Benchmark
Is it safe?
Reged: 12/07/2005
Posts: 3362
Loc: Sedgefield, Co Durham
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We have a collection of old mono prints of family and friends, some of which I would like to copy and re-print. Many of these are 50 years or more old.
Some of the oldest prints have a kind of 'silvery-grey bloom', which makes them very difficult to view, and even more difficult to copy onto film or scan.
I have tried using a polarising filter to reduce the blooing effect, but this ahs very little effect. I have also found that some of the prints were better viewed at an angle rather than directly.
I know this is a common problem, so I would be interested to learn what, if anything, I can use to restore these old photoraphs to the point that I can at least copy them - even if the treatment reduces the life of the original print.
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Nigel CRIPN and Bar
Beware of the Dark Slide
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Fen
BAD WOLF
Reged: 12/03/2002
Posts: 25740
Loc: London'ish
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Nigel, I have to deal with these on a daily basis
The only way I've found to deal with it is to scan it in and edit heavily in Photoshop.
Making duplicate layers and adjusting brightness/contrast and levels and then combining the layers to make a final image.
Time consuming though as no two photos are the same. But that's what people pay for!
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Fen .......... My Fen's AP Galleries - My Blog - My Flickr
"Apologies to right-eyed shooters. You're screwed."
- Joe Mcnally
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Benchmark
Is it safe?
Reged: 12/07/2005
Posts: 3362
Loc: Sedgefield, Co Durham
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Thanks Fen. Do you know what causes the problem?
Some of the old prints are perfect, but others have the silvery blooming effect. I always thought it was caused by insufficient fixing or washing but that was just guesswork.
Edited by Benchmark (19/03/2008 13:07)
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NorthernMonkey
enthusiast
Reged: 01/05/2007
Posts: 271
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I think the effect is the oxidation of the silver in the print.
Although I've no idea if it will work, I would be tempted to try toning the print in Selenium in a low dilution.
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John_K
old hand
Reged: 03/09/2006
Posts: 732
Loc: North Yorks
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I will go along with the scanning idea, but as the life of digital images is questionable after making the best possible copy, print it onto heavyweight matt paper and re-photograph with conventional B&W film. Develope, fix and thoroughly wash the negatives. Store them in archival envelopes so they can be re-printed at any time as many times as you wish and they will be permenant.
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