HCT User Guide
page 31
Copyright © 2001 HutchColor, LLC
User_Guide_43.docx 2/10/19
Care and maintenance
General care
The HCT is a valuable original. Return it to it’s protective packaging immediately after use.
Always keep the HCT in the same packaging it came in. All HCT packaging materials have been
carefully chosen for archival safety with color film materials.
Handle targets by the extreme edge only. Avoid touching the working area (square patches).
Light is the enemy of photographic originals. The dyes used in photographic color film and paper are
effectively bleached over time by exposure to light. Never leave a transparent or reflective HCT on a
light box, except when judging color.
Cleaning a transparent HCT
Remove finger marks, residual tape adhesive and mounting fluid from transparent HCTs with any
high-quality film cleaning solution. Avoid hard scrubbing that may scratch the film.
If the target already looks clean, don’t clean it unnecessarily. Excessive cleaning risks scratching or
degrading the target.
If a small but stubborn spot appears in the working area it may be safer to leave it there and retouch
it out later, rather than risk scratching the target while attempting to remove it.
Cleaning a reflective HCT
Remove dust from reflective targets prior to scanning with a blower brush or oil-free anti-static
brush. Oily deposits or finger marks should come off with LIGHT PRESSURE from a clean, lint -free
cloth and film cleaning fluid. Be sure the fluid is intended for photographic prints.
Avoid polishing with harsh scanner wipes that may scratch the print’s surface.
Water-based cleaning (extreme cases only!)
WARNING
: This should only be attempted with equipment designed for washing and drying
photographic materials, and by workers experienced in handling wet emulsions.
In extreme cases water-based stains on transparent or reflective HCTs may be removed by washing
the HCT for about thirty minutes in clean running water, then drying it again.
The biggest dangers when washing transparencies and prints are (a) scratching the soft emulsion,
(b) dust accumulating during drying and (c) a change in color or density.
After an HCT has been water-washed it may change color slightly, possibly invalidating the reference
file. If this happens you should have it re-measured. HCT re-measuring services (except 35mm) are
available through your HCT dealer.
You can check if an HCT has changed due to washing and drying by scanning it immediately before
and after washing. If its RGB values remain /- 1 or 2 then it has NOT changed.
NOTE
: Washing photographic paper or film in water will temporarily turn the emulsion a pale, which
seems to ruin the target, but this milky color will disappear when the material dries.
