it's hard. If it's an inkjet or other digital print, you can't. Water will damage it. If it's a traditional print, made at a lab or in a darkroom, you can soak it in a pan of cool water for a couple days. Water won't damage the print, they're processed in water based chemicals. But it will take a long soak to saturate the print enough to cause it to release from the glass. put the glass on the bottom of the tray with the print on top so water will reach it better.
I don't know if this will work on your picture but there is a chemical that I used in scrapbooking called "Undu" the label reads "Adhesive Remover for labels, stickers, tape, glass, plastic ..." It also says that it is flammable, so I have always thought that it was probably lighter fluid.
To use, pour a couple of drops on the scrapper attached to the bottle and use the narrow edge to slide under the picture.
The last time I saw it for sale was in the Scrapbook Section in Walmart (back by the fabric and yard).
The sticking is caused by the photograph's gelatin emulsion having softened, perhaps to humidity or condensation, and stuck to the glass. Gelatine can be softened again in water. If the back of the print has a plastic layer, soaking the photo off the glass may take a long time. The image may remain stuck to the glass instead of coming off with the photograph's base. However, I don't know what else you can do. Undu sounds like a solvent for adhesives. If it is a petroleum based product, it will probably not soften the gelatin.
I never thought that matting would also help prevent sticking; thought it was just for pretty, very good to know. With different thermal properties, wouldn't freezing this item for a few hours possibly help stiffen the emulsion and release it from the glass (sort of like freezing gum to get it out of hair)? Just a wild thought...
"With different thermal properties, wouldn't freezing this item for a few hours possibly help stiffen the emulsion and release it from the glass (sort of like freezing gum to get it out of hair)? Just a wild thought..."
No freezing will not help. The gelatinuos surface of the emulsion on the print has softed due to moisture not temperature so freezing it will make little or no difference. Soaking it in water is the best option at this point.
If it's a critical picture, take several pictures of it (film or digital) before doing anything else to it. I photographed a family heirloom picture with an oval frame. It had curved glass and had been stuck for many years. The lighting was tricky to prevent reflections, but it turned out pretty good. I don't think the owners ever found someone who could get it unstuck without damaging it.
I never thought that matting would also help prevent sticking; thought it was just for pretty, very good to know. With different thermal properties, wouldn't freezing this item for a few hours possibly help stiffen the emulsion and release it from the glass (sort of like freezing gum to get it out of hair)? Just a wild thought...
Yeah, Ronk is right, matting does prevent sticking. It does so because it physically seperates the photo from the glass. If they do not touch, they cannot stick.
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