scrapes and hairs on prints

Montanawildlives · Oct 5, 2018

Hello, I just shot my first roll of film in 25 years...from a Nikon FE. Black and White, Arista EDU Ultra 200 ISO. I had it developed and scanned locally and several of the shots have either horizontal scratches, small "hairs" or hair-like dust, or other dust spots on them. I'm attaching a couple of samples. I just got the camera on eBay and I am just wondering if there is a problem with the camera, the developing, the scanning, the photographer (certainly possible!), or what.

The first has a small s-shaped hair on the bottom left corner.
The second has horizontal scrapes near the top.
The third has little dust spots everywhere.
The fourth has what looks like a watermark in the upper right and a horizontal scrape about 2/3 of the way down.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

Sirius Glass · Oct 5, 2018

The horizontal lines across the negative can come from:

dirt on the film transport in the camera
damaged film rollers or film pressure plates in the camera
dirt of the 35mm cassette
dirt from the bulk loader door [not a contender in this case]
dirt or burr on the processing equipment

Vaughn · Oct 5, 2018

I vote for a dirty camera. That should be easy to check. The 'watermark' is from the processing of the film...might come out in a wash.
The scratches are not on all the images, which is a good sign. Perhaps a little dirt/grit that got pulled across with the film, rather than a damaged pressure plate or rollers.

MattKing · Oct 5, 2018

Scanning black and white film reveals more dust and dirt than you would think possible!
With most colour film, the labs can use aggressive, IR based technology that hides dust and imperfections (and often a fair bit of sharpness). That technology isn't available for black and white.
Some labs are better at handling film then others (leading to less dust and dirt) but there would still be some from even the best labs.
You need to learn how to use the clone tool in your software, or deal with a lab that offers that service as well.

Kawaiithulhu · Oct 5, 2018

Possibly grunge from inside a changing bag, if you use one of those?

Svenedin · Oct 6, 2018

Something that drives me mad. I sympathise. I occasionally scan negatives and it's a nightmare. No matter how careful you are dust is inevitable and the only option is to edit it out on a computer thing. Also a perennial problem with darkroom work. Very nice photos by the way! Don't leave it another 25 years!

winger · Oct 6, 2018

I get way more dust on my negatives when I scan than when I print. The clone tool and healing brush are great (sometimes one works better than the other). That first shot looks great!

+1 to what MattKing said.

Hatchetman · Oct 6, 2018

Those look pretty good actually. Simple to fix on the computer. Take a loop or backwards lens and see if yo can find those scratches on the negatives. Make sure the pressure plate is clean and has no damage.

Montanawildlives · Oct 6, 2018

Wow, you all are fantastic--thanks so much for the attention and advice. I'd summarize by saying that it is a combination of having perhaps unrealistic expectations along with the need for a good cleaning and examination of the internals. When the current film is used up, I'll use my rocket blower to carefully see if I can get the inside a bit cleaner.

It's funny--part of the reason I wanted to get back to film was annoyance at having to clean my digital sensor and consequently worrying a lot about changing lenses in the great outdoors, etc. Guess I won't be solving THAT problem ;-)

I do love the look of the pictures, and the relief of not having to obsess about resolution anymore.

Here's my favorite pics from the first roll. The certainly look more 3-d and less flat than my usual digital images, for some reason I could never explain.

Svenedin · Oct 6, 2018

What is the resolution you refer to? Something to do with those electric computer cameras?

Montanawildlives · Oct 6, 2018

Heheh something like that!

tezzasmall · Oct 7, 2018

I reckon you got off lightly with the few small hairs and scratches etc. on the films processed for you!

However hard I try to avoid anything, it's always the best one or two negs on a roll, that I develop myself and I would love to enlarge, that have the mentioned bits and there's no easy way out in analogue, with no 'healing brushes' at hand!

Terry S

MattKing · Oct 7, 2018

tezzasmall said:
there's no easy way out in analogue, with no 'healing brushes' at hand!

It's called "print spotting", but I'll agree that "It Ain't Easy"

M Carter · Oct 7, 2018

MattKing said:
It's called "print spotting", but I'll agree that "It Ain't Easy"

Print spotting is my zen time. I have a zero-stat gun, a great loupe with a brush opening, and an LED magnifier on a magic arm, and I still get dust (glass holder, litho masks). But I've gotten to really enjoy spotting.

Arklatexian · Oct 8, 2018

Montanawildlives said:
Hello, I just shot my first roll of film in 25 years...from a Nikon FE. Black and White, Arista EDU Ultra 200 ISO. I had it developed and scanned locally and several of the shots have either horizontal scratches, small "hairs" or hair-like dust, or other dust spots on them. I'm attaching a couple of samples. I just got the camera on eBay and I am just wondering if there is a problem with the camera, the developing, the scanning, the photographer (certainly possible!), or what.

The first has a small s-shaped hair on the bottom left corner.
The second has horizontal scrapes near the top.
The third has little dust spots everywhere.
The fourth has what looks like a watermark in the upper right and a horizontal scrape about 2/3 of the way down.

Any thoughts? Thanks. View attachment 208979 View attachment 208980 View attachment 208981 View attachment 208982

I had to use a magnifying glass to see any of the "defects" that you mentioned. If I were you, I would gently blow out the inside of my camera, get a "spotting brush", some spotting colors, shoot another roll of film, develop it in a tank in film developer, etc., print it with an enlarger that has also been cleaned. I would not "scan" it. If you had not called my/our attention to the defects, I am quite certain most of us would have said "what nice pictures" and never noticed what you called our attention to. With practice, all of these could be corrected with spotting colors.........Regards!

Montanawildlives · Oct 8, 2018

Thanks again everyone--I learned more posting my concerns here than I would have in 5 hours worth of googling.

scrapes and hairs on prints

Montanawildlives

Sirius Glass

Vaughn

MattKing

Moderator

Kawaiithulhu

Svenedin

winger

Hatchetman

Montanawildlives

Svenedin

Montanawildlives

tezzasmall

MattKing

Moderator

M Carter

Arklatexian

Montanawildlives

scrapes and hairs on prints

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