RootsChat.Com
Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: Flynn on Wednesday 11 May 05 19:37 BST (UK)
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What can I do to get an old photograph out of a frame when the front of it is stuck on the glass? It has been hanging in a very humid place for the past 40 or so years. I hope someone can help!
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Soak the photo and glass together in clean water with a few dops of dishwashing detergent. It is more likely to be stuck by capillary attraction [some damp, 2 smooth surfaces] than by any adhesive action. The dishwasher will lower the surface tension and hopefully they will separate. Then lay the photo face up on newspaper and put some clean paper towelling on top.
If it doesn't work I shall deny everything 8)
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Do you think it will work on a photo printed as a postcard?
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Hi Flyn,
This very topic has been discussed at RetouchPRO http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1664
The general opinion is to scan the photo through the glass first, just in case something goes wrong in the removal process.
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I agree with Deadants!
As long as you allow the photograph to soak overnight, it should come off very easily - just resist tempation to rush it.
When drying it, you will need to make sure it doesn't curl - and any cloths that you use need to be lint free. To stop it form curling you can place a few little things on the edge of the photograph. Allow it to dry out for a goof few hours before handling it - incase you scratch the emulsion.
Trystan
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Thank you so very much for your link, deadants. I will be trying the soaking suggestions soon. One question has come to mind after reading some of the information, though... how do I know whether my photo is suffering from mold?
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Never, never, dry a wetted print with any form of dryer. Oddly, and I handle many hundreds of cleaned prints and maps that have been wetted, they dry flatter by simply hanging up with a plastic peg. But you must first blot off surplus water. as I indicated.
I have found this method better than using a photographic drum dryer - in fact I scarpped mine a couple of years back.
Paper is a lot tougher than you may think and high quality papers do not disintegrate if wetted.
I read all that about Photflo - I suggested some washing up liquid as for this purpose it will do as well. The thread that Deadants posted confirms what I said about reducing surface tension to cause the photo to float clear of the glass. Just remember to have the glass underneath and the photo on top.
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Thank you for pointing out the orientation of the glass/photo, hackstaple! I probably wouldn't have thought about it if you hadn't mentioned it. The water that I will be using to soak, should I start out with it being warm or will cold water be better?
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Can you scan it first before soaking? or is that going to be difficult?
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I think I can scan it. The glass should fit onto my scanner. I wonder though, will the glass end up reflecting the light as it is being scanned?
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There's only one way to find out. :D
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I'll let you all know how I get on when I get the chance to get scanning (unfortunately, my scanner isn't connected to this computer).
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Well I just did a little experiment. Mine worked with the frame. It should work better without a frame.
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Thanks! It's great to have so many helpful and interested people to hand.
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You've peaked our curiosty now. We will all be waiting to see how it works out. Maybe you could post your photo if it needs a bit of touching up.
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Hopefully, the photo won't need any touching up. I will, however, post the scan with glass and (if it works) scan without glass. I promise to fully document what I do to the photo and be completely honest with the results (even if it turns out disastrously).
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Flynn
What happened with the photo? Have you done it yet?
Jane
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Sorry that I haven't got around to posting the results. I tried last weekend but I had some difficulty uploading the files onto this site. I need to rescan the finished product for posting here. However, let me tell you now how I got on: it was basically a success. Thank you all for your advice. I promise to get around to posting the scanned photo. Really.
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Well done. How exciting I can't wait! Aren't these Rootschat experts brilliant.
Jane
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Absolutely, positively!!!!!!
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I am now going to try and restore photos and maybe even colour them. Deadants has sent me loads of links but having downloaded some of the software it looks really complicated. But as usual I won't be defeated. Roll on the weekend!
Jane
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it looks really complicated. But as usual I won't be defeated. Roll on the weekend!
That's the Spirit. What software are you going to use? Don't forget we are here to answer your questions.
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I've downloaded Ultimate paint and Photoplus6. Are these the right ones? I had a go and made a total mess. Which bit of the photo do I do first? I tried the contrast and then the brightness. This seemed OK. Then I started messing around spraying the background and it looked worse than a 3 year olds effort at nursery. Sorry to all the 3 year olds.
The colours seem like primary and I haven't worked out yet how to do skin or pastels but its early days and if its difficult it will make me more determined to master it. The trouble is I'm not artistic although I do like watercolour painting but only of the things I can see. I have no imagination as I deal in facts (I am a scientist by trade).
Jane
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hey! don't be so down on scientists. either you're not giving yourself enough credit in the imagination department or it's something other than being a scientist by trade. my sister is a scientist by trade and is unbelievably artistic and i'm a scientist by training and love being creative. i'll give you the benefit of the doubt and say that you're not giving yourself enough credit with your imagination (or maybe you're just not good with visualization but might be very good in other areas.) anyway, just needed to put my two cents in. i promise to get onto rescanning the photo and posting it soon.
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again, HELP!!!! ??? i have been trying to attach the scan that i've made of the photo that i soaked off the glass but i can't get the file small enough to attach. what am i not doing that i should be doing? i've tried the help on the site but no mention of how to rectify my problem. i'm dying to share my success with NO success.
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Have you reduced the resolution to 72?
Jane
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again, HELP!!!! ??? i have been trying to attach the scan that i've made of the photo that i soaked off the glass but i can't get the file small enough to attach.
Hi Flyn,
What graphics software are you using? You might want to download copy of infranview http://www.irfanview.com/ This will allow you to resize your photo to something more reasonale.