How to clean Slides

[kb433]

I'm not sure if this is the right thread category to post this question in. Anyway, I have been asked to scan some slides. How do you clean slides? Does the type of slide make a difference when cleaning? I have the Epson Perfection Photo V500 scanner. I'm new at this, so how much should I charge for just scanning and then scanning and cleaning?

Thanks for your help,
Kaye

[blumesan]

I use canned compressed air to blow them off before scanning. Try not to work in a very dry environment where static charge may make the dust stick. Anti-static brushes are also useful. But best of all is a scanner with Digital Ice. Don't know if that is a feature of your scanner.

[kb433]

Thank you blumesan. My scanner does have Digital Ice but it does not support Kodachrome film or slides. I have been reading about PEC-12. Does you know anything about that?

[blumesan]

Originally Posted by kb433

Thank you blumesan. My scanner does have Digital Ice but it does not support Kodachrome film or slides. I have been reading about PEC-12. Does you know anything about that?

I have had no trouble using digital ice on kodachromes. It will not work with B&W film. Is PEC-12 a liquid? I would be very hesitant to clean slides with any liquid unless they were very soiled and impossible to clean otherwise.

[kb433]

Thank you blumesan. That is good to know about digital ice and kodachrome. PEC-12 is a pump spray that you spray one or two drops onto a q tip or the PEC pads, then lightly wipe the slide or negative. What I have read so far, has been positive. I do have compressed air that I use to clean my keyboard. I assume that will work for the slides. When you clean your slides, do you take them out of the cardboard frame? If so, is it hard to do?

[blumesan]

No need to take slides out of frame unless they are very badly soiled. In that case you may need to immerse the slide in distilled water with some Kodak Photo-flo and then carefully air dry.