Copying old Mono Prints

[Benchmark]

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.

[Fen]

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!

[Benchmark]

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.

[NorthernMonkey]

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.

[John_K]

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.