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How Do I Straighten Old Rolled Photos?

You don't have to be a collector to enjoy old photos, especially ones of family, friends and good memories. If stored improperly, old photos can bend and roll up, and harsh methods such as ironing or steaming the photos often destroy the material. Though it might take some time and patience, a method similar to pressing flowers can be used to straighten out old rolled photos without damaging them.

Things You'll Need

Acid-free paper
Cloth gloves
Heavy dictionary
Hand weights

Instructions

- 1
  Put on a pair of soft cloth gloves so that you will not smudge or scratch the photo when handling it.
- 2
  Smooth out the rolled-up photo with your hands and place it between two pieces of acid-free paper. The wax paper will protect the photo from any oils or dirt.
- 3
  Place the flat, straightened photo between the pages of a large, heavy dictionary or similar book.
- 4
  Close the dictionary and place a heavy object, like a 10-pound hand weight, on top of the closed book.
- 5
  Allow the photo to stay between the pages of the dictionary for approximately a week. If the photo still rolls up when you remove it, leave it in the book until it straightens out.

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