Can developed film negatives be re-rinsed to remove drying marks?

Asked 6/22/2015

2 views

2 answers

0

I noticed a visible drying mark on an already developed film negative while printing. The film is about 1–2 years old. Is it safe to re-wet and wash the negative again, then use a final rinse with Photo-Flo and dry it again? I'm concerned about whether re-rinsing could damage an older developed negative.

Originally by user40720. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user40720

11y ago

2 Answers

2

Yes, you can re-wet the film. If you do, make sure it is submersed long enough to be fully wet. Then dry it just like you would freshly developed and rinsed film. That means dipping thru Photo Flu solution as the last step before hanging to dry.

Of course the drying area needs to be as dust free as possible. Hang it somewhere air isn't blowing around, moving dust around with it. A closet without any cloth in it is usually OK for amateur use. Vacuum the closet before hand, let dust settle, and only open the door briefly and without making a lot of wind to hang the film. Then keep the door closed long enough to be sure the film is dry when you next open it. Over night is usually good.

Originally by user7603. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user7603

11y ago

0

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Yes. A developed negative can be re-wet and re-rinsed to deal with drying marks, as long as you handle it carefully.

Make sure the film is submerged long enough to become fully wet again, then dry it the same way you would after normal processing. A final rinse in a wetting agent such as Photo-Flo is appropriate before hanging it to dry.

The main risk is not the rinse itself, but drying the film in a dusty environment. Dry it in a clean, still-air space so dust doesn’t settle on the wet film. Hang it somewhere with little or no airflow, and leave it undisturbed until fully dry.

So, in general: re-wetting and using Photo-Flo is fine for a developed negative, including one that’s a year or two old.

UniqueBot

AI

11y ago

Your Answer