through the cloth, then a quick rocket blow or canned air and it greatly reduces my dust. When I'm not using it I keep it folded and back in its bag. Shake it out before using. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted February 23, 2015 Share #8 Posted February 23, 2015 All the above mentioned techniques are cures, which I am sure are moderately effective. However, Prevention is more desirable, if practical for you. Processing and scanning your own cuts out what, in my opinion, is the greatest source of dust and scratches. ie. Anyone else handling your films. Most 'labs' are no longer professional in their processing and handling (yes, I know there are exceptions) and will be the bain of your life. I am fortunate in that I have facilities to process all B&W and colour films. As a consequence, handling and transport is minimal and a simple blow with a rocket blower is the most I ever do, if required. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Henry Posted February 23, 2015 Share #9 Posted February 23, 2015 Adam, I have a compressor "Kaeser" for dust before I scan or before I enlarge with my Focomat. Here another brand cheaper ! Revolution'Air 425005 Miny Compresseur portatif: Amazon.fr: Bricolage Best Henry Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
A miller Posted February 23, 2015 Author Share #10 Posted February 23, 2015 Henry - what is the noise level on this? How much louder than my rocket blower? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Henry Posted February 23, 2015 Share #11 Posted February 23, 2015 (edited) Henry - what is the noise level on this? How much louder than my rocket blower? Adam quietest compressor than disturbance of the street Seriously I can not say silent but not noisy either Noisy (a little) only when the compressor is charging Adam look at this post (in "Other" thread "My new companion") http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/2795597-post29.html The compressor Kaeser is on your right Best Henry Edited February 23, 2015 by Doc Henry 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
semi-ambivalent Posted February 23, 2015 Share #12 Posted February 23, 2015 If I remember right negatives are loaded with static. I've eliminated a good bit of my dust problem (before wet printing) by, prior to brushing the negative, touching it to the incoming water line. Bare copper, it runs conveniently through the basement right next to the enlarger. A sufficient ground. s-a 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted February 23, 2015 Share #13 Posted February 23, 2015 I just pull the neg strip through the index and third fingers. I know some say this will cause scratches but in more than ten years of using Coolscans I have yet to experience that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
A miller Posted February 23, 2015 Author Share #14 Posted February 23, 2015 I just pull the neg strip through the index and third fingers. I know some say this will cause scratches but in more than ten years of using Coolscans I have yet to experience that. I do that, as well. But I make sure I do it with freshly washed hands. So now my hands look and feel like those of a reptile Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
friedeye Posted April 24, 2015 Share #15 Posted April 24, 2015 I use my fingers, as well. I've also found that some film seems to resist static - notably Delta 400. Don't know why - just does. It's base, which is relatively thick, also resists curling. It's much better for my scans (on an Epson). 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbealnz Posted April 25, 2015 Share #16 Posted April 25, 2015 Man, I'm glad others do this, I was hesitant to admit to "squeegying" my negs. I do this as well while they are wet, straight out of the Photoflo before hanging to dry. Not something you'd teach to new processing chums, but something I have been doing for years. Gary Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted April 25, 2015 Share #17 Posted April 25, 2015 Man, I'm glad others do this, I was hesitant to admit to "squeegying" my negs. I do this as well while they are wet, straight out of the Photoflo before hanging to dry. Not something you'd teach to new processing chums, but something I have been doing for years. Gary It's a bit like playing a violin. Requires exquisite control. I did it for many years but now seem to be blessed with dust free luck. I remove excess water by holding both ends of the film and 'snapping' it so that inertia removed water droplets that otherwise may dry and leave drying marks. Hang up in old electric clothes drying cabinet with door partially open as temperature control. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
indergaard Posted April 26, 2015 Share #18 Posted April 26, 2015 Rocket Blower (big one), Antistaticum cloth from Ilford, Antistatic and lint-free gloves. Wipe off dust with a moist cloth in the area where I handle the negatives prior to taking them out of their sleeves. After I got rid of my flatbed scanner and got a dedicated film scanner 90% of my dust problems disappeared. Do note that I had the Epson V850 flatbed however, with it's ridiculous holders with AN-glass inserts. Not really glass, but plexi-glass, which is one of the most statically charged materials available. The people at Epson that decided to use Plexi glass as inserts for a film holder should be thrown into the open sea and left there. The most stupid idea ever. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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