How to Clean Negatives
Wear clean cotton or nylon gloves., Use a dry antistatic cloth., Clean the negatives., Spray the negatives with antistatic film cleaner.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Wear clean cotton or nylon gloves.
Gloves will keep additional fingerprints off your negatives.
Make sure the gloves are free of lint and dust.
This will prevent your negatives from getting scratched during the cleaning process.
You can buy these gloves in your local photography supply store., Static attracts dust, so it's important to avoid other kinds of cloths.
The cloth should be soft and clean.
Softness and cleanliness will protect your negatives from scratches.
Anti-static cloths are available at photography supply stores., Take the cloth in your dominant hand.
Drape it over your palm and fingers.
Partially close your hand to form a C.
Hold each negative in your non-dominant hand.
Gently rub the negative over the cloth until it's free of dust., If the cloth didn't do the trick, spray one squirt of cleaner onto a nonabrasive antistatic cloth.
Gently move the cloth over the surface of the negative.
Use light back-and-forth strokes until all dust, watermarks, and/or fingerprints are gone.
The cleaner will dry immediately.
You can buy it at your local photography supply store.Antistatic film cleaner emits potent, potentially toxic, fumes.
Make sure your work space is well ventilated.
Wear a mask for extra protection. -
Step 2: Use a dry antistatic cloth.
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Step 3: Clean the negatives.
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Step 4: Spray the negatives with antistatic film cleaner.
Detailed Guide
Gloves will keep additional fingerprints off your negatives.
Make sure the gloves are free of lint and dust.
This will prevent your negatives from getting scratched during the cleaning process.
You can buy these gloves in your local photography supply store., Static attracts dust, so it's important to avoid other kinds of cloths.
The cloth should be soft and clean.
Softness and cleanliness will protect your negatives from scratches.
Anti-static cloths are available at photography supply stores., Take the cloth in your dominant hand.
Drape it over your palm and fingers.
Partially close your hand to form a C.
Hold each negative in your non-dominant hand.
Gently rub the negative over the cloth until it's free of dust., If the cloth didn't do the trick, spray one squirt of cleaner onto a nonabrasive antistatic cloth.
Gently move the cloth over the surface of the negative.
Use light back-and-forth strokes until all dust, watermarks, and/or fingerprints are gone.
The cleaner will dry immediately.
You can buy it at your local photography supply store.Antistatic film cleaner emits potent, potentially toxic, fumes.
Make sure your work space is well ventilated.
Wear a mask for extra protection.
About the Author
Carl Long
With a background in lifestyle and practical guides, Carl Long brings 5 years of hands-on experience to every article. Carl believes in making complex topics accessible to everyone.
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