Wire Photo Question

[thecatspajamas]

It depends on which type of editorial "markings" you are talking about. There are the black or red grease pencil-type markings that can be wiped off with a soft cloth (or so I'm told, never tried it myself).

Then you have the "cover up" markings that are basically like paint on the surface of the photo, usually white, gray or black. I haven't heard a reliable method of getting that off without damaging the emulsion surface of the photograph itself.

If there is a way to remove that paint without damaging the photo, I'd be glad to hear it, because as others have said, I've passed on a few photos that would otherwise be nice shots because of such editorial cover-ups. Maybe there needs to be a photograph conservation / repair thread that covers these topics (as well as how to remove that doggone black scrapbook paper that is often firmly affixed to photos).