DSS-R.01.05 — Adhesive Label / Sticker Ghost

Adhesive label/sticker ghost is an appearance change on glass caused by pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) remnants or plasticizer transfer that remain after label/tape/film removal. It presents as a lens-shaped halo or rectilinear patch at the former label footprint, often with wipe-edge overlaps from attempted cleanups. Classification is appearance-only per VIS (method-agnostic). Inspect after Non-Invasive Reveal under VIS lighting/geometry; record surface numbering and worked-surface status on Forms: Handle active residues per site safety-do not touch; document visually.

• Footprint-bounded geometry (round/oval lens, square/rectangle, die-cut outline) centered where a label was placed.
• Soft optical veil in specular view; directional wipe arcs and overlap lines may surround the footprint from partial removal attempts.
• Edges can appear slightly darker (soil catch) or show tide-line rings where solvent/adhesive remover dried.

Surface-catch class (MSRT)

• Expect SC-0 on the clean glass substrate once true PSA residue is lifted (non-etch).
• If a strong remover or heat was used excessively, a very slight SC-1 may be observed (converted film or shallow texture) within the footprint.
• Perform one light, non-marring pass on a small revealed test patch (substrate), not over gummy islands. Use polymer stylus if a functional coating is suspected. MSRT supports classification only.

Visual signature

• Clear footprint geometry matching a typical label (lens/rectangle with rounded corners); wipe vectors and overlap edges adjacent to the footprint.
• No chip-flank sparkle (not mechanical scoring); no discrete pits/nodules (not hot-particle peppering).

Viewing / lighting

• Evaluate clean & dry at 12 / 36 / 72 in, normal incidence and oblique sweep (~60°-120°); use raking light macros to reveal veil, edges, and overlap lines. Record distances/angles in-frame.

Location / access

• Record pane ID and surface numbering (#1-#4; laminate-internal). If fixed parallax indicates a between-pane label (IGU cavity), classify CAT-5 by location (out of in-place scope) and refer.

Mechanism cue (context)

• Presence of removed backings, label fragments, adhesive-remover products, or inventory/inspection stickers on adjacent frames or glass.

Assign CAT by visibility impact at acceptance geometry and MSRT on a small revealed test patch. Depth values are indicative-field measurement not required.

• CAT-1 (Benign / non-relief): Optical ghost only; substrate SC-0 after true lift; visible mainly at angle/raking. Indicative relief: 0-10 μm (optical).
• CAT-2 (Light): Persistent thin film within footprint with slight SC-1 (aged/converted PSA or over-treated with hot/strong remover); limited impact at standard view. Indicative relief: ~10-40 μm.
• CAT-3 (Moderate): Broad, high-contrast footprint with dirty tide line and SC-1→SC-2 at interior (uncommon; suggests chemical interaction beyond simple PSA). Indicative relief: ~40-120 μm.
• Reclassify when: After true residue removal, any modeled micro-texture or SC-class > 0 remains on substrate → evaluate under Ch.04.02 Adhesive remover staining or Ch.04.03 Degreaser/alkaline burn as applicable.
• CAT-5 (by condition/location): Between-pane/inaccessible by parallax, integrity indicators (active cracks/pane movement), 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” film removal during classification.

• vs. Protective film adhesive residue (R.01.06): Film residues often cover larger areas with edge-peel scallops; label ghosts are small, discrete, and match common label dies.
• vs. Adhesive remover staining (Ch.04.02): Remover staining shows directional wipe veils/overlap lines extending beyond the footprint; a true label ghost should center on the label geometry with substrate SC-0 after proper lift.
• vs. Mineral staining (Ch.03.02): Mineral veils align to spray/runs and are non-tacky; label ghosts track label shape and installation height/pattern.
• vs. Silicone smear (R.01.01): Silicone smears run parallel to joints with tool-mark corduroy; label ghosts are discrete islands with clean boundaries.
• vs. Coating anomalies (Co-family): Factory coating issues lack label geometry and often sit on #2/#3; label ghosts are field-applied residue on the exposed face, unless cavity-side (then CAT-5).

• Photo set (VIS): 12 / 36 / 72 in, normal + oblique; include raking macros of the footprint interior and edge/overlap lines; add context frames (label fragments, remover products). Record distance/angle in-frame.
• MSRT result (substrate only): After lifting a small test patch without abrasion, perform one light, non-marring pass on the clean substrate; record SC-class (expect SC-0).
• 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.

• R.01.05 Adhesive Label / Sticker Ghost - Footprint-bounded optical veil matching [round/oval/rectangular] label on surface #___; post-reveal test patch shows substrate SC-0; visible at [12/36/72 in] under VIS geometry. Morphology: soft veil, tide-line edge, wipe overlaps; no chip-flank sparkle, no discrete pepper. Classification: CAT-[1/2/3] by visibility and SC-class; CAT-5 if between-pane, integrity cues, or coating-side loss on the surface to be worked. Forms + photo set attached; acceptance per VIS-A §6.