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Posted by Lynn on July 15, 1999 at 22:44:43:
In Reply to: Removing old photos from backing posted by Marcia McChesney on July 05, 1999 at 08:12:39:
Marcia;
Don't try to remove those pictures from the backing. I have been
in the photo lab business for over 25 yrs and we would never try
to remove any thing from a original photograph. You are lucky
that today we have several options to offer you. Going to a
professional photo lab to get a copy neg made is the triditional
way this would be handled but it does have some downsides to it.
1)if the print is fading or has gone to a cepia tone(browny
color) it might be difficult to find enough information on the
print to help in producing a good reproduction. If however you
choose this route be sure that they use Black and white film and
4x5 size film. This film carries good detail in the shadow areas
and are easy on the high light areas.
2) My first choice would be to have them scanned on a good flat
bed scanner at a proper reproduction house and be saved as a Jpeg
image. Be sure to tell them to scan in RGB ( color, as you can
always make Black and Whites from Color but color from Black and
White is much more complicated) and explain to them to what size
you might ever what to print it out to (ie 4x6" or 5x7"
ect.) Once you have this file make a copy and only give the copy
out to be worked on. leave your original file alone. (Each time
you open a JPeg file it loses information)
After you have your copy there are several opportunities that you
can experiment with for a very low cost of money but a very high
quality result. If there is a Walmart around they have a Kodak
" Copy pint station" most of the new units takes a 3
1/2"disk with a JPeg on it and will print it out on to
photographic paper using a dye transfer method and seals it with
a UV coating that will last a long time. I have some that are
nearing 5years old with out fading and that was the old stuff. Of
course your results will be as good as they look after there
equipment.
Your other option and my favorite is that a lot of 1 Hour photo
labs are investing into "DIGITAL" printers that print
your reg film but it's digital information. Look for a lab that
does APS processing and you should find someome who has this new
equipment. This equipment can take a JPEG file and out put it
straight on to Photographic paper giving you the same stable
medium as a reg photo graph.
Other options can be to have them scanned and a Photo CD produced
like the Kodak Picture Disk - which is also good because any time
you are dealing with a major manufacturer you will get all the
color calibration you need to work with these equipment
manufactures.
If you still have problems understanding what to do have some one scan your picture on a flat bed scanner at 100% at 300 DPI and E-mail me a copy and I will get you a print and Mail it back to show you what can be done.
Good Luck and store your original in a cool dark place
Regards
Lynn
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