Fading, Yellowing , Tears, and Other Damage

Old photographs can easily suffer from the effects of time. The image may fade, or discolor, and the surface may acquire scratches, scuffs and tears. Using digital technology, such damage can be repaired to provide prints which look as bright and clear as the day they were taken.

Example 1

The studio portrait, below right, was taken around 1890. It had been mounted on thick cardboard so had been saved from serious folds or tears. Nevertheless, over years of storage in an envelope with dozens of other photographs, it had acquired scratches and other surface blemishes, and had turned rather yellow. For the restored image (below left), all the surface damage was edited out. The color was restored to a warm sepia tone, and the image brightened a little. This young lady has become the poster girl for the Print Doctor!

Example 2

The photograph below (right) was taken around the turn of the twentieth century. It had faded to the point where the features of the lady's face were very indistinct. Otherwise the photograph was in good condition, with only a few minor blemishes and some fading. The restoration (below left) brightened the image and boosted color and contrast, but the major focus was on restoring details of the face. The restored image was then used to make a composite of her with her husband (the great-grandparents of the client). To see how this was done, click here.

Example 3

The photograph below right was taken in 1934. Whilst not as old as the two previous examples, it is showing the same signs of age, having faded and yellowed substantially. It also had a sticky black substance on the surface, possibly the remnant of glue from adhesive tape. It is also a little out of focus. The restore image, below left, has had blemishes removed. It was then converted to true black and white (as the original would have been from that era) - but with just a touch of sepia to give it a warmer feel. Contrast was enhanced, and the image sharpened a little. Finally, it was cropped to better frame the children.

Example 4

The photograph, below right, had been accidentally torn into four pieces. Two of the tears went through the faces of the grandmother and her little granddaughter. The four pieces were scanned, and digitally joined to recreate the whole photo. A little editing work to remove a few discolored blotches, plus a touch of sharpening, and the resulting image was better than the original.