“I have two portraits that are stuck together AND to the glass inside a picture frame. Can you help?”
Those were the words of Lakewood resident, Gayle Ahlers, when she called about my photo restoration services. And that became one of my greatest restoration challenges!
Through the years, I've dealt with photographs that were stuck to glass with water stains and mildew covering the image. As time passes, those images eventually decompose to where the subject becomes unrecognizable. The best solution is to make a high resolution scan of the photograph – through the glass – and then retouch the digital copy and make new prints.
Unfortunately, Gayle had a smaller photograph that was stuck to a larger photograph – and both of those were stuck to the glass inside a picture frame. Although I was able to scan the whole ensemble as a backup in case what I would do next failed; I did not know how much detail I needed to restore on the larger photograph because it was partially covered by the smaller one!
Fortunately, I was able to separate the two photographs from each other and the picture frame glass by warming them with a blow dryer at a low heat setting. I warmed them for 4-5 minutes at a time and gently pulled on the corner of each photo to slowly separate them. The whole process took several hours. CAUTION: I do NOT recommend that anyone unskilled in this procedure attempt this technique. You are better off having an experienced photo restoration specialist do this.
In the video, below, you'll see the before-and-after restoration photographs while Gayle gives a brief history of both portraits.
As a photo restoration specialist, I combine today's digital technology with old-fashioned artistry to repair worn, stained, spotted, torn, cracked, bleached and faded photographs to their original luster. Digital restoration costs have been reduced to at least half of what they used to be and the quality has improved substantially!
See samples of badly faded or damaged photos and how they look after restoration here. You will be amazed with the results.
Learn about our photo restoration services here. Get our FREE guide with tips for saving water or flood-damaged photos here. See a photo restored in a high-speed video here. Read our photo restoration FAQs that may answer questions pertaining to your faded or damaged photograph here.
Do you have damaged, faded or crumbling photos representing an important part of your family history? Don't give up on them just yet – they may be recoverable! For a no-cost, no-obligation appointment to examine your photographs and receive a quote – contact us TODAY through this link or call 440.748.6300… BEFORE it's too late. (NOTE: This is a landline so text messages won't come through.)
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Have you had a damaged or faded photograph restored? Why did you have it restored? To preserve a special memory? To remember a special family member? Please share your story with a comment, here.
