Re: [photo-3d] Cleaning of old stereo slides

[Project3D@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 11/04/01 23:35:41 GMT Daylight Time, 
Rory.Hinnen@xxxxxxxxxx writes:

<< Wayne Brewster wrote:
 > 
 > I have about 50 stereo slides taken in the early/mid 50's from an
 > aircraft carrier showing take-offs & landings of fighters etc. The
 > slides are dirty and have some mold. Any tip on cleaning w/o
 > destroying would be appreciated. I am going to re-mount in RBT mounts.
 >  thanks, Wayne Brewster

And Rory Hinnen followed up with:

<< I'd be interested in hearing any tips, as well. I got a great set of
 about 25 slides, probably someone's pride and joy because they came
 along with a viewer and a case, and the pictures spanned about 4 years.
 
 All mounted in glass, and all suffering from what looks like mold.
 Colors are beautiful, the stereo is excellent, all hand mounted in
 realist masks (one in a circular mask), and I'd love to find a way to
 preserve them a little better. I'm afraid to even separate the glass. >>

This scanario is exactly what the Stereoscopic Society is faced with in 
relation to the Pat Whitehouse sequences.

Only the scale is somewhat larger :-)  Just the famous "Tribute to Handel"
sequence comprises 116 stereo slides alone. 

Photographic duplication just wasn't of an acceptable standard, and would 
only yield one set of dupes per run, anyway.

Like you, I didn't dare to separate the glass - these slides have been 
constantly projected over the last 40 years...

So, I'm scanning them at 4000 DPI (Polaroid Sprintscan 4000) and then doing 
the "cleaning" on the digital files. So far, I've been surprisingly effective 
at removing the dark brown mould spots and other imperfections. I've even 
been able to remove some scratches that must have been on the film before Pat 
mounted them...

I am _not_ able to _exactly_ match the colours of the originals, but (based 
on the assumption that some fading will have occurred) the dupes are actually 
coming out bright and shiny - just like new :-)

Now, all this is _extremely_ time consuming, but after running out a set of 
slides, I still have the digital files so I can make as many copies as I 
need, in different formats if I want - I just made a ViewMaster reel from 
seven of the images...

I think it's well worth it on these shows, but may not be on your slides - 
only you can make that value judgement...

Bob Aldridge
Technical Manager
The Stereoscopic Society 

 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/