managing dust before the scan

[Ivan]

Would it be a feeble attempt to try creating a dust reduced scanning room?
Is anyone using mechanical methods to reduce dust on the negs such as wiping
with specialized cloths? I know most of the manufacturers software will
remove dust, but I'm wondering if it's possible to eliminate or reduce dust
on the film.
Hey, even over the top methods would be interesting such as air filtered
rooms with electrostatic air filters, special quarantine type clothing and
storage methods. Has anyone tried this?
Ivan

 

[scanners]

I use an anti-static brush purchased at a photo store for about $20.
Much cheaper than a clean room.

 

[Ralf R. Radermacher]

Hey, even over the top methods would be interesting such as air filtered
rooms with electrostatic air filters, special quarantine type clothing and
storage methods. Has anyone tried this?

No need for any of this. Get an oil-free compressor and enjoy many years
of dust-free scanning (well, 99 percent) without much hassle or further
running cost.

Ralf

 

[Don]

I have a small brush which has an attached squeeze bulb. A few puffs with
the bulb to remove loose trash, a few light whisks with the brush to loosen
what's stuck on, and a few more puffs with the bulb. I do this each side,
which only takes 3 or 4 seconds. It usually obviates the need for digital
ICE.

BTW, the software doesn't remove the dust, of course, but removes the
effects by reducing the detail in the image. Most do a good job, reducing
the dust a lot and the detail only a little, but they still do reduce the
detail. In any event, removing all of the junk you can before applying
digital ICE will improve the results.

Don

 

[Simon Waldman]

No need for any of this. Get an oil-free compressor and enjoy many years
of dust-free scanning (well, 99 percent) without much hassle or further
running cost.

Is the canned air that one can buy from electronics shops safe for this?
Or is it likely to spit fluid over my negs?

-Simon, *really* wishing that he had used C41 film for the B&W stuff
he's scanning at present...

 

[Ralf R. Radermacher]

Is the canned air that one can buy from electronics shops safe for this?
Or is it likely to spit fluid over my negs?

Probably not if you keep the can upright. Main trouble with that is the
outrageous price. You'll use a lot of it. My compressor has paid for
itself a few times, over the last 5 years.

Ralf

 

[CSM1]

I saw a small air compressor with air tank for about $100 at my local
WalMart store.

I use an air compressor that I have owned for several years, I just put a
filter/drier/water trap on the output.

 

[Carl Miller]

Probably not if you keep the can upright. Main trouble with that is
the outrageous price. You'll use a lot of it. My compressor has paid
for itself a few times, over the last 5 years.

I used to see these small compressors in hobby stores sold for use with
air-brush systems that I bet would be perfect!

 

[S.Baggett]

I bought a used Kinetronics Static-Vac on *bay for $120. I ordered
some new filters ($15) and was ready to go. It has an internal
electrostatic ion generator plus anti-static brushes plus a filtered
fan to remove the dust. It sits in front of my scanner and the roll
passes through it just before entering the scanner. I don't even use
infared (ICE) cleaning anymore as the few spots that do get past the
unit I can easily handle during editing. I can highly reccomend one
of these things, as its effect is near miraculous. They are *VERY*
expensive when new, however, so look for a used one.

 

[Ralf R. Radermacher]

I used to see these small compressors in hobby stores sold for use with
air-brush systems that I bet would be perfect!

I'm not sure they have the capacity required for this application. Mine
is an ordinary household-variety compressor, much like this one:

http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=18425

It 'lives' in my basement lab where it was originally bought to chase
the dust out of my glass neg carriers. Since I do my scanning upstairs,
I've purchased an additional pressure vessel, much like the one you see
on the picture just without the compressor. This usually lasts for about
one or two nights of intense scanning before I have to fill it up again.

A word of warning: while the compressor is oil-free and I've never had
any probem with condensed water in the air supply, I started the whole
business with a right royal mess as the air pistol contained a small
quantity of grease that was sputtered all over my negs. Make sure you
buy one of the better all-metal designs that can be taken apart and
clean it thoroughly before first using it.

The compressor delivers about 8 bar (120 psi) and I have the pressure
limiter set to about 2.5 bar (35 psi).

Oh, and you'll find lots of other uses for compressed air, from cleaning
all sorts of things to car tyres and air mattresses...

Ralf

 

[Ivan]

Thanks very much for this post. It was good to read
Ivan

 

[Roger Halstead]

clean it thoroughly before first using it.

I would add, that although you've had no problems with moisture so
far, it only takes one humid day to create condensation.

I'd make certain there is a desiccant cartridge near the "gun" and a
trap for the just-in-case.

For those who have thought about this, and I certainly have as I have
an 80 gallon compressor in the shop that runs 175 psi. Actually it's
rated at 190 psi. Even with oil and water (desiccant) traps/filters
and the amount of canned product I go through (over $100 worth in the
last 6 weeks), I've stayed away from it.

As to pressure, I think 35 psi at the gun is probably pushing it a
bit. I'd most likely keep it under 20 to 25 psi. Then again, it
probably depends on the environment a bit. In here, 35 psi at the gun
would stir up more dust than it'd eliminate. Just a problem of too
small a computer room and all the fans in here make it a haven for
dust bunnies.

For some one serious, I'd get a tank of Nitrogen and a regulator. The
tank should last for years with an internal pressure of about 2200 psi
when full there is enough to last a longggg time. Tank and regulator
would probably run about $125 to $150 USD depending on locations and
the supplier. I was quoted $110 for a mid size tank (full) and the
regulator. However my wife said spend the extra for the small cans. I
already have too much *stuff* in this room and I really don't know
where I'd have put the tank anyway.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com