Restoration and Retouching of Photographs
Your old, damaged or faded original photographs can be restored as new.
This photograph is dated 1903. The original was terribly faded and damaged.
Original Photograph
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After Restoration
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The top left piece of this photo is missing, and the print is very faded and discoloured. It was not easy to see the figure in the right side and the little girl's face is hard to distinguish. The entire photo has damage over the surface, that shows under close observation. |
The work on this piece revealed the charming features on the face of this little girl. A family resemblance was seen instantly by a family member, to her surprise. The window at top left was rebuilt, and has the feel of the actual building as it was. The figure at right, that in the original resembled a tree trunk, is now seen to be a tall woman, unfortunately taken with only the lower portion of her face in the shot. It seems that even photographers in those days were not immune to cutting off heads in a composition! This photo is in an authentic sepia toning.The detail that was revealed in a high quality scan and by careful restoration is astonishing when compared to the original. |
This restored photograph was enlarged slightly and printed on archival media. Matted and framed it will last for many more generations, preserving the memory of this sweet little girl.
The photograph below was taken in the early part of the last century. You can see that the original has several problems.
Original Photograph
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After Restoration
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This precious family heirloom has suffered badly over the years since it was taken. The photo is yellowed, there are marks left from tape on the corners. The tears and missing pieces have been drawn over with a pen in an early 'restoration' attempt! The face and head of the old gentleman has been bleached out, with detail almost gone. There are several stains and marks from handling and poor storage during many years. The composition of the picture could be improved by moving this couple back a bit from the border. |
The photo has been converted to black and white. (Sepia tone can also be applied.) The tears and missing pieces have been painstakingly restored, the button 'sewn' on the elderly lady's dress. The composition of the picture has been improved by addition of foreground, which entailed putting a shoe on the gentleman's foot. Contrast adjustments, selectively applied, have shown detail on the faces of this old couple, as well as in the clothes. |
Now that this precious relic from the past has been restored, copies have been printed on archival media for distribution to members of the family, and the past has been preserved for future generations. This photograph is included in a book on photographic restoration techniques by Katrin Eismann. It is also currently on her website.
Digital photographic restoration does not affect the original photograph. The original is carefully scanned, which converts it to a digital file. It is this image which is worked on, preserving your original intact. Processes that are possible:
- Correction of fading
- water damage removed
- mould marks removed
- discoloration corrected
- rips or tears repaired, missing pieces filled in
- closed eyes opened
- people or objects added or removed
- cosmetic changes to portraits
Charges vary depending on the work involved in each restoration. Please contact us to find out what we can do for your damaged photographs.
