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Photos stuck together

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  • 25-05-2020 7:50pm
    #1
    LilacNails
    Registered Users Posts: 653 ✭✭✭


    Hi

    I pulled out a few boxed of photographs and to my horror alot of them are stuck together.

    Can I fix this? Is it possible to separate them?


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    #2
    120Filmshooter
    Registered Users Posts: 42 ✭120Filmshooter


    If they are geniuine C-prints you could try soaking them in a tray of water to see if they seperate. If they do then rinse them off one at a time and leave to dry, either hanging up or laid on some kitchen paper.


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    #3
    LilacNails
    Registered Users Posts: 653 ✭✭✭LilacNails


    120Filmshooter wrote: »
    If they are geniuine C-prints you could try soaking them in a tray of water to see if they seperate. If they do then rinse them off one at a time and leave to dry, either hanging up or laid on some kitchen paper.


    What is a genuine c print?


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    #4
    Heebie
    Registered Users Posts: 1,302 ✭✭✭Heebie


    If they are actual "wet process" photographs (done by a photolab, not using a printer/photocopier etc) then they'll survive being soaked for a few minutes to get them apart.

    Get some lukewarm water, about one half cap of mild washing up liquid (like you'd use for normal dishes) mixed into that water.
    Soak for 5 minutes. See if the come apart. If they don't, swish your fingers around ALMOST touching them. The water has to get between the prints. Hopefully they will come apart.
    Don't pull them apart, the emulsion will likely tear off one photo and stick to the other.
    Ideally in the water they will just float apart.
    Don't keep them in the water more than 10-15 minutes tops.

    The reason for the soap is that it's almost the same thing as the photographic stabiliser that was the last chemical bath they went through before getting dried when they were printed. It's safe to use.
    If you can use filtered or distilled water that night be better too. You don't want miniscule amounts of limescale in the water if you can help it. The more the ingredients are pure water and stabiliser, the better.
    If they're in too long the emulsion might come off the paper, this don't keep them in long. If there are some you're sure you don't care that much about... **Try them first!!!!** Don't do them all at once.

    Good luck!


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