DSS-E.03.03 — Tree Sap / Organic Exudate Shadow

Tree sap / organic exudate shadow is an appearance change on glass arising from plant resins/exudates (e.g., conifer resin, honeydew, plant gums) that deposit as amber droplets/films and may brown under UV. It presents as tacky amber spots, stringy smears, or browned films with distinct wetting anomalies; after removal, a shadow (tone change) may remain where long dwell + UV altered the near-surface. Classification is appearance-only per VIS (method-agnostic). Inspect after Non-Invasive Reveal under VIS lighting/geometry; record surface numbering and worked-surface status.

• Discrete amber beads (0.5-5+ mm), tear-runs, or dragged stringers from attempted wipes; can bloom brown with sun exposure.
• Edge pooling at heads/sills below overhanging trees/vines; patterns repeat below canopy drip lines.
• Post-lift “shadow”: slight tone/shine shift or wetting contrast persists where resin sat for long periods.

Surface-catch class (MSRT)

• SC-0 for fresh/tacky residue (film on top).
• SC-1 where long dwell/UV leaves very shallow micro-texture or resin entraps fine grit; SC-2 is atypical-if present after true residue lift, reassess for Ch.01/Ch.02 chemical etch or Ch.03.03 mineral etching.
• Perform one light, non-marring pass on a small revealed test patch (substrate). Use polymer stylus if a functional coating is suspected. MSRT supports classification only.

Visual signature

• Amber → brown droplets/films; tacky feel on contact; stringers/“spider silk” threads when smeared.
• Wetting anomalies (beading/sheeting contrast) reappear after a light mist over the region.
• No chip-flank sparkle, no fused pits/nodules.

Viewing / lighting

• Evaluate clean & dry at 12 / 36 / 72 in, normal and oblique sweep (~60°-120°); use raking macros to show resin meniscus, stringers, and shadow boundary after reveal. Record distances/angles in-frame.

Location / access

• Record pane ID and surface numbering (#1-#4; laminate-internal). Most common on outboard (#1) faces under canopies, near landscaping or parking. Between-pane by parallax on #2/#3 → CAT-5 by location.

Mechanism cue (context)

• Overhanging trees (conifers/common sap producers), seasonal exudation, insect honeydew, landscaping maintenance; corroborating deposits on frames/sills.

Assign CAT by visibility at acceptance geometry and MSRT after a true residue lift test on a contained patch. Depth values are indicative-field measurement not required.

• CAT-1 (Benign / non-relief): Discrete amber droplets/film; SC-0; angle/raking visible; lifts on reveal test patch without shadow. Indicative relief: 0-10 μm (optical film).
• CAT-2 (Light): Persistent “shadow” or slight wetting contrast after residue lift with localized SC-1; limited standard-view impact. Indicative relief: ~10-40 μm (incipient micro-texture/organic interaction).
• CAT-3 (Moderate): Wide-area browned film/shadowing legible at standard distance, scattered SC-1; indicates long dwell + UV or repeated deposition. Indicative relief: ~40-120 μm.
• Reclassify when: After true residue removal, if modeled substrate micro-texture persists (non-directional matte with SC-1/2) → evaluate E.01.02 atmospheric matte or Ch.02 alkaline attack depending on context; if rings/etched halos consistent with mineral etch present → Ch.03.03; if linear abrasion from cleaning attempts → M.02 abrasion fields.
• CAT-5 (by condition/location): Between-pane by parallax, integrity indicators, or confirmed functional-coating loss on the surface to be worked → CAT-5.

CAT is appearance-based; acceptance is separate under VIS-A at 12/36/72 in. Do not abrade to “force” a response during classification.

• vs. Kitchen grease/HVAC oil (R.04.03/04): Those are oily/amber veils tracing air paths; sap shows discrete beads/stringers and aligns with tree drip geometry.
• vs. PVC plasticizer smear (R.05.02): PVC films are oily amber with strong wetting anomalies along component contact; sap is tacky, often with meniscus beads and seasonal context.
• vs. Mineral staining/etch (Ch.03): Mineral halos are white/grey crystalline-edged; sap amber/brown, sometimes leaves color shadow after lift without crystalline rims.
• vs. Algae/biofilm (E.03.01): Biofilm is thin, chromatic (green/brown) and spreads; sap is beaded/stringy and tacky.

• Photo set (VIS): 12 / 36 / 72 in, normal + oblique; raking macros of droplet meniscus, stringers, and post-lift shadow boundary; context frames showing canopy/drip line. Record distance/angle in-frame.
• MSRT result (substrate): After a small reveal test patch and true residue lift, perform one light, non-marring pass; record SC-class (SC-0/SC-1/SC-2).
• Forms: Pane ID; product family & surface numbering; worked surface Y/N; functional coating present on worked surface? (Y/N/Unknown); reveal status; lighting/time; geometry checklist; photos attached.
• Acceptance split: Post-restoration acceptance per VIS-A §6; classification ≠ acceptance. Coated-face appearance rules apply per VIS §6.2.e when the worked surface is a factory functional coating.

• E.03.03 Tree Sap / Organic Exudate Shadow - Amber droplets/stringers with post-lift shadow on surface #___ beneath [tree/canopy]; post-reveal test patch shows [SC-0 residue / SC-1 shadow]; visible at [12/36/72 in] under VIS geometry. Morphology: tacky amber beads, UV-browned film, wetting anomaly, no chip-flank sparkle, no pits. Classification: CAT-[1/2/3] by visibility and SC-class; reclassify per notes if substrate etch or mineral halos dominate; CAT-5 if between-pane or coating-side loss on the surface to be worked. Forms + photo set attached; acceptance per VIS-A §6.