Guides
Photo restoration guides
Plain, step-by-step guides to restoring old photos: fixing water damage and tears, colorizing black and white pictures, scanning prints, and knowing what a restoration can and cannot do.
Restoring old photos
- How to Restore Old PhotosHow to restore old photos: scan at high resolution, repair damage before color, work from the original, and know what a restoration can and cannot bring back.
- How to Restore Old Photos on iPhoneHow to restore old photos on iPhone: capture the print with the camera or import it, then use dedicated repair, face, color, and upscale tools. No desktop editor needed.
Specific damage
- How to Fix Grainy Old PhotosHow to fix grainy old photos: reduce noise gently, protect real detail, and avoid the plastic look of heavy smoothing. Scan well first so you are not amplifying grain.
- How to Fix Water-Damaged PhotosHow to fix water-damaged photos: act fast, keep prints wet until you can work on them, air-dry face up, then repair the remaining stains and streaks digitally.
- How to Remove a Yellow or Red Color Cast From Old PhotosHow to remove a yellow, orange, or red color cast from old photos: find a spot that should be neutral, then shift color balance the opposite way across shadows, midtones, and highlights.
- How to Repair a Torn PhotoHow to repair a torn photo: reassemble the pieces, scan them flat as one image, then rebuild the tear line and small missing areas from the surrounding detail.
- How to Restore Faded Color PhotosHow to restore faded color photos from the 1970s and 80s: scan first, rebuild contrast, remove the orange or magenta cast, then recover a natural color balance.
Scanning and preserving
- How to Digitize Old Photos Without a ScannerHow to digitize old photos without a scanner: photograph prints with your phone in flat, even light, fill the frame, shoot straight on, and avoid glare.
- What DPI to Scan Old PhotosWhat DPI to scan old photos: 600 dpi for standard prints, 1200 dpi for small prints or enlargements, and 3000 to 4000 dpi for negatives and slides. Always scan in color.
Tools and cost
- How Much Does Photo Restoration CostHow much photo restoration costs: doing it yourself with an app is the cheapest option, freelancers charge roughly 5 to 30 dollars per photo, and professional studios charge around 35 to 100 or more for heavy damage.
- How to Restore Old Photos With ChatGPT or GeminiHow to restore old photos with ChatGPT or Gemini: upload a clear scan, ask for a faithful restoration, and check the faces closely, because general image models often redraw features.
