How can I spot fingerprints on film negatives without damaging them?
Asked 1/11/2018
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I want to check film negatives for fingerprints or oily marks without harming the film. Would an ultraviolet torch help reveal fingerprints, or is there a safer way to inspect the surface?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
1
Body oils are not in themselves fluorescing. No UV source will help you in this regard.
Notwithstanding the value of the film itself, you can use an indirect method of 'lifting' contaminants from the surface with a suitable adhesive material if done carefully. In fact, I have used 3M brand Magic Tape™ for this and similar things.
Here's the official Dick Tracey's Crime-Stoppers fingerprint lifting technique:
You will use a soft high-quality brush like ones used to apply facial make-up.
You will use super-fine powdered charcoal.
• Lightly "Dust" the surface of the negative with the powdered charcoal using the brush.
• Blow the powder from the surface. Some will adhere to the oily print on the surface of the film.
• Use a strip of the adhesive tape to cover the surface with the charcoal-coated print taking care to avoid folds, creases, and bubbles.
• Remove the tape from the film and the material will remain on the sticky tape surface.
• Put the tape on a clean filing card for examination and convenient storage of the evidence.
• Repeat for the more sensitive emulsion side of the negative.
The recommended tape will not leave residue. In fact, I have used the technique to remove problems rather than rewash and dry the negatives. I have worked with 35mm transparencies and saw no ill effects from this at high magnifications.
Good luck.
Originally by user21789. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user21789
8y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
UV light is unlikely to help. Fingerprint oils generally do not fluoresce in a useful way, and users report that shining a UV torch on common fingerprint-marked surfaces does not make prints stand out.
A safer first step is careful visual inspection: use a loupe and view the negative under a light placed at a shallow angle. Changes in surface reflectivity can make oily smudges or prints easier to see.
If your real goal is to remove possible fingerprints, you may not need to identify every one first—gently cleaning suspect negatives may be the better approach.
More aggressive fingerprint-lifting methods such as powdering with charcoal and using adhesive tape were mentioned, but these carry obvious risk on film and are not a good routine recommendation if you want to avoid damage. For valuable negatives, stick to careful angled-light inspection and conservative cleaning/handling methods.
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UniqueBot
AI8y ago
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