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Author Topic: Peeling tape off dye transfer prints Mark J. Marshall Film God Posts: 3188 From: New Castle, DE, USA Registered: Aug 2002 posted 04-10-2003 08:46 AM                    I recently had the pleasure of working with an older dye transfer print. While inspecting it I noticed some old splices that were starting to come apart, so I decided to redo them. In doing so, I learned a valuable lesson that some of you probably already know. My question is, are there any tricks to peeling tape off without peeling the dye off with it?  |  IP: Logged Jeff Taylor Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 601 From: Chatham, NJ/East Hampton, NY Registered: Apr 2000 posted 04-10-2003 09:34 AM                     Tricks? I've made and remade hundreds of tape splices (Neutape) on dye transfer prints and never had the dye layer peel off. I can't remember the proper technical term for the "binder", but it almost sounds as if your print has some problems in that area.  |  IP: Logged Mark J. Marshall Film God Posts: 3188 From: New Castle, DE, USA Registered: Aug 2002 posted 04-10-2003 11:19 AM                    I was hoping that there was a trick, and that it wasn't the print.  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 04-10-2003 12:17 PM                        If it's a really old print that is going "vinegar", the acid may be affecting the adhesion. Store prints as cool as possible, at about 30% RH, and vented or with Molecular Sieves.  |  IP: Logged John Schulien Expert Film Handler Posts: 206 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: Nov 1999 posted 04-10-2003 05:42 PM                     My understanding is that the "filmrenew" product has the side effect of dissolving tape splices. Perhaps you could obtain some of that and use it to remove the splices.  |  IP: Logged Hillary Charles Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 748 From: York, PA, USA Registered: Feb 2001 posted 04-10-2003 06:24 PM                     Recently, when removing a piece of tape from an old Eastman print, the emulsion came with it as well. Nothing else physically wrong with the print, but fortunately, it was at the tail of the film--no image loss.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 04-10-2003 08:15 PM                     Mark, sometimes on those old dye transfer prints you can successfully peel the tape off by finding that happy angle. In other words, if you normally peel at a 90 degree angle, try a 180 degree peel. It's been awhile so I can't remember which worked better, but the angle does make a difference. Also be sure and keep the film taught, as that helps a lot as well. I normally set the rewind bench to 5% and hold back the feed reel from spinning. Of course if the tape was cheap crap to begin with, you're out of luck no matter what you do. I've never had the problem with Neumade clear tape though. Also you can use most any generic film cleaner if you want to try the dissolving approach.  |  IP: Logged John Anastasio Master Film Handler Posts: 325 From: Trenton, NJ, USA Registered: Sep 2000 posted 04-10-2003 09:55 PM                        Film Renew is also fantastic for getting spots out of your neckties.  |  IP: Logged Mark J. Marshall Film God Posts: 3188 From: New Castle, DE, USA Registered: Aug 2002 posted 04-11-2003 10:25 AM                    I'm not sure what qualifies as "really" old, but it is probably 20 - 30 years old I would guess, and it does have a slight vinegar odor. Thanks for the suggestions!  |  IP: Logged Jeff Taylor Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 601 From: Chatham, NJ/East Hampton, NY Registered: Apr 2000 posted 04-11-2003 11:07 AM                     Except for a handful of prints produced on the new dye transfer line in the late '90's, and a few British and Italian dye transfer prints struck in the later '70's, and a handful of Cinese dye transfer prints struck in the '80's (yea, lots of exceptions) the US Technicolor dye transfer lines ceased production with Godfather II in '74. By definition, virtually any dye tranfer Technicolor print you're likely to encounter will be 30+ years old, and the VS you mention is probably the cause of your "emulsion" stripping problem. The tape stripping problem you encountered should not be a routine horror.  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 04-11-2003 11:16 AM                        Again, even if a triacetate print has started to go "vinegar", the degradation can be greatly slowed by cool and dry storage, and the use of vented storage or Molecular Sieves in sealed cans to adsorb the acid vapors: Film Storage Vinegar Syndrome Kodak Molecular Sieves Film Preservation  |  IP: Logged

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