# (Water?) damaged picture stuck to glass?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-damaged-picture-stuck-to-glass/391092>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 6, 2007, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-damaged-picture-stuck-to-glass/391092 "2007-02-06T16:57:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-damaged-picture-stuck-to-glass/391092/1 "2007-02-06T16:57:27Z")

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My picture is in a frame, and it looks like some moisture got trapped in there. Parts of the picture are stuck to the glass. I’ve tried to peel it off, but instead of coming away from the glass the picture is tearing. Is there a way to get my picture out without completely destroying it?

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**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-damaged-picture-stuck-to-glass/391092/2 "2007-02-06T17:03:08Z")

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First thing I’d do is scan the picture through the glass - that gives you a digital backup in case you can’t get it separated. A little bit of damage is easy to correct digitally, so I’d do this even if you’ve already done some damage.

Otherwise, I’ll wait for a more experienced opinion. If the photo paper looked likely to be able to take a wet/dry cycle, I’d probably try steam or immersion in water to try and separate it; but for all I know that would make it worse.

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**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-damaged-picture-stuck-to-glass/391092/3 "2007-02-06T17:28:24Z")

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Photographs begin their life in liquids, and I’ve never had a problem with the following method:

Take the glass with the picture and place it in a shallow tray of warm water. Let it sit overnight, then try gently peeling the photo off the glass.

If it’s really stuck, you may need to change the water and let it sit longer. Or you might pick up some [Photo-Flo](http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=28195&is=REG&addedTroughType=search) and add a few drops to the water.

Scanning through the glass isn’t such a good idea; chances are the image will be slightly out of focus gien the added 1/16" or so of glass. But you should try that anyway. Nuttin’ to lose…