Forum: Photography


Subject: How do you clean slides?

ahookey opened this issue on Apr 05, 2003 ยท 9 posts


ahookey posted Sat, 05 April 2003 at 4:23 PM

Hello, I'm about to embark on scanning and cleaning hunddreds of family slides. Doesn anyone know how to clean the slides to remove finger prints, stains, etc? Thanks Andrew


Michelle A. posted Sat, 05 April 2003 at 4:36 PM

They make a cleaner for film, and at the moment the name of it escapes me. I know I've seen it at Adorama.... maybe someone else knows the name of it? If slides are handled properly the only thing that you should need to do is blow a bit of air to remove dust before scanning.... Finger prints and stains? Eeekkk.....that sounds awful....

I am, therefore I create.......
--- michelleamarante.com


ficticious posted Sat, 05 April 2003 at 5:03 PM

i forget what we used to use at Vanier.. I think it might've been diluted fixer on Q-Tips. I'd do that, then give it a rub with an orange cleaning thingie, and then blow it off with them little air blower things... im not sure about the diluted fixer though, can someone confirm this? It never did anything to our negatives, nothing visible at least.


nplus posted Sat, 05 April 2003 at 5:10 PM

40 grit Sandpaper will work. haha! Actually there is a film cleaner out there in photoshops etc. for this purpose...many different names and brands... You could probably use rubbing alcohol too. Use a SOFT lint free cloth also available at photo stores. get some compressed air and some cotton gloves for handling.


DHolman posted Sat, 05 April 2003 at 6:41 PM

You DO NOT want to use rubbing alcohol unless you want a nice white film across your slides. Get some compressed gas or a squeeze bulb duster to blow dust off first. Then use a good liquid film cleaner with a lint free cloth, wiping in 1 direction on each side. I use Edwal's Anti-Stat Film Cleaner for b&w and color film (like $6 for a 4 oz bottle) and Pec*Pad ultra non-abrasive lint free wipes (about $3-4 for a pack of 100). -=>Donald


ahookey posted Sat, 05 April 2003 at 6:57 PM

Thanks to all, I'll give the rubbing alcohol a miss as I know it's a solvent. I'll head into a Photo shop and see what's available. thsmaks for the tips, Andrew


JordyArt posted Sat, 05 April 2003 at 7:53 PM

....oh, yeah, and don't try to view them by holding them close to candle light. Mike's Top Tip of the day. (",)


Quinn posted Sun, 06 April 2003 at 2:20 PM

Stuff I use is called "PEC-12 Archival Photographic Emulsion Cleaner" Made by Photographic Solutions Inc. Found it in the Chemestry secton of my local pro shop.

Hope this helps


nplus posted Sun, 06 April 2003 at 4:00 PM

oh well....learn something new everyday..... That's what i get for not shooting transparency anymore......