Scanning negatives of my wedding--completely befuddled

tomjonesrocks · May 3, 2005

We hired (of course) a professional photographer to take pictures at our wedding. When we picked up the package, although we were generally happy with the quality of the photos and the prints, the scans he gave us we were really disappointed with. They had dust all over them and a LOT of noise in the shots. I found them unacceptable--the bill for the scans would have been $20/roll. Not a bad price, but the scans were just not usable. I felt the attention to detail on them wasn't there.

So, I went out and purchased a Minolta Dimage Dual Scan IV with the intention of scanning negatives ourselves. The quality seems actually better than the scans the lab did for us. The problem is I just can *NOT* get rid of the dust on these. I bought a camel hair brush and an air blower--didn't help. Dust still all over the scans. It would take me hours to pick all the flaws out in photoshop one by one.

Then, we got some advice that you could very carefully use rubbing alcohol to clean the negative. Well, the one negative strip I tried with this I have to admit I completely destroyed. So the negative for 5 of our precious wedding photos is now ruined.

So, basically I'm afraid to handle any more of my own wedding negatives--but have no idea where I can take them for better service than I've received. So I'm left to wonder, can negatives EVER be scanned without dust? Is that just a physical impossibility? If wherever I take it is going to have dust, then I'll scan all these myself without cleaning them and just live with the fact that they'll look terrible without hours of work on each individual scan.

Can anyone give any advice at all as to what they might recommend? If I do attempt to find another shop--is there something I can ask to be sure the scans will be better than I can do myself?

Thanks

Scott

DocFrankenstein · May 3, 2005

Wow that sucks

Looks like the pro did a crappy job on them. Welcome to the forum.

Contra|Brett| · May 3, 2005

Am I to understand that the dust is literally stuck to the negative?

At my photo lab, we blow off the negs w/ an air blower and brush them with a camel hair brush. I have never run into a time when this wasn't sufficient. Before you put the negs in the scanner, put the neg against something black, it will help you see where the dust is.

Meysha · May 3, 2005

I found this on about.com ( http://photography.about.com/library/weekly/aa052101d.htm )

Greasy marks such as fingermarks can be removed using film cleaner (eg. ASPEC - anti static photo emulsion cleaner) or methylated spirit etc. Film cleaner can also remove most other material from film, unless it is embedded in the emulsion.

raider · May 3, 2005

not to be condescending, but sure it's not noise? is the background black or real dark? just trying to rule out

tomjonesrocks · May 3, 2005

raider said:
not to be condescending, but sure it's not noise? is the background black or real dark? just trying to rule out

At this point I'm not sure what it is; just that I can't get it off. I could upload a photo of what I'm getting on every shot.

Just figured that this was happening because the Dimage Dual Scan IV doesn't have Digital ICE or whatever.

Scott

tomjonesrocks · May 3, 2005

raider said:
not to be condescending, but sure it's not noise? is the background black or real dark? just trying to rule out

Since I couldn't seem to bring a photo into this, here's a link to one example:
http://www.reconceive.com/wedding/images/r1_0012.jpg

I'm referring to the white specs everywhere it would take hours to remove if manually done in photoshop. When I put the negs in though, I don't visibly see dust on them.

SLOShooter · May 3, 2005

Is there a possibility that the dust is on the scanner and not the negatives?

tomjonesrocks · May 3, 2005

SLOShooter said:
Is there a possibility that the dust is on the scanner and not the negatives?

Well, it's an enclosed negative scanner, brand new actually. And the dust doesn't seem to be consistent.

On the other hand, it's not like I've gotten one single scan I'm completely happy with out of the thing, but who knows.

Scott

Big Mike · May 3, 2005

Maybe you could try a scanner that does have Digital Ice...I've heard that handles dust pretty well. Or find a lab that will guarantee satisfaction...and have them scan the lot...and redo it if there is still too much dust.

BernieSC · May 4, 2005

From the photo you posted it could possibly be dust that got on the film before it dried and the dust is dried into the emultion of the film. thats why cleaning the negs or brushing them off didn't work. What you could do is wash the negs again. Preferably running them through a stablizer or wash again and letting them air dry in dust free area. You can just wash them under tap water I have done that before it would not hurt the negs to wet them and let them air dry.

The only reason it would be good to use some type of photo flo is that it would prevent possible water spots on the film if you just wet them, kind of like cascade sheeting action. But I have just wash them with water and it got ride of dried in dust particles. Just take one strip and try it, squeezy them with your finger as you wash them to release any dried on dust. Don't use just alcohol that is to dry for film you will damage the film like you said. Film cleaner has a lubricate in it so it does not cause a wet-dry rubbing like pure alcohol would cause.

thebeginning · May 4, 2005

are you scanning prints or negatives? i wonder if you got them developed at a nice place you could just scan in the prints...

rangefinder · May 4, 2005

I goofed and don't know if I sent this. Looked. Didn't find it. So here goes again only shorter.

Ditto what BernieSC said. It will minimize damage to the negatives. When done let the negative strip to AIR dry. I used to have a drying "box" and all sides were made from nylon stockings. It allowed air flow but minimized dust problems.

If you're successful with one negative strip do another. If successful again then go on but just do a few at a time. Slow process but worth it. DON'T RUSH IT.

The processing looks dirty. Maybe these were forced air dried and dust particles stuck to the film. Chemicals may have been dirty as well. All the more reason for doing as BernieSC suggested and one strip at a time until your sure you got it right.