Why a squeegee is a darkroom essential
After developing film, the final rinse leaves water droplets clinging to the emulsion. As these dry, minerals and impurities can leave unsightly marks that show up in your prints or scans. The Paterson Film Squeegee is designed to remove excess water from the surface of the film before drying, preventing these drying marks.
Using a squeegee is a simple step that can save you from hours of spotting or cloning out water spots in post. It's a small tool that makes a big difference in the quality of your negatives.
What the Paterson Film Squeegee offers
- Paterson Film Squeegee: The Paterson Film Squeegee has extra soft rubber blades that remove water droplets from the surface of the newly processed film. Soft blades are gentle on the emulsion, reducing the risk of scratching while effectively clearing water.
Paterson Film Squeegee - Paterson Film Squeegee: The squeegee is designed to remove excess water from the surface of a film before drying. Removing water before drying prevents mineral deposits from forming, which cause drying marks on negatives.
How to use the Paterson Film Squeegee
The key to spot-free negatives is using the squeegee correctly. Here's a straightforward process to follow after you've finished washing your film.
- Start with a wetting agent: For best results, add a few drops of wetting agent to the final washing water. This helps the water sheet off the film and reduces surface tension, making the squeegee more effective.
- Hang the film to dry: Hang the film in a dust-free area, using a film clip at the top. Make sure the film is straight and not touching anything.
- Gently squeeze from top to bottom: Hold the squeegee at the top of the film, with the soft rubber blades on either side of the film. Gently pull the squeegee down in one smooth, continuous motion. Apply even, light pressure to remove excess water without pressing too hard.
- Repeat if necessary: If you see water droplets remaining, you can repeat the process. But avoid going over the same area too many times, as this could increase the risk of scratching.
- Let the film dry completely: After squeezing, leave the film to dry completely before cutting and storing. This ensures no moisture remains that could cause sticking or damage.
Tips for avoiding scratches
The soft rubber blades are designed to be gentle, but you should always make sure the blades are clean and free of any grit or dust before use. A quick rinse in clean water before you start can help. Also, avoid using the squeegee on film that has been dry or has any debris on it. The squeegee is meant for wet film only.
If you're concerned about scratches, you can also use the squeegee on the back (non-emulsion) side of the film first, then the front. Some photographers prefer to use a fresh squeegee for each roll to ensure the blades are clean.
The bottom line
- Paterson Film Squeegee: The Paterson Film Squeegee prevents drying marks on the negatives. Clean negatives mean less retouching and better scans or prints, saving you time and frustration.
