cleaning fingerprints of C41 BW film

This is probably a way silly question from a person who should know better.

Here in Guadalajara, there's no such thing as a professional lab. So I

normally run my C41 stuff at the drugstore and stand over the guy while he

does it, making sure he handles it correctly. If I do it any other way, I get

tons of scratches, even at the so-called pro-labs. I've found a drugstore guy

who manages to process my film without screwing it up with fingerprints, etc.

Yesterday there was a girl at the drugstore and she left a nice, greasy

fingerprint on the best image on a roll of Kodak C41 BW film. I scanned it and

it was just ugly. So I tried to gently rinse it off. Under water, in a

fraction of a second, the emulsion turned to something like jelly and

literally just slipped off the plastic.

So here are two questions:

Why would the emulsion just come off in the water? Lack of proper fixer?

Second, is there an easy, photoshop way to get the fingerprint, which looks

like reptile scales at 100 percent, off the image now that I no longer have

the neg?

Best to all.

"Under water, in a fraction of a second, the emulsion turned to something like jelly and literally just slipped off the plastic."

I've found that warm water (and cold water) will do that- try room temperature. I can't give good advice on the scan- cloning it out can be laborious.

sorry no easy way. retouching a patience.

times to get digital to avoid your lab : )

PEC-12 fluid with PEC-PADs should be able to clean th fingerprint. Follow directions and be careful.

With PS I am not aware of any quick way to do it (no fingerprint removal tool yet), and you will have to go for different strategies based on the picture under the fingerprint. E.g. clone/stamp can be good if it is on a texture free area (a clear sky), or if texture is repetitive (a wall, sometimes). It's also possible the fingerprint will not show up on your web presentation or final print anyway.

Hi J: Film emulsion is highly water sensitive and the slightest stress while wet can damage it. It is best to never touch the emulsion when wet specially above room temperature. In very cold water as Roger points out it is less sensitive. However for cleaning fingerprints, water is practically useless because greasy fingerprints are not water soluble. It is like trying to clean greasy hands without soap.

PEC2 is based on a solvent that has been banned for sale in North America at the producers level because it is an ozone depleter, however it does work very well as Francesco suggested. Scanning fluid will usually remove the fingerprints and will not damage the film. Please see the file on cleaning at www.scansciece.com.

Julio

www.scanscience.com

Try a solvent that is not water soluble like lighter fluid or charcoal liter fluid.

Fred