White dots in printing

[NProkop]

Hi guys,

have ventured into film. Using a Leica M6 and an old smilax with Kodak portra 400.

Have developed my first roll of film and am concerned by white dots appearing on the scans.

Have had the film processed in one of Sydney's premier labs. Probably the most reputable place in a city of 4.5 million people. Had them scan it (6MB JPGs).

Would anyone know why in images 36 and 14, there are small white specs appearing? (14 is underexposed intentionally so turned out grainy but I'm only concerned about the white dots).

Also in image 35, the red lights in the tunnel appeared pixelated. Is this due to low scan quality? Obviously the photo is over exposed and out of focus but I'm only concerned as to why the red lights behind the woman have a pixelated look.

Basically I'm concerned whether these problems are the fault of the lab or equipment.

Hopefully I have posted in the right thread.

Thank you

Nick

 

[NProkop]

Not sure why however I am only allowed to post 2 pics. So the pic of the buildings displays white dots on the far right hand side

 

[AgX]

Welcome to Apug!

On the 2nd photo I found about 10 dots at the sky. I assume them to be dust on the film.

Whether they are attached to the film or are effects of the scanning only meticulous inspection of the film or re-scanning/optical printing can show.

 

[frank]

Simple: white dots on print = dust on negative

 

[NProkop]

I greatly appreciate your help guys.

I hope this question isn't to noob but....

If I return to the lab with the negatives in order to have certain images scanned at a higher image quality, do places then usually make an effort to prevent such white dots from dust appearing? Or has this dust permanently affected the film during the processing phase?

I will only find out when I process but, would the red digitisation disappear with a higher quality scan, say 20MB?

 

[NProkop]

I guess I am mostly curious simply because I would like to now, how did professional film photographers get their pictures to not show these dots pre-photoshop?

 

[Sirius Glass]

Welcome to APUG

 

[frank]

I guess I am mostly curious simply because I would like to now, how did professional film photographers get their pictures to not show these dots pre-photoshop?

Pre-photoshop: Negs were clean(ed) before enlargement, then any spots were "spotted" i.e.. painted black or grey with a tiny brush.

If you take the negs back to be rescanned, ask for dust spot removal in post-processing.

 

[Mick Fagan]

I guess I am mostly curious simply because I would like to now, how did professional film photographers get their pictures to not show these dots pre-photoshop?

All photographers, whether they be professional or amateur have to be extremely clean with all processes. Then you must ensure you remove most, if not all dust, from a negative before enlarging that negative.

If after doing all of that, you still have a spot here and there, you simply spot the prints whether they be B&W or colour.

Welcome to APUG.

Mick.

 

[NProkop]

I can't thank you guys enough for the advice.

Thanks for the welcome