Old Slides...

petermcleland · Post by **petermcleland** » 04 Jul 2006, 13:18

I finally have a tool to process my old slides prior to adding them to my website. I've just been testing and for my first trial I used three slides that were not actually taken by me. A First Officer took them in July 1979 and gave them to me some time later. They show a sequence of land and taxy in somewhere in Zulu Mike...It was in the days when I wore a beard.

Next I need to know how to clean old slides like this before scanning and without doing any damage...Any useful tips would be appreciated.

Post by **Garry Russell** » 04 Jul 2006, 13:55

Hi Peter

We used to used Indusrtial Spirit (similar to surgical spirit) but the firm had to get that by prescription from a chemist.

Later purpose made film cleaners came out.

They are pretty good...... but I don't think they will remove the beard.

Always of course try out on a small trim off section.

Garry

TobyV · Post by **TobyV** » 04 Jul 2006, 13:59

Peter,

I'd be very careful about putting anything wet on slides as it can locally distort the surface (meaning they go out of focus when scanning/printing) and/or leave water or other residue marks. A blower-brush will remove large particles and a very soft lint-free cloth can be used very carefully to remove anything thats 'stuck'. I dont know what you are using to scan them, but something like a Nikon Coolscan filmscanner has its own built in electronic/software dust-removal that works brilliantly and manages to somehow ignore or clone-out dust and dirt specs.

Toby

PS... almost forgot to say.. nice photos... I dont know if you have or are planning to post them over on the TPS' forum but I know the guys over there would like to see them

AndyG · Post by **AndyG** » 04 Jul 2006, 14:06

Peter,

You could try scanning them, and then cleaning up the scans instead.

AndyG

Post by **Garry Russell** » 04 Jul 2006, 14:13

Toby

That is why they are spirit based.

This is what we did in the trade.....cleaning up pics and slides was a common neccessity especially before the days of scanning and computers.

Even water is OK it they are dried properly they won't distort.

Garry

Charlie Bravo · Post by **Charlie Bravo** » 04 Jul 2006, 14:35

Cracking pics, bought a smile to my face

jonesey2k · Post by **jonesey2k** » 04 Jul 2006, 16:16

Nice landing Peter!

blanston12 · Post by **blanston12** » 04 Jul 2006, 16:16

Becareful when cleaning them. From my experience cleaning negatives in the dark room, most of my attempts left more stuff on the film than I removed.

Try compressed air first, then maybe a photographic film cleaner.

petermcleland · Post by **petermcleland** » 04 Jul 2006, 19:22

Thanks for all the replies chaps...I've been rooting through all my slides to see where to start...I'm amazed how many I have. Lots of super Venom ones and as yet very few Hunter ones.

Anyway, I'll try out your tips...Toby, yes I am using a Nikon Coolscan V ED and it does seem to have a lot of bells and whistles :dance:

Yes, I'll post them over there as well Toby

TobyV · Post by **TobyV** » 04 Jul 2006, 19:27

Its been a couple of years since I used the Coolscan, but try enabling "ICE". If memory serves theres a toolbox window in the software and its an option about 2/3 down the list.