neg problems

taxi38

Taxi Driver
Local time
8:11 PM
Joined
May 14, 2007
Messages
225
Location
Spain
This and other negatives that were stored in whatproved to be a damp house have this old porcelain like affect.I think its some kind of fungus.Is there a way to get rid of this, help if you can please,thanks.........🙂
 
Last edited:
I'm not sure that you can repair the damage in any way but if it is fungus you need to kill it. Certainly don't reuse the negative envelopes or glassines. I'd try mixing up some fresh stop bath (dilute acetic acid). After maybe 30 seconds in that run them through some rapid fixer with hardener (which is also an acid), then thoroughly wash the negatives and dry them again. Try to avoid wetting agent if possible because diluted wetting agents tend to "grow things" when you keep the dilute solution for a few days.

You can try rubbing the wet negatives gently between your fingers if that helps to dislodge the "lines".

To keep from getting more fungus store your negatives in a small closet or wardrobe. Rig it so you can keep a small conventional light bulb on in there. Compact flourescents don't give off enough heat. You want to keep it slightly warmer than the surrounding room which will lower the realative humidity. Try a 25 or 40 watt bulb. It doesn't take much. Also, fungus doesn't like light.
 
Either in addition to or in place of what Al recommends, you might try cleaning with PEC. I've found it works well on slides. Of course, damage to the emulsion due to fungus is permanent. Maybe you have to go with the 'artistic' look. Say, "I meant to do that!".
 
Thanks Bruce ......Neil

p.s. Silly question,how did you tidy up your gallery url to just "my gallery"?
 
Last edited:
cured

cured

massive relief as most of the 25asa film was affected ,agfa and kodak,maybe this has a similar base.washed for 10minutes ,hand washed twice and bingo,thanks again,....Neil
p.s.this was the worst affected neg I could find.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom