Your options<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- Clean the film first.<\/strong> A blower, an anti-static brush and a clean workspace always help. They never get everything.<\/li>\n\n
- Heal by hand<\/strong> in Lightroom or Photoshop. Fine for a few favorites, but a dusty roll can take an evening.<\/li>\n\n
- Lightroom’s automatic Dust tool.<\/strong> Adobe built it for camera sensor dust and has said scanned negatives aren’t in scope. See Lightroom dust removal for film scans<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n
- Batch dust removal with DustMagic.<\/strong> Built for exactly this job: a folder of film scans, cleaned in one pass.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
A camera-scanning workflow with DustMagic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- Shoot the roll<\/strong> in RAW, as you do now.<\/li>\n\n
- Convert your negatives<\/strong> in your usual tool (Negative Lab Pro, Lightroom, or another converter) and export 16-bit TIFFs. DustMagic works on TIFF and JPEG files, so it slots in after conversion and before color grading.<\/li>\n\n
- Import the folder<\/strong> into DustMagic and set Film Type. Slides (dark dust)<\/em> for positives, Negatives (light dust)<\/em> for converted negatives, where dust shows up bright.<\/li>\n\n
- Check the Detection Overlay.<\/strong> Red marks everything DustMagic plans to remove. Sweep the Split View across faces and fine detail.<\/li>\n\n
- Click Process Batch.<\/strong> Roughly 100 images in about 3 minutes*. Cleaned copies go to a
cleaned<\/code> subfolder and your originals aren’t touched.<\/li>\n\n- Fix the odd miss<\/strong> with the Smart Brush Tool (press B), then grade as normal.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
*Speed depends on your processor, image size and detection settings.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"DustMagic](\"https:\/\/dustmagic.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/dustmagic-v120-process-batch-running-1024x609.jpg\")
Process Batch works through the whole folder and shows progress as it goes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWorking in Lightroom Classic? The free plugin (switch it on from DustMagic’s Help menu) sends selected photos to DustMagic and returns cleaned copies to your catalog, next to the originals. Convert your RAW negatives to TIFF or JPEG first, as above. See the Lightroom integration guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"DustMagic](\"https:\/\/dustmagic.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/dustmagic-v120-view-split-1024x609.jpg\")
Split View: sweep the divider to compare the original and the cleaned image.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhy camera scans suit automatic detection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- They’re sharp.<\/strong> Dust sits on the film surface, and DustMagic’s detection is tuned for crisp camera scans.<\/li>\n\n
- Dust looks different on slides and negatives.<\/strong> It’s dark on slides and bright on converted negatives. DustMagic’s dark-bright detection handles both, so choose the right Film Type. Black-and-white and Kodachrome scans, which infrared cleaning struggles with, work too.<\/li>\n\n
- Grain stays.<\/strong> DustMagic removes surface contamination, not film texture, so your scans don’t get the smoothed look of heavy healing.<\/li>\n\n
- Everything stays on your computer.<\/strong> DustMagic runs offline, on Windows or Mac, with no GPU required.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What it won’t do<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- RAW files directly. Convert first, then clean the TIFFs or JPEGs.<\/li>\n\n
- Sensor dust on digital photos. DustMagic is built for film scans.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\nDoes it work with Negative Lab Pro?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Yes, as a separate step. Convert in Negative Lab Pro, export TIFFs, clean them in DustMagic, then grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Which holder or copy stand does it work with?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Any. DustMagic works on the exported image, so it doesn’t matter whether you use a Nikon ES-2, Valoi, Negative Supply, Essential Film Holder, Digitaliza or a DIY setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can it clean medium format scans?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Yes. DustMagic handles very large TIFFs. Memory and disk speed become the limit before pixel count does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are my images uploaded anywhere?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
No. All processing happens on your computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Try it on your own scans<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The free trial processes unlimited images, full batches included, with a watermark on the output. If you like the results, a 12-month license ($59) removes the watermark. Windows and Mac.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A camera-scanning workflow with DustMagic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- Shoot the roll<\/strong> in RAW, as you do now.<\/li>\n\n
- Convert your negatives<\/strong> in your usual tool (Negative Lab Pro, Lightroom, or another converter) and export 16-bit TIFFs. DustMagic works on TIFF and JPEG files, so it slots in after conversion and before color grading.<\/li>\n\n
- Import the folder<\/strong> into DustMagic and set Film Type. Slides (dark dust)<\/em> for positives, Negatives (light dust)<\/em> for converted negatives, where dust shows up bright.<\/li>\n\n
- Check the Detection Overlay.<\/strong> Red marks everything DustMagic plans to remove. Sweep the Split View across faces and fine detail.<\/li>\n\n
- Click Process Batch.<\/strong> Roughly 100 images in about 3 minutes*. Cleaned copies go to a
cleaned<\/code> subfolder and your originals aren’t touched.<\/li>\n\n- Fix the odd miss<\/strong> with the Smart Brush Tool (press B), then grade as normal.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
*Speed depends on your processor, image size and detection settings.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nProcess Batch works through the whole folder and shows progress as it goes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWorking in Lightroom Classic? The free plugin (switch it on from DustMagic’s Help menu) sends selected photos to DustMagic and returns cleaned copies to your catalog, next to the originals. Convert your RAW negatives to TIFF or JPEG first, as above. See the Lightroom integration guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSplit View: sweep the divider to compare the original and the cleaned image.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhy camera scans suit automatic detection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- They’re sharp.<\/strong> Dust sits on the film surface, and DustMagic’s detection is tuned for crisp camera scans.<\/li>\n\n
- Dust looks different on slides and negatives.<\/strong> It’s dark on slides and bright on converted negatives. DustMagic’s dark-bright detection handles both, so choose the right Film Type. Black-and-white and Kodachrome scans, which infrared cleaning struggles with, work too.<\/li>\n\n
- Grain stays.<\/strong> DustMagic removes surface contamination, not film texture, so your scans don’t get the smoothed look of heavy healing.<\/li>\n\n
- Everything stays on your computer.<\/strong> DustMagic runs offline, on Windows or Mac, with no GPU required.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What it won’t do<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- RAW files directly. Convert first, then clean the TIFFs or JPEGs.<\/li>\n\n
- Sensor dust on digital photos. DustMagic is built for film scans.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\nDoes it work with Negative Lab Pro?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Yes, as a separate step. Convert in Negative Lab Pro, export TIFFs, clean them in DustMagic, then grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Which holder or copy stand does it work with?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Any. DustMagic works on the exported image, so it doesn’t matter whether you use a Nikon ES-2, Valoi, Negative Supply, Essential Film Holder, Digitaliza or a DIY setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can it clean medium format scans?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Yes. DustMagic handles very large TIFFs. Memory and disk speed become the limit before pixel count does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are my images uploaded anywhere?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
No. All processing happens on your computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Try it on your own scans<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The free trial processes unlimited images, full batches included, with a watermark on the output. If you like the results, a 12-month license ($59) removes the watermark. Windows and Mac.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
cleaned<\/code> subfolder and your originals aren’t touched.<\/li>\n\n- Fix the odd miss<\/strong> with the Smart Brush Tool (press B), then grade as normal.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
*Speed depends on your processor, image size and detection settings.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nProcess Batch works through the whole folder and shows progress as it goes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWorking in Lightroom Classic? The free plugin (switch it on from DustMagic’s Help menu) sends selected photos to DustMagic and returns cleaned copies to your catalog, next to the originals. Convert your RAW negatives to TIFF or JPEG first, as above. See the Lightroom integration guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSplit View: sweep the divider to compare the original and the cleaned image.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhy camera scans suit automatic detection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- They’re sharp.<\/strong> Dust sits on the film surface, and DustMagic’s detection is tuned for crisp camera scans.<\/li>\n\n
- Dust looks different on slides and negatives.<\/strong> It’s dark on slides and bright on converted negatives. DustMagic’s dark-bright detection handles both, so choose the right Film Type. Black-and-white and Kodachrome scans, which infrared cleaning struggles with, work too.<\/li>\n\n
- Grain stays.<\/strong> DustMagic removes surface contamination, not film texture, so your scans don’t get the smoothed look of heavy healing.<\/li>\n\n
- Everything stays on your computer.<\/strong> DustMagic runs offline, on Windows or Mac, with no GPU required.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What it won’t do<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- RAW files directly. Convert first, then clean the TIFFs or JPEGs.<\/li>\n\n
- Sensor dust on digital photos. DustMagic is built for film scans.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\nDoes it work with Negative Lab Pro?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Yes, as a separate step. Convert in Negative Lab Pro, export TIFFs, clean them in DustMagic, then grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Which holder or copy stand does it work with?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Any. DustMagic works on the exported image, so it doesn’t matter whether you use a Nikon ES-2, Valoi, Negative Supply, Essential Film Holder, Digitaliza or a DIY setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can it clean medium format scans?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Yes. DustMagic handles very large TIFFs. Memory and disk speed become the limit before pixel count does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are my images uploaded anywhere?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
No. All processing happens on your computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Try it on your own scans<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The free trial processes unlimited images, full batches included, with a watermark on the output. If you like the results, a 12-month license ($59) removes the watermark. Windows and Mac.<\/p>\n\n\n\n