Make & keep
A torn photo strip: keep fragments and copies connected
A digital reconstruction and a physical repair are different tasks.
A tear can divide both the paper and the story. Before trying to make the strip look whole, keep the fragments together in a documented arrangement. A visible gap is easier to understand than an undocumented repair.
Do not make tape the default
The Canadian Conservation Institute recommends non-invasive mounting methods and cautions about materials that contact photographs. Household adhesive is not a neutral way to reunite a treasured strip. For treatment, use a photograph conservator.
Evidence: Preservation guidance
Record the fragments
Our copying plan begins with a photograph of the pieces as found, followed by separate images with each edge visible. Give the fragments one shared reference and individual suffixes. Do not trim a ragged edge to make it fit. Note which connections are certain and which are only suggested by the image.
Label a digital reconstruction
If you arrange copies into a single image, save that as a reconstruction and retain the individual scans. Leave missing portions visible or describe any filled area. A cleaner presentation can help a family recognise the scene, but it should not replace the record of the surviving object or create the impression that lost details were recovered.
Sources & further reading
Sources for the specific facts and product descriptions above. Our worked examples, interpretations and practical suggestions are original editorial guidance.
- Canadian Conservation Institute — photographic materialsPreservation guidance