Advice for Removing Stuck Print from Flatbed Scanner Glass

ac123 · Jun 20, 2024

I stupidly left a not fully dried print in the flatbed of my V600 for a few days. The print was almost entirely stuck to the glass. This is about as much as I was able to remove, but it's near impossible to get the rest off with my fingernails.

Wondering if anyone has ever experienced this - if there may be a glass cleaner that helps to dissolve or loosen stuck paper? In terms of trying to scrape it off with a tool - might that help or might it ruin the glass? Or is this something that I might need to have professionally removed or have the glass replaced?

xkaes · Jun 20, 2024

DO NOT use a SCRAPING tool. You didn't say if we are talking RC or fiber-based. Use a small DAMP sponge and place it on one edge. Place some paper towels around it to keep water OUT of the scanner. Wait a few minutes and see if that loosens up the part under the sponge. Use a soft "tool", perhaps a sponge or rubber spatula to remove what you can. If that works, Rinse and Repeat.

ac123 · Jun 20, 2024

THank

xkaes said:
DO NOT use a SCRAPING tool. You didn't say if we are talking RC or fiber-based. Use a small DAMP sponge and place it on one edge. Place some paper towels around it to keep water OUT of the scanner. Wait a few minutes and see if that loosens up the part under the sponge. Use a soft "tool", perhaps a sponge or rubber spatula to remove what you can. If that works, Rinse and Repeat.

Thanks, I'll give it a try. I believe it's RC, it's an RA4 print.

xkaes · Jun 20, 2024

That's RC -- Resin (AKA, plastic) Coated. That's going to take more time to remove. Isopropol Alcohol or Lighter Fluid might work faster than water, but only try those as a last resort. They won't hurt the glass, but the are more dangerous to the scanner parts.

jeffreyg · Jun 20, 2024

Try sticking a similar piece of the paper to a piece of glass not the scanner to experiment. There are some goo removing liquids that might work

koraks · Jun 20, 2024

Wet the area where the emulsion sticks to the glass with a thoroughly wet but not quite dripping cloth by placing it on the affected area. Leave it there for half an hour or even an hour. Then gently wipe off the emulsion from the glass. If not all of it is easily removed, repeat the procedure.
You can add a little sodium carbonate to the water to make the gelatin muck soften faster.

Don't sweat, this will clear up just fine.

Sirius Glass · Jun 21, 2024

Can the OP remove the glass from the scanner. If so that would allow soaking the glass various solvents.

loccdor · Jun 21, 2024

They make plastic paint-scraper type of tools for removing finishes on delicate surfaces. I have one from a kit for doing bathroom silicone.

koraks · Jun 22, 2024

Sirius Glass said:
Can the OP remove the glass from the scanner. If so that would allow soaking the glass various solvents.

There's no need for this. Water will do just fine.

Alan Edward Klein · Jun 22, 2024

A similar problem I had that was never effectively resolved was when my cousin asked me to digitize her photo album. They were pictures of her parents from the 1940s in an album protected by plastic sheets. The photos were stuck to the plastic and I just ripped up a couple of the photos when trying to remove them to scan. So I wound up just scanning the rest through the plastic, not the best results. Has anyone else faced this problem and what did you do?

koraks · Jun 22, 2024

Alan Edward Klein said:
Has anyone else faced this problem and what did you do?

I discussed this specific "failure mode" with a professional photo restoration not too long ago. Her comment was "too bad, there's virtually nothing that can be done."
I think scanning through the plastic was the best thing you could do.

Alan Edward Klein · Jun 22, 2024

koraks said:
I discussed this specific "failure mode" with a professional photo restoration not too long ago. Her comment was "too bad, there's virtually nothing that can be done."
I think scanning through the plastic was the best thing you could do.

It seemed to work out although a few had some glare.

glbeas · Jun 22, 2024

I have found a bit of ammonia in the water will often cause stuck items to loosen.

Andrew O'Neill · Jun 22, 2024

My student did this to one of our V600 scanners! She stuck a fixed and barely rinsed print on the scanner and forgot about it. It sat over the weekend. I peeled off what I could, then laid hot, damp paper towel on top, with a book pressing it down. I left it like that for about half an hour, then repeated. I was eventually able to peel the rest off by rubbing my fingers over it, quick firmly. And yes, I did roast that student for her stupidity!

ac123 · Jun 28, 2024

Thanks for the support and advice all, happy to say I was able to get it completely clean with the damp paper towel/peel off w fingernails method. Crisis averted!

koraks · Jun 28, 2024

Great to hear!

xkaes · Jun 28, 2024

Thanks for feedback. 9 out of 10 times, we are actually helpful.

beemermark · Jun 28, 2024

Use a razor blade (found in hardware stores) that has the sharp blade on one side only. Get the paper saturated then slide the razor blade under the paper. Don't scrape, just use the sharp blade to lift the paper off.

Advice for Removing Stuck Print from Flatbed Scanner Glass

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Advice for Removing Stuck Print from Flatbed Scanner Glass

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