vaseline for negative pinholes?

[wskmosaic]

Does anybody have any experience with--or even have heard of--the use of vaseline to mask a pinhole in a negative and turn a black spot on a print to a gray/white spot? If so, how does one spply it? And how would one clean it off (presumably the base side of) the negative? I am unable to locate the source of this idea; I am sure I didn't dream it up.

tnx
Warren Kornberg

[jp]

I haven't tried it, but I imagine something like vaseline could mask a small scratch to some extent.

If your negative has a pinhole, you can fill it with a dot from a fine tipped marker.

[wskmosaic]

I haven't tried it, but I imagine something like vaseline could mask a small scratch to some extent.

If your negative has a pinhole, you can fill it with a dot from a fine tipped marker.

Thanks, JP; is a fine-tipped sharpie fine enough? And would you use black or red?
Warren

[Jim Michael]

You might be able to use Edwal No Scratch (available from Freestyle) to fill & diffuse. If not, I would use a Windsor & Newton Series 7 brush, size 000 and titanium white guache. Then spot the resulting white dot on your print.

[Mark Sawyer]

You can't diffuse away a spot where the image/emulsion is missing, so just fill it in as mentioned by others. There are a number of methods; I like a fine fountain pen. But practice on a bad negative or along the edges first.

Vaseline/nose-oil/no-scratch is only good for scratches on the film base where the image is undamaged.

[DanK]

I've used vaseline for scratched negatives on quite a few occasions...

A very, very little goes a long way...

(More commonly just swipe your finger across your forehead, or side of your nose...works just as well as vaseline - though not as pretty sounding)

Always apply on base layer, never emulsion...sometimes a cotton swab works well to apply it...

Never tried for pinholes, but depending on size (very small) should work fine...

I've covered pretty good size scratches for 16x20 enlargements....from even small negatives...

Cleaning, take same care as a cleaning a lens - I usually use wet cotton swabs to get the majority off, then re-wash the negative...

Also, keep in mind I print with a cold light, so the vaseline isn't as noticeable as it would most likely be on a condenser head...

If it works for you, I'd sure like to know...

Thanks,
Dan

[jp]

Thanks, JP; is a fine-tipped sharpie fine enough? And would you use black or red?
Warren

I have used a black fine sharpie. I suppose red could work too, but red is not as permanent as black.

[John Kasaian]

K-Y will wash off with water. It is excellent for lubing shutters for freezing cold weather as well.
Just tell the pharmacist is it for your camera

[David Karp]

John,

Are you back? Or checking in from Yosemite?

[imagedowser]

My father, back in the early 50s used the oil from the sides of his nose with a dry finger. Thought it was about the best, because it was always there "at the tip of his nose". He taught color and commercial at NYI when it was brick and mortar in the early 60s.... Thanks, Ira.