Removing scratches from print

Abtart · Jun 9, 2024

I'd like to know how to remove scratches from prints, is that even possible without it being visible? What happened is that I'm new to spotting and happen to be very bad at it just yet. In acts of panic i scratched the prints badly while trying to spot. I can't remake them because I need to deliver them tomorrow and don't have a lab of my own. So I'm writing this in the middle of the night, not being able to sleep because of this. Other than learning from my mistakes and being more focused and thoughtful next time, what could i do to make the prints look better?

Nicholas Lindan · Jun 9, 2024

What do you mean by "scratched?" Has the emulsion been scraped away, is the paper showing through and tufting, or is there just a slight crease in the print?

I don't know of a good way to recover a print's damaged emulsion; I don't even know of a bad way... If the problem is a crease you may be able to recover it by placing paper over the print and then rubbing the area carefully with a rounded hard object - say the end of a knife handle - however, I have never tried this so try it out on a scrap print first.

I would patch the prints up as best I could and deliver them, explaining the problem, with the promise of replacement prints coming as quickly as possible.

xkaes · Jun 9, 2024

More details will help. What kind of paper is it? What "spotting" material do you have available?

AnselMortensen · Jun 9, 2024

Back in the day, photo and art stores sold 'matte sprays', aerosols that were either textured or not, and were used to knock down the gloss and/or hide surface imperfections on prints for presentation..
I have no idea if they're still available.
Smelly stuff! Use it outdoors if you find some.

Abtart · Jun 10, 2024

xkaes said:
More details will help. What kind of paper is it? What "spotting" material do you have available?

Glossy, acrylic paint, printer ink and some kind of acrylic varnish

Abtart · Jun 10, 2024

Nicholas Lindan said:
What do you mean by "scratched?" Has the emulsion been scraped away, is the paper showing through and tufting, or is there just a slight crease in the print?

I don't know of a good way to recover a print's damaged emulsion; I don't even know of a bad way... If the problem is a crease you may be able to recover it by placing paper over the print and then rubbing the area carefully with a rounded hard object - say the end of a knife handle - however, I have never tried this so try it out on a scrap print first.

I would patch the prints up as best I could and deliver them, explaining the problem, with the promise of replacement prints coming as quickly as possible.

Thank you, I'll try the method on a scrap paper. Its either that the paper has been creased or emulsion has been scraped away, but the paper definately isn't showing.

RalphLambrecht · Jun 10, 2024

Abtart said:
I'd like to know how to remove scratches from prints, is that even possible without it being visible? What happened is that I'm new to spotting and happen to be very bad at it just yet. In acts of panic i scratched the prints badly while trying to spot. I can't remake them because I need to deliver them tomorrow and don't have a lab of my own. So I'm writing this in the middle of the night, not being able to sleep because of this. Other than learning from my mistakes and being more focused and thoughtful next time, what could i do to make the prints look better?

This will probably not reach you in time, but I've done it successfully with a gentle rub on the flat side of a burnishing bone. Good luck

guangong · Jun 10, 2024

After re-reading this post, I can’t understand how a print can be scratch by spotting. A fine spotting or watercolor brush won’t scratch a print. Something else is being done besides spotting.

Removing scratches from print

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