how do i clean finger prints off of my photographs?

Try using an opticloth - the type of cloth used to clean glasses and camera lenses. It is very tough, but gentle enough not to scratch delicate glass. I'd recommend breathing on the image to get a tiny bit of moisture on it, then wiping it off with the opticloth. It may be time consuming, but it isn't as drastic as washing prints, since this can ultimately ruin prints if not done just so... Good luck!

Your best option is to scan the photos and find a friend or someone that knows Photoshop. Using the "clone" and "airbrush" tool, any photoshopper worth their weight in salt should be able to do this no problem.

If this is not available, you can try one other option, but depending on how badly the fingerprints damaged the pictures, this can be risky.

Assuming the photo is a traditional print through a dark room or chemical process, you can try soaking it in warm water and wiping the fingerprints away. This process will not work for photos printed with a PC printer or digital source using ink cartridges and what not. Water wont' damage it - it actually spent several minutes under water and other chemicals to produce the image. If it is an old photo, antique or is printed on a cotton paper (not a slick plastic feeling glossy) than be extremely careful with it, and I would suggest soaking it in bottled water or distilled water slightly warmer than room temperature.

When soaking it, allow the photograph to soak for several minutes, then lightly smooth off the fingerprints. Do not rub hard.

Once they're off, remove the photograph from the water paying close attention to not touching any part of the image, try handling the photo from the edges or on the back of the photo and placing it on a flat surface to dry completely. The edges may curl depending on the type of paper, don't panic, simply wait until the picture is completely dry and press it in a heavy book for a couple of days.

Also important, try to let the picture dry in a location where dust will not settle on it, in a closet or cabinet. Any fingerprints, dust, or grime that touches the photograph will dry into it, and it will have to be re-soaked and wiped clean under water to remove the debris. This process done too many times may damage old photo.

I would consider this your last option as it may just further damage the photo if the oil from the fingerprints actually soaked into the paper.

Several people and places offer photo restoration; I could actually do it the photoshopping if you had access to a scanner. You could later get them re-printed at any place that offers digital printing services.

Good luck.

As suggested above, use a lens cleaning cloth or a sunglasses cleaning cloth. Should just cost you a few dollars. Gently rub the fingerprints. I would not recommend using water. Fingerprints are oil, and water does not mix with oil, so it would not help unless mixed with soap that will break up the oil, and could possibly damage the print. I would start with just the dry cloth, using increasing pressure while ensuring you don't damage the picture.

If that does not work, use a mild detergent (like an unscented laundry soap or hand soap) diluted in warm water and moisten the cloth in that.

Both of the above answers are good, try the lens cloth dry first. Then try it damp use purified water rather than breathing on it. as we have a certain amount of bacteria which could eat in the image. always use light circular movements.

Failing this if the images are really precious take them some where to be reprinted from the negatives or professionally touched up. A lot of framers can recommend one of many who restore images.

The best way to remove the finger prints, take some cotton, get it wet with your saliva under your tounge, rub slightly on the finger print mark on your photograph or on your negatives...Don't laugh..it works well. If it is success please mail me to sajipalluruthy@yahoo.com

yea u can try a lense cloth but also try rubbing the print with one of those little cloth thingy's that stick on the end of a swiffer dust mop, there like Micro-fiber or something.

hope that helps.

i use a lens cleaning cloth. if u don't have one on hand, i'd use a simple slightly damp paper towel. Chemicals will harm your picture. if all else fails use photoshop to retouch the damaged photo.

cleaning it with some alcohol might help since fingerprints are made up of oil. but i've no idea if the alcohol will ruin the photo.