Help Needed Taking a Stuck Photo Out of a Frame: My grandson bumped his head on a photo that was on the wall. It is a photo that cannot be replaced. It is stuck to the glass. My...

tramsey Loc: Texas

My grandson bumped his head on a photo that was on the wall. It is a photo that cannot be replaced. It is stuck to the glass. My daughter tried to get it out but the photo started to peel. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get the photo off the glass without ruining anymore then in all ready is?

roadshow Loc: Triad NC

I remember my mom had one stuck to glass and she soaked it in water. I dont remember how long but it was a pretty long time cause she went back to cleaning house. I remember she peel it off and was very happy. But it curled and she just put it into another frame.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

http://www.ehow.com/how_5017594_remove-stuck-picture-frame-glass.html
http://siarchives.si.edu/services/forums/collections-care-guidelines-resources/photograph-stuck-glass

tramsey Loc: Texas

Thanks a lot. Who would've thought about soaking it in water? I would think that the colors would run. But she'll try it. I'll let you know.

Darkroom317 Loc: Mishawaka, IN

Is in an inkjet print? It will not work with inkjet, but if it is a silver gelatin print or dye print water will work.
I am assuming it was not matted. That is part of reason for matting photographs

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

Photograph it as is to make a new file.
Post process it.
When you are absolutely happy with the file, then try to take it out of the frame.
Don't try to remove it until you have a serviceable digital file as backup.
Then it will take the pressure off wrecking it and it might not even matter.

tramsey wrote:

My grandson bumped his head on a photo that was on the wall. It is a photo that cannot be replaced. It is stuck to the glass. My daughter tried to get it out but the photo started to peel. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get the photo off the glass without ruining anymore then in all ready is?

tramsey Loc: Texas

Thanks, I think she is going to do that :-) (Hopefully)

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

ST3v3M hit on the best solution in his first URL. Immerse the glass and photo in a clean sink in a 68℉ PhotoFlo solution. Assuming 2½ gallons of water, add no more than 2 ounces of PhotoFlo and mix thoroughly before immersion. Check periodically and dry the print with a clean lint free cloth by blotting lightly and air drying. Do NOT use a hair dryer; the print will curl. If it curls, soak again and dry between two sheets of photo blotting paper with 5-10 lbs of weight on top for 24 hours. When dry and if undamaged, scan the photo so it won't be lost forever. Then reframe it with a double mat (to keep the print away from the glass), using acid free matting and photographic (non-glare, anti-UV) glass.

Baz Loc: Peterborough UK

Good thinking Lighthouse.

donrosshill Loc: Delaware & Florida

Before attempting anything, Make photo copy of the Imge behind the Glass, Then and only then. Try some or any of these methods.
Good luck.

tramsey wrote:

My grandson bumped his head on a photo that was on the wall. It is a photo that cannot be replaced. It is stuck to the glass. My daughter tried to get it out but the photo started to peel. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get the photo off the glass without ruining anymore then in all ready is?

ncshutterbug

Glad you posted that question! I have an old family photo album inherited from a deceased aunt with lots of priceless photos of long gone family members. It's one of those with sticky pages, but it's completely rotted and I can't get the photos out without damaging them. Will this work for them?

dwightdills Loc: Charlotte, Tn.

Why not buy a frame the same size as before. I assume the glass did not break since it was not mentioned in theOP.

cockney greg Loc: London E17

No chance of scanning it in situ. in case the worse case scenario happens? At least you might be able to photoshop it afterwards if any of the print is lost.

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

tramsey wrote:

My grandson bumped his head on a photo that was on the wall. It is a photo that cannot be replaced. It is stuck to the glass. My daughter tried to get it out but the photo started to peel. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get the photo off the glass without ruining anymore then in all ready is?

Hi Tramsey,
Years ago, back in the 'wet darkroom days' we used to use a solution called "Photoflo".. (a wetting agent). I used it once for the problem you mention. I let the glass and stuck photo soak for several hours, and eventually the stuck emulsion came loose. I lost just a tiny bit but at least salvaged most of the old photo of my Great Grandparents.

SueMac Loc: Box Elder, SD

I spent this last winter with old pix albums of my deceased FIL. Some pix back to the 1800's and a lot were in those old photo albums. Could not get them off of the sticky back. So I removed the front film and scanned in the photos as they were (stuck to the sticky paper). Then separated them in Photoshop, made a copy and restored the old photos taking out cracks etc. Lots of work, but I do old photo restorations and it has been fun doing this for our family.

If you can't get them off the sticky back, don't force it, they will rip. Scan them in as is and go from there.

I've had one stuck in glass too, so scanned it in as is. Did not research how to get it unstuck as stated in previous posts.

Like others have said, before you do anything, either take a photo of the offending pix or scan it in with the glass attached before you do anything else.