how to remove tree sap from the photograph

<p>Hi,<br>

At my son's wedding we posted some old photographs of his grandparents on trees. When we went to remove them the tree sap had seeped over the front of some of the photographs. How can I remove sap without damaging the photographs?<br>

Thank you!</p>

 

<p>Use background removal technique or clipping path for removing the scatch, obstacles. I did this through background removal.<br /> <img src="http://www.clippingcreative.com/image/serviceimage/Background-remove.jpg" alt="" width="749" height="410" /></p>

Old photos, as in printed a long time ago? Rinse them in water. Not too long, else the paper will soak up water and start to swell.

<p>I have used an industral cleaner called ZOFF.<br>

I just dampened a cloth and softly removed ball point pen ink from photographs.</p>

<p>Kerosene? The question mark because I'm not sure about the "without damaging". Start with the least important photo, in a corner, use as little as possible, and so on.</p>

<p>In order to offer an answer the first thing one needs to know is what type of tree sap? If you are talking about coniferous tree sap such as pine or spruce sap you need a strong solvent. Deciduous tree sap would be soluble with warm soapy water. You say that the photos are old and no doubt prized family heirlooms so be very cautious and try anything on as small and inconspicuous an area as possible.<br>

I have used naphthalene with success to remove pine sap from synthetic tent material and clothing with good results but have not used it on photographs. </p>

Before you do any chemistry experiments, deliver them to a restoration person who can copy each of the images and digitally remove the gunk so you have backup intact copies. It is the subjects that are the prize so preserve them.. Then work on the originals and hope for the best. Trying small areas at a time as suggested. Contact a local museum that does archival work on prints for help.

Along with all to above techniques and the prime directive of do no damage, you may want to consider lighter fluid. It

works great on gums and evaporates almost immediately as opposed to kerosene.

<p>That viscous hydrocarbon-based fluid that oozes out of conifers such as pines, which nearly everyone thinks of as sap, is actually a separate fluid known as pitch. True sap is always water-based, but you won't normally see it oozing out of conifers although it is present inside. It does ooze out of some hardwoods. Sap is the tree equivalent of blood in animals, while pitch is a non-circulating fluid that's in some trees for protection against insect pests.</p>

" ....old photographs of his grandparents on trees."

 

They were certainly spry grandparents to climb trees. Definitely worth saving ancestors in the family trees :-) Sorry, just struck me that way and tickled me. Sappy comment I know.. I wish you well , Mira. Really.

<p>Thank you all for your suggestions, I really appreciate it. I also learned the difference between the sap and pitch - thank you! My husband happened to have some old lighting fluid so I tried it first it and it worked like a charm!! Gerry, thank you for bringing a smile to our faces :))<br>

Mira</p>

<p>I suggest scanning the photos first so you have a back up in case what ever solution you try destroys the photo. You could then at least reproduce the photo and attempt to repair in Photoshop or other photo editor.</p>