If you repeatedly find that your negatives are covered with dust and scratches, you should make some attempt to troubleshoot the problem. Dust (and some scratches) can be retouched out of a print later, but it will be far less time-consuming and frustrating, in the long run, to eliminate the problem at its source. Here are some suggestions.

Scratches:
There are three points in the photographic process at which scratches can be etched onto the film as it is drawn through the camera. First, if you are reusing film cassettes for bulk-loading, be sure to blow off the felt before reloading with Dust-Off or a brush. Any grit that is caught in the felt can etch a scratch as the bulk film is drawn into the cassette. Also, check the pressure plate on the back of the camera. This is the plate that holds the film flat against the film plane, and if there is a small piece of dirt or grit on this plate, it can etch a scratch along the entire length of the film as it is drawn through the camera. Always rewind your film back into the cassette slowly; rewinding too quickly can cause scratches or static marks.

Secondly, film is extremely vulnerable to scratching during the film development cycle, when it is wet and the emulsion is soft. Many photographers prefer to not squeegee or touch the film in any way when it is wet, because of the danger of scratching. If you photo-flo the film properly, the water should sheet off the film when it is hung up to dry, leaving no water spots and therefore no need for squeegeeing.

Finally, your negative sleeves must be clean and lint-free. If they become dirty, film can be scratched as it is drawn in and out of these sleeves. Take care when loading the strip of film into the enlarger’s negative carrier that you avoid drawing the film between the metal plates of the carrier. (Mat board carriers are actually safer in this respect and are less likely to scratch the negative.) Some students like to store each plastic print-file sheet in a manila envelope or similar enclosure, with the contact sheet taped to the front of the envelope. Not only does this keep the film clean, but it serves as an efficient filing system.

Some scratches on negatives can be treated with Edwal No-Scractch, available at your camera store. This product does not actually eliminate the scratch, but optically fills it in so that it does not print. Follow the instructions on the bottle or ask your instructor how to use it. After printing the negative, the No-Scratch must be removed with film cleaner before placing the negative back in the negative sleeve or the negative may glue itself to the inside of the sleeve.

Dust:
Dust will show up on the negative a small white spots or lines on the print. If the dust is loose, no problem. Just blow it off the negative with Dust-Off or brush it off with a soft brush. If the dust is stuck to the negative, try removing it with a photo-wipe or lens tissue dampened with film cleaner. If this doesn’t work, the last resort is to re-soak the negative in photo-flo water, gently rubbing it with your fingers while it is wet. Rinse with more photo-flo water and hang up to dry.

The majority of dust problems originate in the film drying cabinet, where many students rummage through the hanging strips of film. Try to get your film on a back row in order to lessen the chance of other students brushing up against it while it is drying. Better yet, start developing your film at home, so you can hang it up in your bathroom. Alternatively, if you have a space at home to dry your film and do not live far from the lab, you can carry your film home wet in the tank filled with photo-flo water, and hang the film up to dry at home.

If you find small black spots on your prints, these are not caused by dust on the negative, but rather by dust in the camera which settles on the film before it is exposed, forming a clear unexposed spot on the negative. Solution: blow out the back of your camera periodically with Dust-Off. (Caution: never spray Dust-Off directly at the mirror of a single-lens reflex camera. Any liquid residue that escapes can permanently damage the mirror.)