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Saving Water Damaged Photos, Slides and Negatives

1/23/2017

21 Comments

 
Photographs, slides and negatives are born in water.  Yet water is their enemy.  Once photos become wet, their gelatin  layer softens and if allowed to dry - in contact with other photos, plastic covers or glass - they become extremely difficult to separate. So what do you do if your photos have become wet for any reason?

Wet Photos Triage

The American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works ("AIC") recommends the following steps for water-affected photos (NOT home printed or professional inkjet photos):
  • Separate wet photos from frames. If photographs are wet within the frame, unframe carefully watching for any areas that may be stuck to glass or mats and air dry.
  • Air dry in a single layer, image or dull-side up (for negatives) on absorbent or screen materials. Do not sun dry.
  • “Quick-rinse” muddy items in a bucket of cool, cleanest available water. Skip rinsing step if the photograph is lifting or separating: Look closely along edges.
  • Do not touch the surface; do not blot off excess water.
  • If wet and stuck in a stack, gently peel apart at a low angle - only if possible. Do not force separation. Some image loss may occur.
  • Freeze in current housing if quantity exceeds response time (follow AIC Freezing guidelines).
Consult the full AIC article if you intend to follow these procedures yourself: Stabilizing Wet Photographic Materials
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Born in Water

Most photographic prints and negatives were created using water.  Water was used to rinse away the various developing chemicals when the photograph was first printed. In many cases a "wetting agent" was used in the final wash to minimize the formation of water spots on the image. After that, the prints were carefully dried.

Modern professional photo papers (from the 1970s onward) were resin (
polyethylene) coated which meant that water could not soak into and swell and distort the paper fibers.

It follows that most (but not all) professionally produced photographs, slides and negatives can become soaked in water and still survive. There may be "tide" marks and water residue but if the only thing which has happened is exposure to water - then the prognosis is often good.    

Wet photos that have become stuck

Photographs, slides and negatives which are stuck to each other or to another surface should not be allowed to dry.  Once dry, "blocked" photos or negatives are extremely difficult to separate. And, even when successfully separated, there is likely to be some tearing and there might already have been serious or even fatal "leaching" or "bleeding" of color dyes that was not apparent in the stack.

There are a limited number of protocols that certain professional AIC conservationists have developed which hold out some promise of saving at least some or at least part of images which have become stuck due to water damage.  Those protocols require de-ionized water, strict control over pH and temperature, and great care both with the mechanical separation as well as the drying of the prints.

PhotoFixRestore has had some success applying the AIC separation protocols to water damaged photos.  Generally the photo restoration has three phases.  Phase one is assessing the photos and determining the appropriate course of action.  Phase two involves the chemistry, the separation, and the drying.  Phase three demands scanning, our state-of-the-art digital photo restoration techniques and custom printing.
Photos Stuck to Glass
Photos can become stuck to glass through humidity or - worse - through water ingress. It is for this reason that most professional conservationists recommend matting all framed images. Matting keeps the photo surface from coming in contact with the glass.

Generally, once a photo has become stuck to glass it is extremely difficult to separate without some ripping. Luckily, photos stuck to glass can usually be scanned right through the glass (properly cleaned first).

Often we see some color changes where the photo has become stuck. And those issues along with any other problems like fading, tears (sometimes the frame has been dropped and we have an image stuck to broken glass), color shifts or other issues can be dealt with like any other photo repair or restoration.

Water damage to photos due to storms, broken pipes, inadequate window or door flashing, garage or basement flooding, storage in high humidity environments, or just accidental human spillage, can be very serious. But if the problem is addressed while the images are still wet and if using the AIC recommendations then there is a strong likelihood that many if not all the images will be saved. Although, there may still be a need for some remedial photo restoration work.  Once photos or negatives have become stuck in a block then specialized separation protocols are called for. PhotoFixRestore has had some experience applying these protocols and would be more than happy to discuss their applicability on a no-obligation basis.
21 Comments
John
2/3/2017 11:36:44 am

What a lifesaver!

With all the rain we've been having in Southern California I found my entire garage flooded with a few inches of water. To my dismay I found a box of old family photos that was just soaked.

These clear and concise instructions helped me to save all of my photos. Only a few ended up with very minimal damage.

Couldn't have asked for better tips. Thanks Photo Fix Restore!

Reply
Beau
3/28/2017 12:44:35 pm

Very fascinating article. I had no idea you could do this to prints and negatives. I had some old photos that all melted together. I am going to try some of these tips to try and fix them and if not I will send them to you.
Thanks,
BRevetta

Reply
Ben Surdi link
4/22/2017 08:47:34 am

Thanks for the suggestions Photo Fix Restore!
Nothing so sad as a loss of precious memories.

I will share this site with my Seattle customers when they need photo damage repair.

Reply
Jane link
1/4/2018 05:57:14 pm

Thanks Ben - we would be glad to help.
Jane

Reply
Omaha Well Drilling & Treatment Services link
1/4/2022 12:58:09 am

Our basement flooded, and I'm afraid we'll lose everything. To repair all of the damage, I'll need to hire a contractor.

norma atkinson link
1/3/2018 06:55:26 pm

What about pictures that are dirty? Can they be cleaned?

Reply
Jane link
1/4/2018 05:53:59 pm

Norma,

Photos, with care, can be cleaned. You could start with a can of compressed air and then a soft cloth. If that doesn't do the trick then, depending on the type of photo you have, you might be able to soak the image briefly in distilled water and gently sponge the surface. Then dry the image flat, out of the sun.

There is a risk in any cleaning you try so I would make a good quality scan before I set to work - so you have a back up if disaster strikes. Also, I cannot see the kind of photo you have so anything you try will have to be at your own risk!

Jane

Reply
Twyla
6/21/2018 02:33:39 pm

Back in the 70s my mom made photo albums for all of us kids. There just pictures placed on construction paper, well the box was in flood and went I noticed and dried unfortunately. The pictures all have a haze of colored construction paper on them. Is there any hope for my photos?

Reply
Jane link
6/21/2018 03:19:31 pm

Twyla,

While I cannot be sure without seeing the affected photos, I think there is a good chance that you can soak the construction paper off.

If you are doing this yourself, and to minimize risk of loss, choose a photo you can afford to lose. Place some distilled water in a clean, flat tray. Slide the photo in and agitate it for 30 seconds to a minute. Then using a sponge or a Q-tip, see if you can slide the paper off. If it works, shake off any drops and dry flat out of the sun.

Jane

Reply
DEBRA BAXTER
9/3/2019 03:35:34 pm

I moved a year ago and have had 6 moving boxes in my guest room closet stacked up. Had no idea the boxes had gotten wet until recently noticing a musty smell. Now scanning these slides I found some images unrecognizable. I know they were once good, because my father labeled all the cartridges. Is there anything to regain these images that are dry now?

Reply
sandy
11/4/2019 03:45:45 pm

I have a cousin who found some old slides that had experienced flooding of some kind - but quite some time ago. They are dry but have a sort of film on them. How would you recommend cleaning these so they can be scanned? Thank you in advance.

Reply
Stella O link
1/19/2021 11:40:40 am

Grateful ffor sharing this

Reply
Suzanne Dodson link
12/12/2021 03:05:19 am

Separate wet photos from frames. If photographs are wet within the frame, unframe carefully watching for any areas that may be stuck to glass or mats and air dry. Great post thank you!

Reply
Tex Hooper link
12/21/2021 11:09:28 am

That is pretty cool that there is technology that can save waterlogged pictures. Our basement flooded and I'm worried that we lost everything. I'll have to hire a contractor to patch up all of the damage.

Reply
Carlo Martin link
2/9/2022 11:10:22 pm

There is a risk in any cleaning you attempt, so I would perform a high-quality scan before beginning work, so you have a backup in case something goes wrong. Also, I can't see what kind of photo you have, so anything you try is at your own risk!

Reply
declan hehir link
2/11/2022 07:59:41 am

I have just discovered negative from wedding over 20 years ago. the couple are looking for a new album as last one destroyed. However when I found the negative 120mm, I found that they were water damaged and the paper holders were stuck to the negative.I managed to get one sheet out but with still paper attached and place in luke warm water with some washing up liquid. On the first batch I put in lots of the image on the negative was erased. I have stopped the process now but need to save the rest of the batch that have paper marks on all of them. What do I do?

Reply
Rosa Burns link
2/18/2022 12:38:16 pm

The AIC separation protocols to water damaged photos. Generally the photo restoration has three phases. Thank you for taking the time to write a great post!

Reply
1-800 Water Damage link
3/10/2022 12:19:39 am

It's inevitable that at some point in time, water will damage your photos, slides and negatives. Whether it's a spill on the kitchen table or a flood in your basement, these cherished memories can be ruined in an instant. But before you toss them in the trash, there are a few things you can try to save them. In this article, we are explaining you how to salvage water damaged photos, slides and negatives using simple household items.

Reply
bore water near me link
6/28/2022 10:58:51 pm

Boreholes are drilled on shared property for the community's use in order to improve community health and provide a readily accessible water source. One community member is given complete management authority over the borehole in order to assure its sustainability. Boreholes serve as subsistence agricultural grounds for the women in the community, therefore to the locals in the area of Rumbek, they are more than just a source of fresh water.

Reply
John Carston link
7/11/2022 04:14:19 pm

I like the tip that you gave that you should remove the wet photos to prevent them wet the others. My aunt told me last night that she was hoping to find a reliable photo restoration service as she wants their old photos framed in their home. Thanks to this informative article, I'll be sure to tell her that we can consult trusted photography restoration services as they can answer all her inquiries and would provide good-quality service.

Reply
bathroom waterproofing in parramatta link
10/7/2022 05:38:03 pm

Care should be used when removing the documents from the water. If the papers are filthy, they should be carefully washed and placed on top of the blotted paper on a level surface. Use plain paper towels whenever possible, and stay away from newspaper. The paper towels need to be replaced often. It is not advisable to dry books or documents outside where sunshine and wind might cause curling. They ought to be allowed to air dry inside. Drying time can be accelerated by turning on an oscillating fan in the space. Every 20 to 50 moist pages in waterlogged books should have an absorbent paper inserted between them. The books should then be spread out to dry. Every few hours, the blotting paper needs to be changed.

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