Saving Water Damaged Photos, Slides and Negatives

4/18/2023

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

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.

27 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!

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

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.

norma atkinson link

1/3/2018 06:55:26 pm

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

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

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?

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

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?

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.

Stella O link

1/19/2021 11:40:40 am

Grateful ffor sharing this

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!

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.

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!

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?

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!

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.

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6/28/2022 10:58:51 pm

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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.

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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.

Dave Weilder link

5/10/2023 05:56:39 pm

I found your blog post on saving water-damaged photos, slides, and negatives very helpful. It's often devastating to lose treasured photographs due to water damage, so it's great to have a resource to turn to in such a situation.

Your tips on handling and drying the photographs properly to prevent further damage are spot-on. It's essential to avoid rubbing, touching, or trying to peel apart stuck photographs, as this can cause more harm than good. I also appreciated your suggestions for air-drying and the use of silica gel to absorb moisture.

Your blog post is an excellent reminder of the importance of digitizing physical photographs, slides, and negatives as a backup. This way, even if the originals are damaged, you still have a digital copy that can be restored and cherished.

Overall, I found your post very informative and helpful. Keep up the good work!

5/17/2023 07:16:45 pm

Dear Photo Fix Restore,

I wanted to express my appreciation for your insightful blog post titled "Saving Water-Damaged Photos, Slides, and Negatives." Your article provides valuable guidance on how to salvage precious memories that have been affected by water damage, offering practical advice for individuals facing such situations.

Your explanation of the potential effects of water damage on photos, slides, and negatives is commendable. By discussing the risks of fading, warping, staining, and mold growth, you help readers understand the urgency and importance of taking immediate action to salvage their water-damaged photographs.

I found your emphasis on quick response and careful handling to be particularly valuable. Your recommendation to remove the photos from the water and handle them with clean hands or gloves highlights the importance of preventing further damage during the recovery process. Acting swiftly and gently can make a significant difference in preserving the quality of the images.

The inclusion of specific steps and considerations for salvaging water-damaged photos, slides, and negatives is noteworthy. Your guidelines on air drying, separating stuck photos, and cleaning techniques provide readers with practical strategies to recover their damaged memories. This detailed advice assists individuals in making informed decisions and taking appropriate actions to salvage their photographs.

I appreciate your recommendation to seek professional assistance for severely damaged or valuable photographs. Acknowledging that certain restoration techniques require expertise or specialized equipment ensures that readers have access to the necessary resources for effectively restoring their water-damaged images. Professional intervention can help preserve the sentimental and historical value of precious photographs.

Furthermore, your mention of preventive measures, such as proper storage and backup options, is significant. By promoting proactive steps to protect photos, slides, and negatives from future water damage, you empower readers to take preventative measures and safeguard their cherished memories.

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise through this blog post. Your guidance on saving water-damaged photos, slides, and negatives is invaluable. I will certainly keep your recommendations in mind and share this resource with others who may benefit from your insights.

Dave Hinson link

5/25/2023 11:06:05 pm

Dear PhotoFixRestore,

I wanted to express my gratitude for your informative blog post on saving water-damaged photos, slides, and negatives. Preserving precious memories captured in photographs is a concern for many, and your article provides valuable guidance on how to salvage and restore these items after water damage.

The step-by-step approach you outlined in the article is particularly helpful. From separating and air-drying the photos to removing any dirt or debris, your instructions offer practical tips for handling water-damaged materials. Additionally, the emphasis on handling the items with care and avoiding further damage is crucial in ensuring successful restoration.

I appreciate the inclusion of specific techniques for different types of photographs, slides, and negatives. Each format requires unique considerations and approaches, and your article provides tailored advice for each. The detailed instructions for air-drying, using archival sleeves, or seeking professional assistance offer readers a range of options depending on their specific needs and resources.

Furthermore, your article addresses the potential challenges that may arise during the restoration process, such as stuck photos or mold growth. The suggestions for addressing these issues demonstrate a thorough understanding of the complexities involved in salvaging water-damaged materials. Your emphasis on seeking professional help when needed is also commendable, as some situations may require specialized expertise.

The inclusion of preventive measures to protect photographs, slides, and negatives from future water damage is another valuable aspect of your article. Recommending the use of waterproof storage containers, digitizing important photos, and keeping copies in multiple locations are proactive measures that can help mitigate the risk of permanent damage in case of future incidents.

In conclusion, your blog post offers practical and comprehensive guidance on saving water-damaged photos, slides, and negatives. The attention to detail, the range of techniques for different formats, and the proactive approach to preventing future damage make it a valuable resource for anyone facing this unfortunate situation.

Thank you for sharing your expertise and providing readers with actionable steps to preserve their cherished memories.

5/28/2023 08:09:22 pm

I recently came across your blog post on saving water-damaged photos, slides, and negatives, and I wanted to express my appreciation for the valuable information you provided. Preserving precious memories that have been affected by water damage is a concern for many individuals, and your article offers practical tips on how to salvage these irreplaceable items.

Your blog post begins by acknowledging the sentimental value that photos, slides, and negatives hold and the devastation that can occur when they are damaged by water. By empathizing with the emotional attachment people have to these items, you establish a connection with your readers.

I found your step-by-step guide for saving water-damaged photos, slides, and negatives to be highly informative. Your instructions, such as separating and rinsing the items, air-drying, and using archival-quality materials, provide a clear roadmap for individuals looking to rescue their cherished memories. Your emphasis on handling the items with care and avoiding further damage during the restoration process is crucial.

The inclusion of tips specific to different formats, such as photos, slides, and negatives, demonstrates your expertise in handling a variety of media types. Your advice on using deionized water, avoiding direct sunlight, and seeking professional help when necessary offers valuable guidance to readers. By providing detailed instructions and suggestions, you empower individuals to take action and potentially salvage their water-damaged items.

I also appreciate the additional resources you provided, such as recommendations for professional photo restoration services. Recognizing that some situations may require expert intervention underscores your commitment to ensuring the best possible outcome for individuals seeking to recover their damaged photos, slides, or negatives.

In conclusion, your blog post serves as a valuable resource for individuals facing the challenge of saving water-damaged photos, slides, and negatives. By offering step-by-step instructions, format-specific tips, and suggestions for professional assistance, you provide readers with practical insights and options. I commend your dedication to helping individuals preserve their treasured memories and navigate the process of restoration.

Thank you for sharing your expertise and providing valuable tips on saving water-damaged photos, slides, and negatives.

Jacoby Johnson link

5/31/2023 08:10:25 pm

I recently came across your blog post titled "Saving Water-Damaged Photos, Slides, and Negatives" on your website, and I wanted to express my appreciation for providing valuable guidance on rescuing water-damaged photographs. Preserving cherished memories is of utmost importance, and your article offers practical advice on salvaging water-damaged photos, slides, and negatives.

Your article begins by acknowledging the emotional significance of these visual memories and the devastation that can occur when they are damaged by water. By empathizing with readers and recognizing the sentimental value attached to these items, you establish a connection and emphasize the importance of restoration.

I found your step-by-step guide on salvaging water-damaged photos, slides, and negatives to be particularly informative. From immediate actions to take after water exposure to techniques for drying and cleaning, you provide readers with a comprehensive framework for restoring these delicate items. Your recommendations on handling and using specialized tools and supplies demonstrate your expertise and commitment to helping individuals preserve their cherished memories.

Furthermore, your article stresses the importance of caution and professional assistance when dealing with severely damaged items. Not all photographs, slides, or negatives can be restored through DIY methods, and your advice to seek the expertise of professional restoration services ensures that readers receive the best possible outcome for their damaged items. This guidance helps readers make informed decisions about when to attempt restoration themselves and when to rely on professionals.

Additionally, I appreciate your emphasis on prevention and proactive measures to protect photographs, slides, and negatives from water damage. Your suggestions on storing items in waterproof containers, making digital backups, and maintaining proper humidity levels provide readers with practical strategies to safeguard their visual memories for the future.

Overall, your blog post serves as a valuable resource for individuals seeking guidance on salvaging water-damaged photographs, slides, and negatives. By providing a step-by-step guide, stressing the importance of caution and professional assistance, and highlighting preventive measures, you empower readers to take action and preserve their cherished memories.

Thank you for sharing your expertise and providing practical guidance on photo restoration after water damage. I look forward to reading more of your informative content in the future.

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6/8/2023 06:05:27 am

This article is excellent! Please continue sharing more wonderful content. If you're in need of professional services, be sure to explore the following option.

Anissa Yusuf link

2/2/2024 02:37:28 am

An excellent informative content. However it would be good to have links to where we can get help to print pictures from damaged negatives or someone who can try and help to restore pictures from water damaged negatives.

PhotoFixRestore