In the production of
photographic prints, spotting is a type of
retouching concerned with correcting minor flaws in the finished print with specially made
paint
Paint is any pigmented liquid, liquefiable, or solid mastic composition that, after application to a substrate in a thin layer, converts to a solid film. It is most commonly used to protect, color, or provide texture. Paint can be made in many ...
s,
dye
A dye is a colored substance that chemically bonds to the substrate to which it is being applied. This distinguishes dyes from pigments which do not chemically bind to the material they color. Dye is generally applied in an aqueous solution an ...
s, pencils and pens.
White spots on
gelatin-silver
The gelatin silver process is the most commonly used chemical process in black-and-white photography, and is the fundamental chemical process for modern analog color photography. As such, films and printing papers available for analog photography ...
prints made from negatives are caused by dust adhering to the
negative or paper during exposure. Prints from positive transparencies exhibit black marks.
White spots can be carefully darkened using a fine paintbrush and a dye of the appropriate colour. A small amount of dye, which should be very weak, is needed. The spot will darken as dye accumulates in the gelatin layer.
Black spots on
gelatin-silver
The gelatin silver process is the most commonly used chemical process in black-and-white photography, and is the fundamental chemical process for modern analog color photography. As such, films and printing papers available for analog photography ...
prints are caused by holes in the negative's emulsion. These can be removed by careful knifing of the gelatin layer.
For spotting work, always use a magnifying glass and a good light source.
References
External links
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Photographic techniques
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