Re: Dreaded fungus

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony K" <tonyk@digital-lucida.com.au>
To: <alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2003 2:09 PM
Subject: Re: Dreaded fungus

> Jim,
>
> Sorry to add this so late. You could try contacting a
major film
> manufacturer (if you can find the right person to ask) or
a conservation
> facility which specialises in photographic material.
>
> I've removed dead fungus from film by rewashing the film
very carefully but
> those areas where the emulsion has been eaten away will
remain damaged.
>
> You are right in that prevention is the only real cure.
>
> You could look at info from here:
>
> http://www.rit.edu/~661www1/sub_pages/8page3.htm
>
> Also Kodak once had a publication on the treatment of
fungus but that was
> years ago, I don't know if it is still available.
>
> Not much help I know, but depending on how well
established the fungus is
> and how much damage has already been caused you could
consider re-washing
> the film. Do a high Res scan first before you risk
anything else.
>
> Tony Kelly
> ________________________
> Digital Lucida
> 478-480 Rathdowne Street
> Carlton North
> Victoria 3054
> Australia
>
> Ph. +61 3 9349 5159
> Fax. +61 3 9349 5153
>
> http://www.digital-lucida.com.au
>
  Be careful of washing film which has been infected with
fungus. Some fungus can partially digest the gelatin making
it water soluble. For the same reason the film should be
cleaned with a watter-free solvent. The best, if you can
find it, is 1,1,1,Trichlorethane. Next best, and friendlier
to the environment, is dry isopropyl alcohol. You can find
99% Isopropyl in some drugstores. Its also sold for
electronics cleaning. Not expensive.
  See the conservation site at Stanford at:
http://aic.stanford.edu/ for more on fungus. Much of the
material there is about non-photographic materials but
photography is covered. This is the main site which has lots
of links to other sites.
  Fungus, unfortunately, turns out to be very damaging and
very hard to get rid of.

---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA
dickburk@ix.netcom.com