Compressed Air / Rocket Best Pre Scan Film Cleaning

[bwcolor]

Can I just pick up "Dust Off" compressed air from Costco and blow off the film just prior to scanning, or should I be using some more exotic/expensive compressed air products? Does the various size rocket blowers do much to clean things up? Where does the the anti-static brush come in vs. compressed air? I know that I have done a lot of moving dust around on a digital camera sensors. I'm trying to get some pointers regarding cleaning B&W film since digital ice won't be at the party. Also, what other products do you use? For example I picked up some Fotospeed FC50 Film Cleaner and cleaning pads for the glass such as Kimwipes and Pec Pads.

Thanks

 

[Dante_Stella]

Rocket blowers work as well as anything else and won't freeze your film.

 

[amateriat]

Rocket blowers work as well as anything else and won't freeze your film.

True enough, but when I'm knee-deep into an hours-long scanning session, having a can or two of compressed air can be quite a relief. (Try squeezing one of those Rockets 30 or so times in the course of several hours...it gets old pretty fast.)

The best solution is to find a quality air compressor–preferably one that has a decent moisture trap and a motor that doesn't make too much of a racket. But that only makes sense if you're used to having long scanning (or, in the wet darkroom, printing) sessions. If you're only doing the occasional scan, the Rocket can suffice. A good anti-static brush is another good thing to hae as well.


- Barrett

 

[nuckabean]

I use standard compressed air without issue all the time.

 

[glchua]

Someone recommended me a brush for make-up purposes made by Artisan and Artist. Very soft and made of squirrel hair. I use nothing else ever since.

http://whatthestigma.com/web/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=32&Itemid=64

Works very well. Just as long as it doesn't touch anything sticky. The dust can easily be removed from the brush by a few light taps. A bit expensive though.

I had never used compressed gas. But my experience with blowers wasn't very good. Once something in the blower messed up my negs and I wasted precious darkroom time washing and drying.

 

[wray]

I use a Static Master brush for negatives and Dust-Eze cloths for the scanner glass.