[RobertP]

Charles, How many high school pictures or when you fell off the truck is of little importance to me. As I said before I don't question your experience. What I was addressing was your claim that the Adams machine will be of little help in fixing emulsion scratches. I can show you some LF and ULF negatives and the resulting prints that have had emulsion scratches repaired with the Adams machine that look beautiful. I agree, most if not all repairs should be done on the base side of the negative. But you can also blend on the emulsion side and this is addressed Veronica's book. As far as grain goes, it is not as big of an issue with contact prints as it would be with the smaller negatives used for projection printing. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think most of Hurrell's Hollywood portraits were contact prints.I don't know how many Large Format or Ultra Large Format negatives you have ever tray processed but even with the best techniques a scratch can happen. So I'll have to disagree with you again when you say a professional will never scratch a negative. The Adams machine requires time and patience to become efficient with it. I'm sure you are the one of the best but emulsion scratches can be repaired with the Adams machine with the use of retouching fluid and graphite. Applying the varnish (retouch fluid) with an airbrush is the optimum way of applying it but it can also be done by brush and then buffing with tissue to smooth.