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Keeping your filter clean is one
of the most important steps you can take to maintain
your filter’s highest level
of performance. Dirt, dust, or grease on the front
or rear surface of a filter can reduce the brightness
and contrast of the image it reproduces. Regular filter
cleaning is a cheap and effective way to maximize screen
presentation quality.
While cleaning any filter is a simple
matter, there are some guidelines that need to be followed.
Improper cleaning can damage the filter surface resulting
in permanently reduced contrast and sharpness.
First,
use a soft camel's hair brush or air to remove any
solid particles from the filter surface. This will prevent
scratching during subsequent cleaning steps.
Next, you
need to select a cleaning solution and tissue. Use
Kimwipes, Kodak lens tissues, or a clean soft lintless
cloth (there are some made for the purpose). Never
use Kleenex or paper towels as they can contain abrasives.
It is always best to start with the most benign cleaning
fluid and progress to stronger solvents if necessary.
Glass cleaner, such as Windex or Kodak lens fluid,
is a good starting point. If it is ineffective, try
denatured alcohol. For tougher jobs move on to Trek
III (trichloroethylene) or, if all else fails, acetone.
Make sure that acetone is only used as a last resort
because it can remove black paint . Depending on what
part of the filter is being cleaned, there may be some
black paint used. Paint is often used over the black
anodize to produce a flat black matte finish.
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It is
important to remember to apply the filter cleaner to
the filter cleaning tissue before use. Never wipe a
filter with a dry cloth! It will scratch the filter.
Always make sure to use a new tissue each time you
wipe the element.
Take your moist cleaning
tissue and, starting at the center, wipe in a circular
motion around the filter. Do this in one direction only.
Do not back up. Discard the filter tissue frequently,
usually after each wipe of the filter. You want to discard
any dust or grit that the tissue has picked up rather
than scratching the filter with it on your next wipe.
Cleaning should be done gently and quickly. It should
take no more than 30 seconds to clean one filter surface.
If it takes you longer than this, you are probably
working too hard and may be damaging your filter in the
long run.
After the cleaning of the filter, when
you are sure all grit has been removed, you may wish
to lightly polish it with a soft micro pore cleaning
cloth, such as the Schneider Photo Clear cloths. Polishing
will remove any small streaks or smears left by the
cleaning fluid. Again, it is wise to do this quickly
and gently.
With this easy-to-follow process,
your filter will continue to give you the same high quality
presentation that it did the day you bought it.
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