scans are full of dust spots: how to remove the spots

[gb hill]

Does it also work well for many dust spots?

The spot healing brush tool works really good but like Kent said you have to do each one. It doesn't really take long. Good for removing scratches too.

 

[gb hill]

I just cleaned this photo up, 8 spots & a few scratches using the spot healing tool in PS6. Then resized for web & uploaded in the gallery in under 4 minuets. Very easy & I'm a novice.

 

[jaykuhlmann]

This has always been fast and effective for me. It is a version of the method mentioned above by patrickjames. If dust is a continual problem, it's much faster than spot healing, etc. http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2007/10/speedy-spotting.html

Jay

 

[brusby]

Why don't you just wash the negatives to remove the dust particles? Try it first on some pieces that don't contain valuable images.


edit: oops, didn't notice you said you can't find the negatives. Nevermind 8)

 

[semrich]

Raid, many methods have been mentioned and it seems that you are familiar with some, so may I suggest a change of attitude towards dust and spot removal if there are many photos and lots of spots.

Imagine or visualize that you are playing a video game and the spots or scratches are invading aliens of different kinds that you need to eradicate as quick as you can to save the earth. Sounds silly, though changing work into play is just a state of mind. Also there is current research indicating it may be beneficial for your eyesight. Tests on children who spend time playing shooting type video games improve their eyesight.

Here is a quote from the below link:

They hypothesize the adrenaline created playing the came creates dopamine — which when combined with the level of attention to detail players need in a Medal of Honor match — can actually rewire visual connections in the brain.

http://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/story/2012/09/01/hamilton-video-game-eyesight-study.html

I do this when I have spots to remove, though my process is refined enough that it isn't many, and I don't need glasses for close vision.

 

[iuseruby]

I have found that wacom tablet (I have simplest and cheapest one) really help with removing spots and dusts. It's really speeding up the process and making it stressless for me. And I'm using GIMP + healing and stump tools.

 

[Godfrey]

Jay, that method is older than dirt! Well not quite but it predates the healing brush. The tendency though with the dust and scratches filter is for the grain to get mushy, although in areas of even tone it is incredibly fast.

Skip fixing dust in Lightroom. It is far inferior to doing it in Photoshop and can't handle complexity.

LOL ... It just happens to do enough to satisfy my needs entirely. ;-)

To take this Minox 8x11mm negative from this:

to this:

took less than 60 seconds in Lightroom.

If it had scratches too, I would take it into Photoshop AFTER dust spotting to solve those problems. LR is MUCH more efficient at this than Photoshop, IMO.

G

 

[Godfrey]

Why don't you just wash the negatives to remove the dust particles? Try it first on some pieces that don't contain valuable images.


edit: oops, didn't notice you said you can't find the negatives. Nevermind 8)

Well, re-washing doesn't always remove the dirt, and is often not feasible anyway. Have you ever tried handling a few dozen wet 4 to 6 frame strips of 35mm film... ? It's not fun at all.

G