Scanner dust removal software?

[Mark Sawyer]

I've never heard of anyone on the forum using software to eliminate dust from a scan of a print, (not the ICE negative scan software). I've read about several software programs that supposedly do it. Is there one that actually works without degrading the image?

[Ash]

I've used "dust and scratches" a few times in Photoshop.

Once the image is scanned, I save and re-open in Camera Raw. All the minor colour/exposure correction and sharpening is done there. If there is obvious dust (more obvious now sharpened) then dust & scratches usually clears it without obviously affecting the image.

Usually catch lights in the eyes are the biggest worry - you can lose them if the s/w thinks it's a dust spot.

[SW Rick]

There's still available the "ancient" Polaroid Dust and Scratch Removal software, which does a pretty good job, especially since it's free. I had found it thru a google search- think it was available on the waybackmachine. Both Mac and Windows are available. Hard to believe a piece of software from prehistoric days works on today's OS, unlike most of today's offerings, which have limited shelf life. :)

[IanMazursky]

I found the direct link through the wayback machine (archive.org).
Here is the Mac (http://web.archive.org/web/20071015020056/http://www.polaroid.com/service/software/poladsr/pdsrmac1_0.sit) version .sit file
Here is the PC (http://web.archive.org/web/20071015015231/http://www.polaroid.com/service/software/poladsr/pdsr1_0.exe) version exe file

I haven’t tried them yet but it looks interesting.

[Mark Sawyer]

Thanks, guys! I'll play around with the Polaroid program. The older Photoshop I have tends to get rid of dust by blurring all detail within a set pixel range.

[cdholden]

Thanks, guys! I'll play around with the Polaroid program. The older Photoshop I have tends to get rid of dust by blurring all detail within a set pixel range.

So it's not only the lens! Do you crank up your fuzzolator software to 11, a la Spinal Tap style?

[Daniel Moore]

I haven't tried the Polaroid program yet but found it uncanny to find the topic only a few minutes after completing a two day dust and scratch clean up on a Polapan 100 original. I have used PS's dust and scratches filter in the past but still opt for torturously long manual clean up sessions for important images, they just look better sans blanket filtration.

[RJC]

I have used PS's dust and scratches filter in the past ........they just look better sans blanket filtration.

Don't you go back to the previous state and use the History Brush just to paint in the filtered result where required ?

Rob

[sully75]

http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2007/10/speedy-spotting.html

that might be helpful.

[Daniel Moore]

Don't you go back to the previous state and use the History Brush just to paint in the filtered result where required ?

Rob

Where required in this case, would be hundreds of sensitive areas, literally. At the same time I treat all types of damage, zoomed in sufficiently, one screen at a time. Cteins technique looks like a real time saver for most common defects, but I can cover every sort of defect with the appropriate tool without having to wonder or go back in and double check for stragglers one technique missed. I don't do it often, if I did I would change habits to be sure.

[Mark Sawyer]

Where required in this case, would be hundreds of areas, literally.

This is my experience too. The results from the healing tool set to a small size looks better, and the time required is equivalent. The only exception is large empty-of-detail areas.