Cleaning Cig. Smoke from photos

Create a Post
KL Smith

KL Smith

CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
Joined
Jun 18, 2005
Posts
277
Location
Jordan Village, ON, Canada
Had a customer drop in two 30 year old wedding photos that had been framed without glass. We are going to use the existing frames, but replace the mat/liner with a suede mat/filet and glass.

She asked if we could try to clean up the photos a bit as they have been exposed to cigarette smoke for many years (Hubby now smokes outside:)

I didn't promise anything, but said I would try.

What would you suggest I use that, with very careful attention will not damage these photographs?

Thanks
 
IF you know the developement proceedures, and IF you have the equipment (read: Darkroom), and IF you have a penchant for risk, the photos can be washed. No way of telling the success rate, but it can be done.
BUT...I would pay for a high resolution scan first, so that IF there is a failure, you have your back covered.


Too many IF's for me, and I have technical expertise in all forms of archane photo processing at my fingertips.

I'd take the digital route and have the tar and nicotine removed in photoshop. Probably cheaper and less risky than rewashing the photos.

Vintage photos are remakably resilient, but the staining from the tar may well have penetrated the fiber of the paper, and that may not be reversible. There's a division of NYU/Rochester that has to do with image permanence (can't remember the contact info) that might be able to give specifics on the process to clean these, but the cost may well be prohibative.
 
Black & white or color? Mounted or unmounted? Sprayed with lacquer or unlacquered? How you approach the project depends on what kind of photos they are. I definitely second Baer on the conservator though. Cigarette smoke is a very tough substance to get out.
 
Just once I tried cleaning nicotine stains off a piece of glass. I tried a razor blade and some steel wool and I ended up throwing the glass out and selling them new. I saved them a lot of money.

I can't recommend razor blades or steel wool on photographs. Throw them out and sell them some new ones.
 
Originally posted by Sherry Lee:
Wouldn't it be great if smoker's lungs could just be thrown out and replaced with some new ones!! :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
some are
faintthud.gif
 
If these photos were not mounted, I would reluctantly tackle this project.

There is a product called PhotoFlo® (Kodak, I think) which is a very concentrated pure detergent designed as a wetting agent to reduce the surface tension of water and thereby reduce water spots. It is often used at the end of the wash cycle to cut down on drying time.

You might soak these photos in such a solution (a capful in a liter of water may be about right), and after a few minutes, gently rub the surface with cotton balls or pads. Once they are as clean as you can get them, re wash with water, PhotoFlo them again, and dry.
 
Thank you all for your suggestions. I had a closer look at the photos last night with better glasses on and there are actually "pits" in some spots that are reddish. Glad I quit smoking 5 years ago!

I think I'll give her a call and suggest that we either leave them the way they are, or I can scan and clean up the image in Photoshop and print some replacements.

Again, sincere thanks!
 
Create a Post
Back
Top