Digital BW, The Print

Thanks Jimbo-

Actually, I used to run the photo operation at the Indiana Historical 
Society.  I had this issue with glass plates, etc.

Fortunately, I had one of the best photo conservators in the country 
working there, so it was her job.  She took a job in Kansas a long time 
ago or she'd be my prime source.

I've done what Ernst and others said and made a preliminary (insurance) 
scan.  Although there are those (around the internet) saying to blow the 
mold off first, one thing I learned is that you don't want to spread it 
through the room.

I made several different hi-rez scans.  Vuescan is so versatile!!  I 
went through both RGBI and 16-bit grayscale.  I set it for multiple 
passes and a final output of 12x17 (the file is huge!!)

The RGBI gave me a couple of options:  Usually, the green channel is 
sharper.  And, I have an infrared channel to look at.

Speaking of infrared, I was surprised.  I did a 16-bit gray scan with 
infrared clean on.  It did nothing noticeable.  But, a plain B&W scan 
(still max rez) using the infrared channel cleaned up a ton of stuff!!  
This will probably be the one I use, if it doesn't clean up.  There ARE 
a bunch of black dots in that area which tells me the mold has gone 
through the emulsion.  Thank goodness for PS touch ups.

I then went to Edwal film cleaner (100% Isopropyl) which hardly did 
much.  Several swipes came off with a reddish brown color though, so I 
know I got some of the mold.

Right now the neg is getting a 3-pass RGBI scan which I will follow with 
the 16 bit IR channel again.

What is REALLY amazing is the lack of artifacts from the creases and 
dings in the one neg (mold free).  If I hadn't seen them I wouldn't know 
they were there.

After this next set of scans I am going for a 70-deg F 15 min wash in 
distilled water and Photo-Flo; then a final scan.

Thank you to all that advised.  I'll let you know.