Dust and scratch removal software?

[Steve]

My film scanner does not support FARE (infra red dust and scratch removal
process) for B&W negatives. Firstly can anyone explain why? Its a Canon
FS4000US. This being the case what is the best software for doing this post
scan. Would also appreciate the best method to physically clean film without
damaging it or causing static that would attract more dust.

 

[PGG]

your best best is removing it manually using either the clone tool, or the
healing brush in Photoshop 7 or higher.

Polaroid has a freely available software dust removal tool, both available
as a stand-alone program or a Photoshop plugin. It sometimes works
well, but also has the tendency to remove actual detail from a photo. If
you can't find it, let me know and I can send the install executable to
you.

Photoshop's dust&scratch removal filter works but really softens the
picture.

--PGG

 

[Winfried]

My film scanner does not support FARE (infra red dust and scratch removal
process) for B&W negatives. Firstly can anyone explain why? Its a Canon
FS4000US.

The problem is the silver. The infrared light is reflected by the
silver, because it is massive and not translucent, as it is reflected
by dust and scratches.

Winfried

 

[Steven]

My film scanner does not support FARE (infra red dust and scratch removal
process) for B&W negatives. Firstly can anyone explain why?

The film contains silver oxide which blocks IR light (as does
dust/dirt). So the software processing the image gets confused and
deletes detail as well as the dust/dirt marks.

-- Steven

 

[RSD99]

Polaroid's " Polaroid Dust & Scratch Removal Utility" works relatively
well, and can be downloaded from
http://www.polaroid.com/service/software/poladsr/poladsr.html

 

[Wilfred]

your best best is removing it manually using either the clone tool, or the
healing brush in Photoshop 7 or higher.

Polaroid has a freely available software dust removal tool, both available
as a stand-alone program or a Photoshop plugin. It sometimes works
well, but also has the tendency to remove actual detail from a photo. If
you can't find it, let me know and I can send the install executable to
you.

Photoshop's dust&scratch removal filter works but really softens the
picture.

A good alternative is to select the dust and scratches with a paintbrush
in mask mode, then exit mask mode and run Photoshop's dust & scratch
removal filter (or Polaroid's) on the selection.
To avoid softening by the Photoshop filter, choose your setting
carefully. First set both radius and thershold at zero. Then increase
the radius until the dust disappears and subsequently increase the
threshold until the other image detail is restored but the dust is still
invisible.