Can I Use White Cotton Gloves to Handle Negatives?

Film negatives are extremely vulnerable to damage and dust.

Handling photographic film negatives is tricky business. Dust and dirt easily collect on the surface and the actual plastic of the film is susceptible to scratches and kinks. Handle negatives with the utmost care and never with bare hands to keep them in good condition.

Regular Cotton Gloves

The natural oils on your hand can leave marks on your film negatives that can be difficult to remove and often require specialty film cleaner to completely clean off. To avoid contaminating your precious images, use white cotton gloves to handle all your film negatives.

Lint-Free Cotton Gloves

You may want to consider lint-free white cotton gloves. Although they are more expensive, they are worth it. Cotton gloves that are not lint-free will leave little white pieces of debris, making reproducing dust-free prints very difficult.

Neoprene Gloves

In extreme circumstances, "deteriorated negatives, especially nitrates, can emit a noticeable and noxious odor" says the Conservators of Fine Arts and Material Culture. If you are handling deteriorated negatives, wear neoprene gloves instead of white cotton to protect your skin. Other protective gear, such as a face mask, is also recommended.

References

• Conservators of Fine Arts and Material Culture: Preserving Your Collection of Film-Based Photographic Negatives

Resources

• National Library of Australia: Care and Handling Guidelines for Digitisation of Library Materials