Cleaning old slides? I have some of my dad's old slides from back in the 50's and was trying to scan them but they have dust or mold or ??? spots on them. Is there any way to clean the...

Dragonfly Loc: Indianapolis

I have some of my dad's old slides from back in the 50's and was trying to scan them but they have dust or mold or ??? spots on them.
Is there any way to clean the slides to get good scans?
Would it hurt to take a cotton swab and clean them?
I don't want to hurt them, but they need cleaned somehow...
Just need the best way to clean them.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

I use PEC-12 when absolutely necessary, otherwise compressed air followed by a gently wipe with a micro fiber cloth usually does the trick.

Malcolm B Loc: Leicester (UK)

I am told scanning will bring out all the dust on slides and negatives. It has been suggested to me that I might try using an old slide copier, (I still have one, got rid of just about everything else relating to film which I now realise was a big mistake). Apparently rephotographing them does not show up the dust and the results are just as good.

No doubt others will have different views, but I am going to give it a try.

Dragonfly Loc: Indianapolis

Thank you everyone.
I tried ordering the pec-12, but they can't ship it.
I think tomorrow I'm going to have to find somewhere locally that has it.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Dragonfly wrote:

Thank you everyone.
I tried ordering the pec-12, but they can't ship it.
I think tomorrow I'm going to have to find somewhere locally that has it.

Try here if you cannot find it. Also Roberts Camera carries it all the time, they should be fairly local to you.

cockney greg Loc: London E17

I used to develop my own colour slides and for making sure they dried without water stains I used to use a photo wetting agent, but it wont work if you cant take the slides out of the frames.

tsomes Loc: Fargo ND

MT Shooter wrote:

Dragonfly wrote:

Thank you everyone.
I tried ordering the pec-12, but they can't ship it.
I think tomorrow I'm going to have to find somewhere locally that has it.

Try here if you cannot find it. Also Roberts Camera carries it all the time, they should be fairly local to you.

Amazon carries it, so shipping should not be a problem.

js259

I would not advise the use of any film cleaners, no matter how carefully you use them, they all leave artifacts and lines on the slides. Do not use anything on Kodachrome!!!!!!!!!
Use digital ice on your scanner only, or send them out for scanning.
Copying them takes you away from the original and does not eliminate scratches or dust, but will make your images softer. If your scanner does not have digital ice, and you do not want to send them out for pro scanning, then I would buy a new one. Also, Vue Scan Pro software offers many options for scanning.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

I did the old slide copier route...Dust spots still showed up...Plus with a crop sensor camera, you will lose some of the original scene

Malcolm B wrote:

I am told scanning will bring out all the dust on slides and negatives. It has been suggested to me that I might try using an old slide copier, (I still have one, got rid of just about everything else relating to film which I now realise was a big mistake). Apparently rephotographing them does not show up the dust and the results are just as good.

No doubt others will have different views, but I am going to give it a try.

EstherP

Dragonfly wrote:

I have some of my dad's old slides from back in the 50's and was trying to scan them but they have dust or mold or ??? spots on them.
Is there any way to clean the slides to get good scans?
Would it hurt to take a cotton swab and clean them?
I don't want to hurt them, but they need cleaned somehow...
Just need the best way to clean them.

I'm scanning in about 400 slides, some 30-40 yrs old. Even though they have been stored in a closed box, they are full of dust.
After I place the slides in the holder (I do 12 at a time), I quickly and lightly run an anti-static dry microfibre cloth over both sides of the slides in the holder.
Then, while holding the slide holder with one hand, I use a different anti-static dry microfibre cloth to wipe off the bed and the inside lid of the scanner, put in the slide holder and close the lid.
It only takes seconds to do (explaining takes longer than doing), but using the two cloths made a difference of about 90 % less dust on the slides.
EstherP

markg

UV vs. POLORIZING FILTERS
I keep UV filters on each of my lenses. Recently went to a class at B&H where the instructor said he uses polorizing filters on his lenses in place of UV filters. Now I'm in conflict. What do you folks think?
Mark

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

I don't use any filters on my lenses unless I'm looking for a particular effect. Once I've shot the shot, the filter comes off...I use lens caps & hoods for my "protection"...Modern DSLR's already have UV protection. If you must use a "protective" filter, Use a high quality clear glass on & remove it when actually shooting. While you won't be able to discern the effects of most "protective" filters on your image, it is there nonetheless...

markg wrote:

UV vs. POLORIZING FILTERS
I keep UV filters on each of my lenses. Recently went to a class at B&H where the instructor said he uses polorizing filters on his lenses in place of UV filters. Now I'm in conflict. What do you folks think?
Mark

markg

Thanks for your input

Hanoverfarms Loc: Littleton , Colorado

Thanks for all the responses to dragonfly. Just got a new scanner for Christmas . Have thousands of slides I took 50 years ago. Just started scanning them. Lots of negatives too. Very helpful information. Thanks everyone. Henry

hpucker99 Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

What scanner are you using?

EstherP wrote:

quote=Dragonfly I have some of my dad's old slide... (show quote)