How do you get an old picture off a piece of glass without tearing it?
Question:The picture is almost 4 years old. Some time ago ,without me knowing, Windex got in between the glass and picture. Now I want to store the picture and can't get it out without tearing it alot. Please help.
Answers:
Depends on how old the picture is and if it's Black and white or color. The surface of a photo print is gelatin when it gets moist, it swells and shrinks when it gets dry. In fact until recently most glues were gelatin based.
The easiest would be an old black and white NON plastic coated picture (pre 1970 or there about. Just soak it in water and eventually the gelatin will swell and release from the glass.
Same procedure for an old NON plastic coated color print, but the water will wash out the stabilizer in the emulsion and you will shorten the life. You need to copy the picture and have another one made. In fact this might be the easiest all around -- leave it stuck and have it copied.
If you want to unstick plastic coated paper, it's a lot harder, GENTLY peel away what you can and keep a bead of water where the paper touches the glass, Every day peel a little more and add more water. This will take a long time and there is a very good chance of tearing the picture. Definitely make a copy before you try this approach. If you have a scanner, just lay the glass on it and scan at the highest DPI your scanner will do.
Good luck!
Try scraping it off with a razor blade(be careful)
Try a hairdryer to heat the glass. It should loosen it right up. Don't use water, that'll ruin the picture.
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