RootsChat.Com
Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: Silverlamp on Tuesday 06 April 10 17:16 BST (UK)
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I have a school photo of an ancestor which I would like to display. It's one of those long ones, in this case about 4 ft by 6 in., and has been rolled up for a long time (probably since it was produced).
Is there a way of straightening it out which will avoid the formation of creases?
Many thanks,
Simon
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Hi Simon...I would send Prue a P.M. about this as she is the best person to advise you on the matter.
Carol
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Thanks Carol - will do.
Simon
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Can you find her? She's here:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=17583
Cheers,
China
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Nice one China...Now why didn't I think of that..... ::) ;D ;D ;D ;D
Carol
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Nice one China...Now why didn't I think of that..... ::) ;D ;D ;D ;D
Carol
cos you've got Feddie on your mind :o :o :o :o ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Irene
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;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D...Irene..... :o :o :o...have you been peeping or have you been reading the tea leaves...I've been playing Queen..."Absolute Greatest" all day ;D ;D ;D...Did you hear me singing :P
Carol
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my grandson sings "we will rock you"....... we started his education early ;D
Irene
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Hi Silverlamp,
Here's a previous reply to a similar subject:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,304562.msg1862175.html#msg1862175
To that, I would add "make sure the ceiling of your oven is very clean so that nothing drops off it onto your print!"
The whole photo will not fit in the oven once unrolled, but you should be able to get it humidified enough so that when you remove it it will lie down most of the way by itself. You can then place it under some even weight to dry and flatten out completely.
How old is the photograph? You will need to get very good professional advice about framing it, as all photographs are very much subject to damage by light, humidity and bad framing. Personally, I would consider having a copy made, and framing that, while storing the original (once flat) in an archival folder/box.
Hope that helps - feel free to ask more questions!
Cheers
Prue
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That's great Prue.
So that's how it's done! I hadn't realised that humidifying old photos would uncurl them.
I take your point about framing. The photo in question dates from the '30's, and is on quite heavy paper - almost card. I will think very carefully and take further advice before I do anything about framing it.
Many thanks, Simon.
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No problems Simon :)
As it's a heavier paper, it might take a long time to relax out - 24 hours or more would not be unusual (thinner papers might take between 1-12 hours but it's really variable). Just keep checking it every now and then. If you take it out and put it where you're going to flatten it, and try to uncurl it and it's still quite resistant, just put it back in the oven for a while longer.
If after a day or so it is still not relaxing on its own, you will probably need to consider having a conservator look at it. There is advice about finding conservators in your area here:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,66915.0.html
Cheers
Prue