Water-damaged photographs can be saved by restoration process

All is not lost if precious photographs become waterlogged in a flood, according to a restoration expert.

Matthew Grana, vice president of family-owned Grand Frame Inc. in Arlington Heights, said the business became busy with photo restoration requests as a result of this month's floods. Grana said it's important to make an effort to save photos as soon as possible after they become waterlogged.

"Obviously, staining is the biggest problem," Grana said.

Grana said two methods are used to save pictures. One is a chemical restoration for original prints that removes water damage.

Digital restoration, which costs about $75 an hour, is used if a photo has mold or otherwise is "too far gone," Grana said. Damaged pictures are scanned and digitally repaired by a graphic designer.

Customers receive prints of the repaired images, which also can be burned to a CD, Grana said.

Grana said water-damaged artwork also can be fixed using a chemical process.