The short answer: Don't pull, don't wet, don't heat, and don't freeze at home. The gelatin layer that carries the image softens in humidity and bonds to glass, to the photo facing it or to the page — and a dry pull tears it. The accepted method is controlled humidification by a conservator. In many cases the photo can be scanned as it is, through the glass, on an Epson V850 Pro flatbed.
An old frame from grandma's wall with a photo that will not come away from the glass. Or a stack of prints from a box in the basement, fused into one block.
Why do photos stick?
The gelatin image layer absorbs moisture: in humid air it softens and turns tacky, and any surface touching it clings; when the humidity drops it dries hard and the contact becomes a bond. The Library of Congress puts photographs at 30–50% relative humidity and no more than 21°C. Above 65% relative humidity, according to IPI, mould spores also germinate.
What must you not do at home?
Don't pull — forced dry separation tears the emulsion. Don't wet — uncontrolled wetting swells the gelatin unevenly and invites mould. Don't heat — no hairdryer, no sun. And don't freeze at home — with no control over humidity or thawing, it adds water where water is the problem.
What do conservators do?
The photograph conservators' body (AIC) describes the accepted method as controlled humidification: raising the humidity slowly until the gelatin swells slightly and lets go. It is laboratory work, with control over time, humidity and temperature. We do not perform it; we recommend scanning first, as is, so a complete copy exists before anyone touches the original.
Can a photo be scanned through the frame glass?
In many cases, yes. A flatbed scans through clean, intact glass. We remove the frame back, clean the glass and lay it, photo and all, on the V850. Cloudy glass lowers the quality, but a file that colour correction can improve beats a torn photo.
| Situation | Do | Don't | What we can do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo stuck to frame glass | Remove the frame back, leave the glass on | No separating, wetting or heating | Scan through the glass at 600 dpi or more |
| Photos stuck face to face | Keep the pair as it is, dry | No pulling, no blade | Exposed side of each; the bond is conservator's work |
| Photo stuck to an album page | Leave it on the page | No peeling | Full-page scan cropped into files, 5.5 ₪ per page |
| Mould on the photos | Gloves and mask, isolate, air-dry | No wet wiping, no mixing with healthy prints | Scan once the mould is dormant and dry |
What if there is mould too?
Mould and stuck photos share a cause: humidity in the dark with no airflow. Dormant mould is dry and powdery; active mould is fuzzy and damp, and is air-dried at room temperature first. Spores are a respiratory hazard: gloves, a mask, and affected prints kept apart. The principles match our posts on mouldy tapes and water-damaged tapes: no heat, no wet cleaning, nothing contaminated into a machine.
How do we handle this in the studio?
Every stuck photo is inspected by hand first. A photo behind glass is scanned through it; a bonded pair on both exposed sides; an album page whole. All on the Epson V850 Pro, the industry standard, at 600 dpi or more; automatic feeders jam on card prints. Since 2006 more than 5,000,000 frames and photos have passed through the studio, and in our experience a scan through clean glass is good enough for reprinting. Details on the photo, slide and negative scanning page and in what photo and album scanning costs.
A photo stuck to glass or to another photo? Don't pull — bring it as it is.
We send couriers to your door anywhere in Israel, in both directions. Small jobs are usually ready within about seven working days, large ones within about 21, and the first minute is on us — you see how your photos come out before you decide. You can also drop off in person: the studio at 9 HaMa'ayan St., Rishon LeZion, 5 Lisin St. in Tel Aviv, or Mitzpe Hararit in the Galilee. Call 03-5610368 or leave your details on the contact page. What each service includes is listed on the price list (Hebrew).
Frequently asked questions
Can a photo be scanned through glass?
In many cases, yes. With clean, intact glass and the print pressed against it, a flatbed scan comes out close to a direct one.
Why not wet it a little to loosen it?
Uncontrolled wetting swells the gelatin unevenly and invites mould; professional humidification is laboratory work.
What about a stack of photos stuck to each other?
Do not force them apart. Bring the block as it is; we scan the exposed sides, the rest is for a conservator.
Can I freeze it to release the bond?
Not at home. Without control over humidity and thawing it adds water to the gelatin and can do more harm than the bond.
