How remove the mark of pen from negative?

skljocnulbumte · Sep 3, 2018

Hello!
I made mistake and accidentally made a little mark/line of pen (lead) on one negative. It is invisible when I looking a negative on light pad but when I looking a negative under angle of view it is visible. I tied to enlarged a negative in darkroom and print has a white line/mark. I tried with distillate water and cotton wool and I didn't remove it all. I just enlightened it. How I could remove it from negative?
Thanks, Bojan

AgX · Sep 3, 2018

You mean a pencil.
Repeat such mark on similar material and use those samples for removal attempts.

The first try I would give with a plain pvc eraser, without grinding mineral.
Then I would try a eraser with grinding material, or a flat knive (razor blade?) held vertically. The resulting abrasion marks then again should be covered provisionally by scratch removing fluid or by lacquering the film.

bsdunek · Sep 3, 2018

AgX's idea to make some samples is good - find what works so you don't do any. more damage. How about trying alcohol? It won't dissolve the film base and is pretty mild. I would try rubbing alcohol fist, then something like Vodka.

skljocnulbumte · Sep 3, 2018

AgX said:
You mean a pencil.
Repeat such mark on similar material and use those samples for removal attempts.

The first try I would give with a plain pvc eraser, without grinding mineral.
Then I would try a eraser with grinding material, or a flat knive (razor blade?) held vertically. The resulting abrasion marks then again should be covered provisionally by scratch removing fluid or by lacquering the film.

Thanks for answer.
Yes, I made mistake about pen. I made a mark with pen.
I tried a pvc eraser on clear part of negative and it is visible (blurry) where I used eraser. I'm sure that will do effect on print.

AgX · Sep 3, 2018

Film typically has a top cover. Manipulation at this layer would not effect the silver image.
Scratches/Marks can be filled as described and thus would not show in printing.

Bill Burk · Sep 3, 2018

If you used a condenser enlarger for the first print, try a diffusion enlarger. I find pencil marks disappear.

Also, it is far easier to retouch white on print.

bernard_L · Sep 3, 2018

Try wet mounting. I once had success sc*****ing (ha! I fooled the robot of the Analog Enforcement Police) a badly scratched negative, mounted between two glass pieces from a GEPE slide mount. Used medical grade 90% ethyl alcool. Should work just as well for "real" printing. If your enlarger has a double-glass carrier you do not need the GEPE slide mount.

jim appleyard · Sep 3, 2018

Can you take that image again? Might be the easiest thing to do.

How remove the mark of pen from negative?

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