Dust & Scratches

[HuubL]

Don't really know if this post is for fun or frustration, shame or cynicism. I have so many of these...
Is this the fate of the bulk loader, the home developer?
What's your experience. Show us...

Leica IIIa-syn + uncoated 50mm Elmar

Leica IIIa-syn + uncoated Summitar

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

You should be able to do a lot better than that. Keep processing equipment stored in dust free containers. Rinse tanks, tempering bath containers, etc. before use. Keep you changing bag if used dust free; mine lives in a plastic zip lock. Use distilled water for the last rinse or two if your tap supply is less than perfectly clean (or even if it is, perhaps). The biggie: keep you scanner under a dust cover, when not in use, and blow it down before hand.

No magic bullet cure, just have to take a holistic approach to dust prevention and eradication at every step in the imaging workflow.
Cheers
Brett

 

[chris7521]

I agree with Brett. I had similar results before I started being more careful.
I'm no expert but, since I have filtered my developer( I use D76) and use distilled water for mixing, I don't get spots anymore. I also do not use a squeegee. I only use photo-flo and don't touch the negatives for several hours. No more scratches or water spots. As far as dust, you just need to be more careful. Try blowing off the negatives before scanning too.

 

[clayne]

That second one is pretty gnarly. It almost has it's own thing going on.

 

[Roger Hicks]

. . . Is this the fate of the bulk loader, the home developer? . . .

All of the above, and more. Further candidates include scratchy old cassettes and dirty water (see http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/mt paterson water filter.html ). Pay attention to detail at every stage, as Brett says.

Cheers,

R.

 

[mugent]

In my experience, it's drying the film and scanning is where the worst dust comes from. Dry in a non-dusty environment where you don't get any foot traffic (or any other kind).
Keep the scanner spotlessly clean, it's near impossible to keep it dust free, but try your best. 🙂

 

[HuubL]

Thanks for your suggestions guys. But what I actually aimed for with this post is to start a thread with YOUR results. 🙂. I'm sure you have examples of your own. I dare you: photos please...

 

[nikon_sam]

To find samples I'd have to find negs from way back in high school when I kept them in regular envelopes instead of sleeves...I haven't had these problems in decades...I spend way too much time examining a neg for any spot of dust just to avoid this...
I bulk load and develop my own...I don't think I've ever seen what you're getting...sorry...

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Thanks for your suggestions guys. But what I actually aimed for with this post is to start a thread with YOUR results. 🙂. I'm sure you have examples of your own. I dare you: photos please...

Well, I tend to clone out any spots that make it through (there are nearly always a few, no matter what you do). But to keep you happy, here's a shot from the last roll I processed, that I haven't had a chance to edit yet. It's straight off the scanner.
Minolta SRT-101; Rokkor MC 135mm f/2.8; Ilford Pan F Plus ISO 50 processed in ID-11.

Location is Sullivans Cove, Hobart, Tasmania, on the River Derwent.
Cheers,
Brett

 

[Photo_Smith]

Looks like static rather than dirt picked up during development, anti static wipes on the scanner and the area help as does neg sleeves and proper storage.
Keep the drying area clean also, but looking at these they seem to be attracting dust due to static.
If you look on this frame you'll see the static dust:

I have a zerostat antistatic gun which means I rarely see the dust bunnies.

 

[gns]

That all looks like stuff from after processing, IE: drying and handling after drying.
Anything from bulk loader, etc. (pre exposure) would result in black spots on your prints.

 

[mdarnton]

Your first picture convinces me that you live in a place that is far too cool for anyone to provide long-distance consultation. You have too many problems to diagnose over the internet. What you really need to do is invite me to visit you, and we can work through it all in person, together, in your own context. I have nearly 50 years of experience in the darkroom, and can help you.

But only in person.


🙂 Additionally, you can now tell your friends that you have been stalked on the internet.

 

[one90guy]

My Canon scanner is a dust magnet, I keep it covered but still must clean it before use. I keep a Hepa filtered air filter running on low 24/7 in the darkroom. Good luck with dust control.

David

 

[HuubL]

Your first picture convinces me that you live in a place that is far too cool for anyone to provide long-distance consultation. You have too many problems to diagnose over the internet. What you really need to do is invite me to visit you, and we can work through it all in person, together, in your own context. I have nearly 50 years of experience in the darkroom, and can help you.

But only in person.


🙂 Additionally, you can now tell your friends that you have been stalked on the internet.

Thanks for your kind offer.
Now if I would finally sell that M4 that's for sale in the classifieds, it would help funding your consultancy 🙂

 

[robbeiflex]

I can't post an example as I'm traveling, but I used to get terrible dust bunnies when our house was newly built. They are especially fun (and annoying) on portraits. I bought one of Ilford's anti-static cloths for wiping the glass on my scanner, and I now dry my film in the shower after spraying down the walls, and these techniques save precious time in post.

Cheers,
Rob