Fluid mounting (Epson V750)

[RichC]

Not finding anything when Googling this...

I've got some b&w prints I want to scan, for which the negatives are long lost. They're pretty small and aren't great quality, and the paper of several is slightly textured or has minor scratches.

So, to my question... I know fluid-mounting negatives helps to eliminate surface irregularities and dust from scans. So, I was wondering if prints can be wet scanned for the same reason? Or would that cause problems such as tonal changes or, worse, damage the prints (which are the only copies and so irreplaceable).

 

[Pál_K]

I've never heard of wet scanning of prints. I'd be afraid of damaging the prints.

Just wipe them free of dust and wipe the scanner glass.

 

[oftheherd]

An old trick of commercial photographers to prevent their being copied was to use a paper with a textured face. An old trick to get around that was to place the photographs on a flat surface, and use a light bulb as the light source, moving it around in circles. The damage you describe isn't quite a textured print but might be adaptable to help you nonetheless.

I agree re-wetting the print might cause more damage that help. But never having tried that I may be wrong. Someone later in the thread may have some 1st hand knowledge of how it can be done. Hopefully so.