Do I Need To Find A New Lab?

[Mark Stahlke]

This is a section of an Epson 4990 scan from a E100VS Readyload. The entire sky area looks like this.

Does anyone know where all the dirt comes from? Is it possible that the dirt and hairs are coming from my lab? It can't be from my own film handling procedures because it's a Readyload so I don't handle the film at all.

Dust spotting is tedious. This image is going to take hours to clean up.

[Daniel Stone]

have you tried cleaning the film before scanning? Just wondering.

you handle the film once its back from the lab, taking it out of the sleeve/envelope, etc... Those plastic sleeves are notorious for building up static like a mother, especially if being shipped from your lab to you. At least in my experience.

-Dan

[Mark Stahlke]

This is the first time the film was removed from the plastic (mylar? acetate?) sleeve. I always leave them in the sleeves until I'm ready to slap them on the scanner. The lab is local so I drop off and pick up in person, no shipping involved.

I just rescanned this with Digital ICE turned on. Whew! That will save the few hairs left on my head.

[Frank Petronio]

Just tell the lab to mop the floor before they do your film. Someone probably dropped it.

[Ari]

Or buy yourself some colour chemicals for home processing.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...s_Kit_for.html

[Jim Michael]

This has been the #1 reason we have had to change labs. Most likely due to failure to properly maintain the processing equipment, in particular not cleaning the air filters in the drying stage.

Of the labs still processing film I suspect many only tolerate having to do it and put as little money and personnel into it as possible. Find a lab like Praus that is committed to quality.

[Frank Petronio]

http://www.4photolab.com/ courtesy link, I need to get on the ball

[Jeff Dexheimer]

Or buy yourself some colour chemicals for home processing.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...s_Kit_for.html

I second this. And for E6, this http://www.freestylephoto.biz/c1002-...ls-Color-Slide kit gives me great results.

[Riccis]

http://www.4photolab.com/ courtesy link, I need to get on the ball

100% agree with Frank... Just send it to them and you will be golden.

Cheers!

[John NYC]

I don't know what these guys are talking about. I have been to every "great" lab in New York City, and this kind of grime gets on every E6 I have ever had. Even some of the good places get this bad sometimes. I think it has to do with when your film goes into the refrema processor into relation when they have last changed the chemicals or filters. It could also be a dirty drying space.

Cleaning the film afterward doesn't help. It is embedded in the film at this point. Best way to fix it is to spot it Photoshop with the spot healing brush tool in CS5 set to "content aware fill." This option is new to CS5. Otherwise, in earlier versions use the patch tool. I can get rid of all of this junk this way.