Dust

[Paul Jenkin]

Sorry if this question has been asked before but I'm relatively new and definitely a newbie to scanning negatives.

Because we're short of space, I have to use our second bedroom as a makeshift study / office. Problem is, I'm having a hell of a job keeping negatives dust-free while I scan them on my Epson V750.

The digital ice programme doesn't work on black and white and the dust reduction programme produces some pretty weird effects.

Anyone have this problem or, better still, a cure for it. (And, yes, we do use a vacuum cleaner and keep the place clean - it seems to be a static thing....)

Hope someone can help.

Paul :bang:

 

[oscroft]

Hi Paul,

I always use a blower bulb on my negs whenever I scan them - some people use a can of compressed air. I put the negs in the holder, blow any dust off both sides, blow any dust off the scanner bed (I use a V700), and then close the lid quickly. I find this gets rid of almost all the dust - I spot the rest digitally.

As you say, digital ICE doesn't work with silver-based B&W, and I would never use the s/w dust reduction thing because it takes a lot of dust-sized detail out of the image too.

 

[lZr]

I brush my negs and scanner glass (Epson 4990) and it works nice fore me. If I see dust spots after scan they are easy removed in software. Hope You don't have them on the eyes of the subject.

Forced air from blowers is bad idea. They import dust for you the cheap way

 

[oscroft]

Hi lZr,

Forced air from blowers is bad idea. They import dust for you the cheap way

I'm not sure I understand what you mean - could you explain?

 

[skibeerr]

Hi lZr,


I'm not sure I understand what you mean - could you explain?

The old Ansel Adams wrote " I prefer vacuum cleaners, compressed air just blows the dust around."

I live in a dresser/darkroom just as yours and dust rules there :bang:
I get sort of good results by wiping the negatives+glas holder with an anti static cloth.

My eye is on our bathroom with its nice clean tiles but the significant other, further reffered to as SO, holds her ground.🙁

 

[oscroft]

The old Ansel Adams wrote " I prefer vacuum cleaners, compressed air just blows the dust around."

Sure, a vacuum will properly remove dust and will be better than blowing it away, but that's not what I'm asking - I'm asking why blowing dust off is actually a bad idea (rather than not as good an idea as sucking it off).

I know it works for me. I see dust on the neg, I blow it off, I see it isn't there any more - I really can't see how anyone can tell me that's a bad idea.

 

[payasam]

Alan, like you I blow away dust with a bulb. It is a local affair in a small area. I expect Lazar is speaking of blowing air into an enclosed space.

 

[hans voralberg]

Blowing works here as well, but camel hair brush anyone? Retrographic just started stocking them

 

[lZr]

Hi All,

I mean simply, that blowing imports dust from the tool you use for. Supose the neg ia a little bit humid and the situation can be worse. Better to use some kind of antistatic cloth. The celuloid is a good coopt for dust in dry environment (as is my climate)
Blowing air is efficient for big particles if they are available

 

[Sparrow]

Humidifiers are good as they can significantly reduce static, ionisers, those domestic deodorisers will also help to remove particles from the air, if it’s practical a tacky surfaces work really well, the darkrooms at the college I went to had beeswax panels on the wall to “collect” the dust and worked really well.

Bad things are textiles, pets and people, they all shed dust. Heat-sources also play a part moving the stuff about.

I’ve used compressed air, from a compressor, for years but I’ve wondered for a while if a vacuum device of some sort would be better.

I hate dust, it’s evil

 

[lZr]

Also I like Humidifiers, but in the environment for drying the hanging film. After that is not in any advantage.
2 more things to take care for are:
1 - after rinsing the film I use anti water drops detergent. Its tracks and
2 - my fingers dancing over the neg and looking after something are good targets
for dust collecting

About the flatbad scanner glass: I use windshield sparay or glass/mirror spray and brush the scanner glass with toilet paper. I think it is good for finger tracks and seen particles

 

[oscroft]

Blowing air is efficient for big particles if they are available

Not just for big particles - it greatly reduces the amount of small fine dust too. I'm not just making this up - I really have done some proper comparisons, and use of a blower bulb really does make a big difference.

 

[lZr]

Thanks Alan. I'll check this blower bulb. I don't know exactly what is it. Warm or cold? It attracts or detracts? Antistatic creature? If it blows, there must be some kind of air movement. Right?

 

[payasam]

Lazar, a blower bulb is a simple hollow sphere or cylinder of rubber. Similar to the bulb attached to a blood pressure instrument, except it has a nozzle. I buy the ones used by people who repair mechanical clocks.

 

[Sparrow]

Also I like Humidifiers, but in the environment for drying the hanging film. After that is not in any advantage.
2 more things to take care for are:
1 - after rinsing the film I use anti water drops detergent. Its tracks and
2 - my fingers dancing over the neg and looking after something are good targets
for dust collecting

About the flatbad scanner glass: I use windshield sparay or glass/mirror spray and brush the scanner glass with toilet paper. I think it is good for finger tracks and seen particles

You may find this interesting reading; Relationship between Humidity and Static Electricity

 

[lZr]

Thanks payasam.
Sparrow, the article is good. Not easy to measure RH in my workplace, but it is informative.