Scratch Removal

[Adam Deierling]

Anyone here have a good remedy to remove or reduce the appearance of scratches on film prints?

[Brian Fretwell]

It would be a good idea to state whether you mean base or emulsion scratches (or both) as remedies/ ways to lessen effects will differ.

[Lee Mannering]

Hi With acetate if a film was precious I used to un reel it and soak the film overnight in a bucket of warm water then hang on a rotary line to dry.

FilmGuard was a startling development to protect and helps hide fine scratches I find.
Take care

[Dominique De Bast]

This French lab offers a "scratch removal" service for 16 mm films (don't expect anything cheap but I thought interesting to mention that a professional solution exists). The same lab offer a new VS "cure" for early stage of the "illness" laboratoiredeams.fr - Home (laboratoiredaems.fr)

[Maurice Leakey]

...with acetate if a film was precious I used to un reel it and soak the film overnight in a bucket of warm water...

With all deference to friend Lee I do think this method is a trifle drastic to remove film scratches.

[Tom Photiou]

It's interesting to read this website but i was always under the impression that you cannot reverse emulsion scratches. If it were possible i would certainly look at this for a print or two, if i am reading the website correctly, its roughly 45 euros per hour of film for the treatment,
"Double-sided renovation (cleaning, scratch removal both faces) of release prints".

It would be interesting to know if anyone has used this service and how it looks after. The only downside is that its in France so therefore postage costs would ramp up the prices. I'm not too convinced they could clear up emulsion scratches but it would be something if they could.

I wonder if this is similar to the polishing and cleaning that 35 and 16mm films use to go through after they came back from being rented out or sent on the rounds.

Filmguard vastly reduces the screen appearance of baselines, the one that use to be really good at this was 222. You just needed an oxygen mask on to use it.

[Dominique De Bast]

I believe they use a polishing technique. This lab has a good reputation, so one could expect good results.

[Douglas Meltzer]

Adam,

When screening scratched films, I think the best way to remove base scratches is wet gate projection, which can be done with Roy Neil's Film-O-Clean. There are different rollers available so it can be used with both Super 8mm & 16mm. You can contact Roy via email.

[Adam Deierling]

Thanks for all the advice. I was hoping that there would be a more permanent solution to the scratches. A film-o-clean sounds great but means id have to figure out way to mount it in my booth with already limited space. I thought I had heard of a service, recently developed, that could offer scratch removal. I know emulsion lines are unlikely but I have a few prints with base scratches that id like to see cleaned up.

[Phil Murat]

Hi,

I spoke a few time ago with man in charge of Laboratory (calling mobile number).
The best should be you send them a message detailling exactly what you need :

• Laboratory DAEMS - 5 rue Cardinal Mercier - 75009 Paris
  • Phone : +33 148 74 13 01
  • Fax : + 33 142 82 08 02
  • Tél : +33 9 84 26 17 35
  • Mobile : +33 6 83 95 18 41
• Email : laboratoire_daems@orange.fr
• Email : paulo-costa@laboratoiredaems.fr

Anyway, price for basic treatment is expensive, "around" 1Euro per meter for super 8.
-They don't apply varnish anymore as demand is very, very low.
-Some Emulsion small lines can be attenuated by "blowing up" emulsion.
-Treatment depends on "Triacetate" or "Polyester"
-No polishing

[Phil Murat]

NB

This laboratory also apply a treatment against VS.