What do you do if the glass frame is stuck in your pictures?
If you’ve ever put a photo in a frame, you understand how that can leave you in a sticky situation. Over time, moisture from the air can creep in between the frame and the picture, fusing the chemicals and ink of the photo to the glass in the frame. This often results in ripped or damaged photos when the picture is attempted to be removed.
We’ve seen it happen dozens of times and helped customers restore their damaged photos. However, with a little foresight, this entire scenario can easily be prevented.
[Update 2-24-20] From Anne Wilbur at Family Tree Magazine: “3 Tips for Saving Photos Stuck to Glass.”
- Scan the photo
- Hire a photographic conservator
- Follow best archival practices with the newly restored photo
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So, before you start that big framing project, consider a few of our tips to help you keep photos from sticking to glass:
Make use of distance.
One of our favorite things to do is visit a craft store to look at photo framing options. A local Michael’s, Jo-Ann Fabric, or Aaron Brothers will provide you with lots of great ideas on how to add some space between your photo and the glass of the frame. Whatever you end up using—whether it’s a heavy matte or a recessed box—make sure the materials are acid-free and will not damage the photos.
Before reading this report. An update. ScanMyPhotos.com professionally digitizes all your photos this fast.
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Use archival-quality plastic.
If you don’t like the idea of putting some distance between the photo and the glass, you could wrap your photo in archival-quality clear plastic before setting it in the frame. This method will not only keep your photos from sticking to the glass but also preserve the picture itself. This website is a great place to start if you want to find archival-quality products.
No matter your plans for your print photos, it is vital to have backups of the originals. You can’t predict what type of damage could be done when a print photo is exposed to the elements so having a backup will ensure your photo isn’t lost forever. Of course, we always recommend scanning all print photos and creating several digital copies—you can never have too many backups!
Have a photo that’s stuck to glass? Try these tricks to get it out.
