Recovery Priority during the first 24-48 hours:
- Dry or freeze within 48 hours.
- Gelatin image surfaces swell and soften when wet. Avoid touching image.
- Handle photograph by edges and support underneath.
- Do not touch sticky image surfaces with bare hands. Do not tightly compress items.
- Paper photographs will fuse together permanently if allowed to dry in contact with each other.
- Cover them with plastic to prevent partial drying until they can be frozen or salvaged. Image surfaces are susceptible to mold and physical damage, especially at high temperatures.
- Local commercial photo labs that offer traditional photographic processing may be used to rewash and dry films.
- Use extra caution with large objects; wet paper is easily torn. Support with screens or polyester webbing.