History, Conservation, and Repair - - Help! Stuck Photo!!

MaryJC83 · #1 06-04-2006, 05:37 PM

I have a NEW 8 x 10 color photo with autographs. It fell off the wall the other day and parts are stuck to the glass. Will not unstick. Any way to remove it from the glass without damage?? Cannot use water as it is autographed!!

Help!!

Caitlin · #2 06-04-2006, 06:54 PM

You could try placing it in a humid environment.

Cameraken · #3 06-05-2006, 06:36 AM

Hi Mary.
Welcome to Retouch Pro,

The first thing to do here is scan it or photograph it, as it is, so you have a copy.
Is the glass broken?
Can you see where the glass is stuck? Is it just one small area?

Ken

MaryJC83 · #4 06-05-2006, 08:25 AM

Glass is not broken and the photo is sealed to the glass on the upper right side. Again it is autographed so I don't want to damage it. NOt an old photo. Don't know how on earth this happened. Just fell off the wall and stuck.

Littlecoo · #5 06-05-2006, 06:45 PM

As the saying goes- "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" Not knowing the what type of paper and coatings/emulsions are used in this print, I would err on the side of caution and just leave it alone. Can you get more info about the medium it is printed on? If so it may be best to get advice from the manufacturer etc if it is really nessissary to remove the print from the glass.

Mike · #6 06-05-2006, 09:06 PM

Usually the reason a photograph will stick to the glass is because of moisture getting in there. One should never place the photo and the glass together or they will stick. Mount the photo, then when placing the photo in the frame use a matte to seperate the two. I do not think the fall had anything to do with it sticking.

Drying it will not make it let go in my experince. Usually one soaks the thing in water, but since you do not want to do that, then I would leave it alone, but I would make the best copy of it that I could. I have never had any luck using some kind of a high humidty enviroment.

Mike

MaryJC83 · #7 06-10-2006, 06:20 PM

Thanks for the info. I can't undo it and put in a mat now.

As for a humid environment, I live in the S.E. corner of Alabama. Trust me, it is very humid where I live and the photo is upstairs. No amount of air conditioning can rid the place of the kind of humidity here!