Removing ink from vintage photo
 

Apologies in advance for a Question I am sure has been asked previously. . . .

What are the odds of removing ink from a circa 1920 photo that someone wrote something stupid on. Valuable photo, wouldn't want to damages, etc., but the inscription really detracts . . . . . Anyone with experience trying this?

Somone on Quora posted this:

To remove an ink stain from an old photo, you can try a few methods depending on the severity of the stain. Firstly, you can use an eraser to gently rub the surface of the photo where the stain is located. This can help to remove some of the ink without damaging the photo. If the stain is more stubborn, you can try using a cotton swab or soft-bristled brush dipped in a mixture of equal parts water and rubbing alcohol to gently rub the affected area. Another option is to use a specialized photo cleaning solution, which can be found at most photography or art supply stores. It's important to be gentle and patient when removing ink stains from old photos, as too much pressure or harsh chemicals can damage the photo.

I have heard of collectors using an eraser to successfully remove unwanted personalizations, mistakes or in your case an inscription but on far more recent signatures and photographs. I believe the bic stick eraser was the preferred eraser but I would have to check. A 100 year old inscription might prove difficult to remove. I would check with a professional restoration specialist to see if removing the inscription is doable. Given the value of the photograph, it might be worth the expense to have a professional remove the inscription.

Thanks.

I wish I knew myself. This photo isn't too valuable anyway due to the condition but the fake autograph is very distracting.

Alan

Forget that amateur crap. Try PEC 12 photographic emulsion cleaner. If it can be removed that will do it.

Adam - just wondering, have many times have you used? And potential issues you encountered? I’m very nervous about doing anything.

PEC-12 was also my first thought. I have used it for years. It is for photographers and designed to clean photos and negatives. It also dissipates very quickly I have used it to remove pen, sharpie, editing crayon and the brown cast that appears on those early 1970's press photos. You can also use it to generally clean a photo to remove any dirt that is not obvious. A few things to remember: The indentation from the pen will not disappear. You need to be careful to make sure the emulsion of the photo is not cracked. If it is you clean gently and slowly as more aggressive rubbing could remove some of the emulsion and you have a white spot in your photo.

Due to it's chemical makeup there are now prohibitions in place as to shipping. It must be done by ground, or ship. From the Freestyle site:

Shipping Restrictions
GROUND Shipping Only. This item is classified as Limited Quantity for transportation. These items can only be shipped via GROUND in the Continental United States. They can not be shipped to PO boxes or Internationally. Limited Quantity items are non-returnable.

If you are on the East Coast try B&H photo in NYC. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/

In the west I would use Freestyle Photo and Imaging Supplies a great company that caters to film photographers. https://www.freestylephoto.com/

Thanks. That's exactly what I am afraid of. . . creating a white spot. I could also start very slow and easy and see if it's working.

Pec 12 is a professional product and should not damage the photo itself. Made for a glossy surface. The only worries for me would be if there was a crack in the gloss of the photo. Even then, I wouldn’t be that worried. Spray pec 12 on a non abrasive item like a soft cloth or q-tip and lightly wipe away. If the ink does not come off or start to break down, it’s probably not coming off.

I have been thinking about this type of thing for a while and wondering how to get a blue sharpie inscription (circa 1990's) off a 1912 photo. It really detracts from the image.
Do you think a product like PEC-12 would work ?
It was done with a sharpie so I don't anticipate the pressure point being left behind like that of a pen.

Also, if I cleaned other parts of the photo with the PEC-12, would some see that as a no-no (negative) and consider it defacing or restoration ?

Thanks in advance for the thoughts.

If the photo is glossy it should not damage it. It was designed for photographers to clean their photos and negatives. Cleaning the surface of a glossy photo is not altering the photo any more than washing alters a car. I just ran out and have some on order or I would show examples, but have done it many times. As I mentioned, it works on glossy photos, I have never tried it on a matte photo nor would I. If you are going to use it you would spray it on a soft cloth or cotton swab. I only spray it on the photo if I am trying to remove a lot of dirt or all of the sharpie and I still do it very sparingly.

There was a product called a PEC Pad that was made for use with the spray. Non abrasive.

Attempted some Extremely thick and old Sharpie removal on this glossy type 1 of Eddie yost, And a few others I got from a collection.

Big success, took about 98% of it off. And the remaining 2% I believe only remains because the sharpie literally faded into the photo over the decades. Likely was written on around the time sharpies were invented.


I Used a black Expo marker and microfiber cloth.
Went over the writing with the expo marker let it sit for about 30 second then wiped it off. Repeated that for each photo. Probably took 10 minutes or so per, as it was extremely thick sharpie. I expect if it is more modern sharpie/less ink used this would work 100%.


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