Scratch removal from rc print

[Pherdinand]

Hi,
I m relatively new to darkroom printing so pls bear wth me🙂)
Tonight i finally printed my first 30x40 print (that is 12x16" ) or better said first two as for the 1st one in all the excitement i have forgit my componon with the "max aperture for viewing" lever on. So it got one stop too dark so i made a second one.
Which turned out great (by a beginners standard).
But then at the very last moment taking it out of washer the tap touched it and it put a small shallow scratch on it. Sadly it is on a black part so it is visible and though it is ilford pearl surface rc paper, i think it will be visible when dry.

So
How can i make a shallOw scratch disappear from a pearl surface RC print from a black area?
Some pen or some magic? Graphite pencil? Anything?

I have a soft tip black pen that i tried on another print to paint a white spot (dust spec), but it leaves a weird dark purple sheen on the surface.

Thx

 

[Deleted member 65559]

spotone. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...etouching_MSCNB_Spot_All_Retouch_Dye_for.html

 

[Steve M.]

What Deardorff38 said. Mess up a small print and practice on it before tackling the big one so that you understand how to do this. It's really no big deal once you get the hang of it.

Of course, there is no more spotone, but I use this and it works great. Comes w/ a nice brush too.

https://www.freestylephoto.biz/7340...MI1M38puf93wIVW7nACh1YowsuEAQYBSABEgKmfvD_BwE

 

[dxq.canada]

With spotting a print, do not paint on the Spotone, you dab tiny points and slowly build up the density until it matches. It can take a very long time, but the results can be imperceptible.

 

[Pherdinand]

Thank you guys. I see macodirect carries spotone so i can get it in the EU...

Just to check: this can help when the scratch is on the print (not on the neg) right?

 

[dxq.canada]

Just to check: this can help when the scratch is on the print (not on the neg) right?

Ahhhhh, I thought you were talking about making a print from a scratched neg.
Hmm. The scratch of the print removed the emulsion and got down to the paper layer?
Hmmm. Not sure how Spotone would handle being absorbed by the paper.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Sounds like another job for nose grease!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasal_sebum

Chris

 

[Pherdinand]

Sounds like another job for nose grease!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasal_sebum

Chris

LOL it's the first time i read about this Chris, thanks! amazing, the human body 😀
i've heard of "elbow grease" but that's something else...


On my topic: well as i found out ordering and delivery of spotting pigment(s) would take a lot of time and as i am a not very patient guy in my hobby, i decided to go ahead and test just about any mark-leaving utensil in my household on some scrap photos that have the same tone and surface.
so i found out that a black colored soft tip pen marker (felt..tou know the stuff...) does get the scratch blackened sufficiently (it was NOT a deep scratch but it looked white, i guess due to scuffed-up emulsion and visible paper base). Only, it also leaves a deep purplish surface sheen behind.
BUT
if i paint the scratch and then immediately wash the surface thoroughly, with wet fingers rubbing it, the marker gets removed from the print surface and it stays behind in the scratch only.
So i did just that, and the result is excellent

Of course the PE surface is still scratched so if you look at the print in a grazing angle or with a grazing light the scratch on the smooth surface is still visible. But for normal viewing it's not white anymore, it blends into the background tone.

So, yey, i found a way.

Thanks for the suggestions ; i will get a spotting set anyway as i inevitably have sometimes a dust spec leaving a white mark, these do not bother me too much but sometimes it gets in the wrong place.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

The best answer is.....make a new print..carefully

 

[Pherdinand]

The best answer is.....make a new print..carefully

sure i agree, and i considered that. but it's also a learning opportunity for me. it took me more effort than making a new one, sure, but next time i know.