Has anyone successfully set up an auto dust removal routine? I’m thinking about using a photoshop plugin with a script that opens the file runs the cleanup and resaves it.
What Photoshop plug-in are you thinking of using? I would be careful about automating this task when scanning or photographing film, especially colour negative film. None of these clean-up apps are actually made for cleaning-up dust and scratches on film with the possible exception of SilverFast’s sRDX, but even that one requires great care in usage. The problem is that these apps often mistake image detail for dust or scratches, and also fail to remove some of what actually is dust or scratches. I have consistently found that the most reliable way of cleaning up film for scanning or photographing purposes is to actually clean it - with lint-free cloth and/or film cleaner for stubborn debris. Then blow it with a strong blower brush. Very little remain, which you can quickly eliminate with the “remove” tool in Lightroom.
Hi Mark, thanks for the thoughtful response. I have tried SilverFast and it does a good general purpose cleaning. As you say, it can’t get the difficult spots like if a piece of dust falls on a seam. And the results can get a little smudgy if you know what I mean.
You are also right that if I just got around to building the film drying cabinet instead of hanging in the bathroom and did a more thorough job cleaning that would get 99% of it. I have the Ilford Anti-static cloths, the orange ones. But I have always been wary of scratching the emulsion with a stray bit of debris that I don’t notice.
True - I should have mentioned, it’s a good idea to use the blower on the film before wiping it for exactly the reason you say.