Hobbies And Interests
Handling
Old and delicate photographs should always be handled using clean cotton editing gloves, as fingerprints can further damage image quality. Take a digital copy or duplicate of a photograph if possible before handling or beginning restoration.
Cleaning Solution
Only use specialized photographic emulsion cleaner, also referred to as Pec-12. Never use other cleaning solutions such as glass cleaner or all-purpose cleaners. Do not use moisture or cleaning solutions on the surface of a photograph if you feel it is too delicate to handle.
Manual Cleaning
Use a soft towel or specialized photography cleaning pads to wipe away excess dust or dirt before applying emulsion cleaner. Canned air or a soft brush can also be used to clear excess dust from the surface before wiping down the photograph with the emulsion cleaner.
Extreme Conditions
If a photo is too delicate to be cleaned manually or is seemingly too dirty to clean, a professional photo restoration professional can help. Professionals can help with removing old photographs that may have stuck to other photographs or items during storage without damaging picture quality. If the photograph can be scanned, imaging software can be used to "remove" dirt or other imperfections digitally.