Many of us have antique or old family photos that need repair. They may have faded or the colors have changed; some may have a pink, yellow or blue haze. If photos weren't stored properly, they could also be damaged by mildew. By having your photos digitally restored and retouched you can save them from further deterioration and ensure that special memories are preserved.
What Kind of Photo Damage Can Be Repaired?
A good digital photo retouching and enhancing service can fix almost any B&W and color photo, negative or slide from:
- Fading
- Scratches and Dust
- Stains
- Tears and folds
- Water Damage
- Mildew Damage
- Fire Damage
How Are Photos Repaired and Restored?
With the use of a computer and photo enhancement software, most damaged photos can be repaired. The original picture, slide or negative is scanned to create a high-resolution digital photo from which to work on. The original image is left unaltered. The idea is to repair and enhance the photos while keeping the original feel and look of the picture.
While it is certainly possible to fix and enhance your old photos at home, it takes a scanner and the appropriate image editing software (Photoshop is the gold standard) and some skill, patience and practice. Restoring photos is painstaking work. A good photo restorer will use cloning and healing tools to repair blemishes and scratches on the digitized image rather than just smoothing them out, which may change the look of the photo or make it look more like a painting.
If your photo is badly faded or the colors have shifted, a digital photo restoration service can make photo enhancements such as adjusting the contrast, color and sharpness. They can also remove dust and scratches and repair tears. If you have severely damaged images, such as photos that have fire, water or mildew damage (mildew is common with slides stored in damp areas such as basements), they can be repaired too. In some instances areas of the original photo are so damaged that important parts are missing. A skilled photo restoration service can use imaging software to re-create the missing sections or to paint them in. Most services will also colorize B&W photos and change or remove backgrounds and objects.
Why Should You Restore Your Old Photos
It only takes a few years for most photos to start to fade and color-shift. Color photos may have a pink or orange cast while B&W photos may yellow. If they are exposed to sunlight, stored in an attic or basement, the deterioration can accelerate. They can even mildew if stored in a damp or humid location. By restoring and repairing your photo collection, you are stopping the cycle of deterioration. Once they are restored you will have digital copies of your photos, which you can print, archive on DVD, CD or an external drive, create a slide show and share them with other family members. Restored old family photos also make great gifts for birthdays, Christmas and other occasions.
By scanning and repairing your old photos, you will be able to archive and preserve your treasured memories for years to come.
Old photo restoration should only be done if success can be ensured. There are instances when this would not be able to fully restore an old print with just one click.
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