FAQ · Old photo restoration
Old photo restoration, honestly answered
In short: most damage on old family photographs can be repaired faithfully; what is truly lost should stay lost. Compare versions, flag doubtful areas and keep a record of every change.
Getting started
- Can a 100-year-old photo really be restored?
- Yes, if the image information survives. Scratches, dust, foxing, silvering, creases, stains and fading are usually repairable. Areas that are physically gone cannot be recovered truthfully and should stay visibly unresolved.
- How much does it cost to restore an old photo online?
- Heirloom Restore gives 1 free restoration a month. Pro is €12 a month for 50 restorations, Studio is €39 a month for unlimited restorations, and a 10-photo pack costs €9 once.
- Do I need a scanner, or is a phone photo enough?
- A flatbed scan at 600 dpi (1200 dpi for small prints) gives far better results. A phone photo works if taken flat, in even daylight, without glare or flash.
Faithfulness and AI
- Will AI change my ancestor's face?
- Generic enhancers often redraw faces. Heirloom Restore protects faces, keeps unmarked original pixels when sizes match, and highlights every strongly changed area so you can inspect, flag and annotate it before saving.
- Can missing pieces of a torn photo be filled in?
- Only small losses with direct surrounding evidence, such as a thin crack across a plain wall. Missing faces or unique details are never invented; they remain marked as unresolved.
- How can I compare different restoration attempts?
- Every attempt is saved as a version. Pick two to four versions, or the original scan, and view them side by side with shared zoom and pan so the same detail lines up in every pane.
- Should I colorize a black-and-white family photo?
- Colorization is interpretation, because the original colours are unknown. Keep a monochrome archival copy and clearly label any colorized version.
Saving and sharing
- What file should I keep for my family archive?
- Keep the untouched scan plus a PNG of the restoration. Heirloom Restore embeds a record in each PNG or JPEG: the original's SHA-256 fingerprint, the settings used, and your notes on flagged areas.
- Are my family photos used to train AI?
- No. Photos are processed only to produce your restoration and are not used to train models.
Restore a photograph → · Read the restoration guide · See plans