Old Photos 1 (Page 2): The best way is to remove the glass and the photo from the frame, clean the glass, lay it on a scanner and scan through the glass. Trying to peal it off is...

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

TMcL wrote:

Does anyone know of a way to safely separate a photo that has become stuck to the glass in a photo frame? I have some photos that sat undisturbed in my father’s study for at least 25 years, and over time have become stuck to the glass of the frame. I am looking to clean up and update the frame. Any ideas? Thanks.

The best way is to remove the glass and the photo from the frame, clean the glass, lay it on a scanner and scan through the glass. Trying to peal it off is asking for destruction.

User ID

TMcL wrote:

This is a bit of a Hail Mary solution. If it fails, I’ve also lost the original!!

Make the best copy possible. The risk off disaster is very high. Some of the advice here would push the risk to 110% certain.

Much depends on just how badly stuck the prints are. If it’s really only slightly, then you might succeed with steaming them off. But even then they might not survive. If stuck more than very slightly, there is no fix.

Try googling “emulsion transfer”. Much of the advice here is like the procedure for emulsion transfer. FYI emulsion transfers are the very opposite of the result you’re hoping for. But google it, so you realize what Hogster advice will get you :-(

TMcL

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I have found a shop in the next village that will undertake this for me.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

PixelStan77 wrote:

Kodak makes a product called Photoflow. Soak the print and glass in Photoflow and it will separate.

One possible source: https://smile.amazon.com/Kodak-Photo-Flo-200-Solution-16oz/dp/B00K335F6S/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1TNAL2GT7YE7U&dchild=1&keywords=kodak+photoflow+200&qid=1621940861&sprefix=kodak+Photoflow%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-2
Best Wishes
JimmyT Sends

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

TMcL wrote:

Does anyone know of a way to safely separate a photo that has become stuck to the glass in a photo frame? I have some photos that sat undisturbed in my father’s study for at least 25 years, and over time have become stuck to the glass of the frame. I am looking to clean up and update the frame. Any ideas? Thanks.

I would first take a photo of it with a digital camera. Most old photo's can be restored in post.
Then I would put the photo stuck to glass in a try of water until you can easily separate it from the glass, now you will need to get the photo dry and flat, I used to use a print warmer but no longer own one. Old time photographers used a special poster board thick paper board you could put the print between these thick sheets of paper and put them into a press for over night drying and flattening. And I no longer own this press either.
Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

If the photo will fit into a scanner, that might be the easiest way to copy it without producing reflections from the glass. Most scanners look through a glass plate that supports the photo so they are designed to avoid those reflections.

MCHUGH Loc: Jacksonville, Texas

PixelStan77 wrote:

Kodak makes a product called Photoflow. Soak the print and glass in Photoflow and it will separate.

The Photoflow always worked for me back when I was in business. Don't get in a hurry and let it soak overnight it needed. Do not try to pull it off let it flow off into the Photoflow solution. Rinse it after it is off with water and dry it between two towels with a little weight on them to make sure it drys flat.

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

quixdraw wrote:

Before you do anything else, gently clean the exterior glass and get the best digital shots you can of the photos in place! CYA!

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

quixdraw wrote:

Before you do anything else, gently clean the exterior glass and get the best digital shots you can of the photos in place! CYA!

Best advice in this post!

Stan

JimBart Loc: Western Michigan

You may try a sharp razor blade and work it carefully between the glass and picture

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

TMcL wrote:

This is a bit of a Hail Mary solution. If it fails, I’ve also lost the original!!

Photograph or scan it first with the glass in place (after cleaning the surface) and use appropriately placed lighting so as not to produce reflections from the glass. After you have that archive, you can try to release it by soaking (which I have no idea whether it will be successful).

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

quixdraw wrote:

Before you do anything else, gently clean the exterior glass and get the best digital shots you can of the photos in place! CYA!

What I was gonna say.....

M1911 Loc: DFW Metromess

Also, don't try to dry them against a metal surface. Do what photographers have done for decades of
B&W photography. Lay them in a photo blotter book or face up on a window screen, this is called "glossy dried mat." Before they dry, color prints may take on a color shift that should clear up when dry.

M1911 Loc: DFW Metromess

Also, don't try to dry them against a metal surface. Do what photographers have done for decades of
B&W photography. Lay them in a photo blotter book or face up on a window screen, this is called "glossy dried mat." Before they dry, color prints may take on a color shift that should clear up when dry.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

TMcL wrote:

Does anyone know of a way to safely separate a photo that has become stuck to the glass in a photo frame? I have some photos that sat undisturbed in my father’s study for at least 25 years, and over time have become stuck to the glass of the frame. I am looking to clean up and update the frame. Any ideas? Thanks.

One reason for raised matting. Keep the print attached to the glass and change frame. Or consult with an archivist.