How to 'clean' mildewed slides? We have 100's of slides that must have gotten damp at some point over the last 47 yrs. I want to send them out to be scanned but thought I should try to...

cmc65

We have 100's of slides that must have gotten damp at some point over the last 47 yrs. I want to send them out to be scanned but thought I should try to clean them somehow before I send the better ones out. I have a lightbox for preview which helps sort them out. Does anyone here have an idea on how to take the mildew off...if possible at all.

Narrowsme Loc: Tenants Harbor, ME

You are not alone. Let's hope someone has the answer.

Leitz Loc: Solms

cmc65 wrote:

We have 100's of slides that must have gotten damp at some point over the last 47 yrs. I want to send them out to be scanned but thought I should try to clean them somehow before I send the better ones out. I have a lightbox for preview which helps sort them out. Does anyone here have an idea on how to take the mildew off...if possible at all.

Here's a bit of information. Good luck.

http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?t=808088

A Google search for "Mildew On Color Slides" produced this:

http://www.google.com/cse?cx=partner-pub-1415334591037307%3A19ja508cah0&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=Mildew+On+Color+Slides&sa=Search#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=Mildew%20On%20Color%20Slides&gsc.page=1

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Most important is to scan them before and after cleaning. Before is in case of damage.

Edwal Anti-Stat Film Cleaner and a good microfiber cleaning cloth are your friends. Use with protective gloves, a gentle touch, and good ventilation.

cmc65

Leitz wrote:

Here's a bit of information. Good luck.

http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?t=808088

A Google search for "Mildew On Color Slides" produced this:

http://www.google.com/cse?cx=partner-pub-1415334591037307%3A19ja508cah0&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=Mildew+On+Color+Slides&sa=Search#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=Mildew%20On%20Color%20Slides&gsc.page=1

Thank you for these links...I think I may be able to do this even though it's going to take some time and care.

Leitz Loc: Solms

cmc65 wrote:

Thank you for these links...I think I may be able to do this even though it's going to take some time and care.

You're quite welcome. Indeed, much time and much care! Hopefully, the mildew is on the surface, and not into the emulsion itself. :)

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I have found that dirty Ektachrome can be duplicated with a scanner that has Digital ICE, plus ROC, GEM, and SHO. These technologies work to remove dust, dirt, and scratches, restore original color, reduce "grain", and improve sharpness.

If you scan Kodachrome on the same scanner, scan it backwards and mirror the image in software. That *might* work. Kodachrome has a "3D" emulsion that fools Digital Ice, which looks for surface imperfections that are not supposed to be there, and removes them.

Leitz Loc: Solms

burkphoto wrote:

I have found that dirty Ektachrome can be duplicat... (show quote)

The OP says he/she wants to send the slides out to be scanned.

cmc65

Leitz wrote:

The OP says he/she wants to send the slides out to be scanned.

Yes I did, however I have an epson scanner in the closet that came with digital ice. I think I might pull that out and see if I can get it to work with my iMac.
Thanks for all your input, it all helps.

Racmanaz Loc: Sunny Tucson!

I would start out by just cleaning 1 or 2 that you like the least to see if it will damage the image.

Leitz Loc: Solms

cmc65 wrote:

Yes I did, however I have an epson scanner in the closet that came with digital ice. I think I might pull that out and see if I can get it to work with my iMac.
Thanks for all your input, it all helps.

Great. In that case, burkphoto's advice is very helpful. I use an Epson V550 myself, with excellent results.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Leitz wrote:

Great. In that case, burkphoto's advice is very helpful. I use an Epson V550 myself, with excellent results.

Thanks!

Epson should have the latest drivers on their web site. The V series scanners are great.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

burkphoto wrote:

I have found that dirty Ektachrome can be duplicat... (show quote)

When you say "backwards", you mean emulsion side up instead of emulsion side down, don't you?

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

I found this from India, where he uses an anti-fungal lotion to clean slides:

https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4tb847q6

Tolnaftate stops fungal growth - not sure why it would break down already existing fungus. I suspect that the lotion is what is doing the cleaning.

Realizing the transparencies are develop in a water bath in the first place, I would think that water with a very mild soap (Johsnson's Baby Shampoo perhaps) might work without damaging the emulsion. I would suggest just trying it on a few less-favored slides. Let us know what you find works!

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

rehess wrote:

When you say "backwards", you mean emulsion side up instead of emulsion side down, don't you?

Correct. If you present the smooth film base to the scanner's ICE sensor, it won't remove dust or scratches from the emulsion side, but it will scan accurately, without removing random parts of the image.