Scracthed Negatives

[intinsifi]

How can you tell if your negatives are scratched? I got mine back from a lab, and they have some thin hairlines on them. Is that what one would call a scratch? Will those show up when I get my scanner?

 

[charjohncarter]

I don't know about showing up on you scanner, but they probably are scratches. Someone on this forum suggested using a thin (THIN) coat of vasoline to 'soften' them. If they 'show up' try it, it can be washed off. There are some commercial compounds for his problem also.

 

[colinh]

If it's a colour negative, many scanners will repair the image. It's called ICE on my Minolta scanner. It makes an IR scan as well and uses that as a mask to interpolate areas which have dust and/or scratches.

It's supposed to work really well. Unfortunately, it doesn't work on normal B&W film nor on slide film. 🙁

If this isn't an option you just have to use the PhotoShop clone tool (or simmilr in another program). Work at the highest resolution and lowest brush diameter.


colin

 

[intinsifi]

If it's a colour negative, many scanners will repair the image. It's called ICE on my Minolta scanner. It makes an IR scan as well and uses that as a mask to interpolate areas which have dust and/or scratches.

It's supposed to work really well. Unfortunately, it doesn't work on normal B&W film nor on slide film. 🙁

If this isn't an option you just have to use the PhotoShop clone tool (or simmilr in another program). Work at the highest resolution and lowest brush diameter.


colin

How did the scratches get there? Do the machines in a lab cratch them, or does the camera scratch them?

 

[markinlondon]

How did the scratches get there? Do the machines in a lab cratch them, or does the camera scratch them?

It could be either of these. Grit in the cassette seal or damage to the pressure plate in the camera will cause scratches but these would be consistent across the whole roll. Sadly it's usually just mishandling in the lab.

 

[payasam]

Scratches from a camera or a processing machine would most likely be lines parallel to the film edges. You could search for and download the free program Polaroid Dust and Scratch Removal. I'll be happy to send it to anyone who gives me an e-mail address.

 

[RayPA]

I don't know what lab you used, but most one hour-type labs can't seem to help but scratch negatives. Just watch the one hour lab personnel sometime. There are any number of places scratches can occur, when the film is dragged through the gate, or across the printer counter top (most places don't cut the film before printing/scanning), or across and through the film cutter, etc.

ICE should clear up scratches on color film. Wet scanning will minimize scratches on black and white. I wouldn't use vasoline, but if it works for others.... When I was a printer we use to use a special substance called 'nose grease or nose oil' I think someone actually marketed a substance called that, but we used to literally use the natural oil that occurs on the outside of your nose or face.🙂


.

 

[intinsifi]

Scratches from a camera or a processing machine would most likely be lines parallel to the film edges. You could search for and download the free program Polaroid Dust and Scratch Removal. I'll be happy to send it to anyone who gives me an e-mail address.

Those are the ones I am seeing. They aren't deep so maybe they wont show.

 

[ruben]

How did the scratches get there? Do the machines in a lab cratch them, or does the camera scratch them?

I bet it is the lab careless work.

Nevertheless, just to be sure, take care that your film cassetes will always be within their plastic cans before and after use. The felt attracts dirt.

The inside of your camera should be maintained clean as well, for not feeding the felt with undesired meat.

Nevertheless, I repeat, I bet it is the lab.

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[ferider]

Ice

Ice

It's supposed to work really well. Unfortunately, it doesn't work on normal B&W film nor on slide film. 🙁

It works on slide film (like Velvia, etc), just not on Kodakchrome, Colin.

Roland.