Digital BW, The Print

glennrbarry@... wrote:

> Given that the crazing adds density, it means
> there is something stuck on there. Have you
> tried re-washing them to remove whatever it
> is. Don't try it on an important shot
> straight up as not knowing the history I'd
> hate to hear about the emulsion dissolving.

Crazing can give density increase just by having 4 surfaces in 
the optical path. The 2 of the film substrate and 2 of the 
emulsion just near the cracks. Plus some deflection as the two 
layers will be at a small angle to one another.  I guess it is 
caused by storing the films in a very hot and dry environment. If 
the film was in sleeves that may be all that happened. If the 
conditions were different and organisms are the cause of the 
problem then it becomes much more complex.

Wet mounting isn't restricted to drum scanners but can be done on 
flatbeds and CCD filmscanners too. Wet mounting is done with 
fluids that will not affect the emulsion nor the substrate and 
that can evaporate afterwards depending on which fluid you use. 
The fluid will diminish the optical path problems by filling in 
the cracks, the voids between the emulsion and the film and the 
scratches.

Ernst