How to Restore Old Photos?

It's always disappointing to see old photos damaged. Knowing how to restore old photos is essential if you plan to preserve your memories and prevent time from eroding them. Whether from tears, water stains, or the gradual fading of colors over time, these issues can rob old images of their original quality and vibrancy. By nature, old pictures are delicate, susceptible to tearing, burning, and water damage.

Saving these cherished memories helps preserve real records of family life. Old images show relatives, places, and events from the past that younger family members were not present for. These visual moments are an important part of family history, and we cannot afford to lose them.

While fully restoring physical old damaged photos may be impossible, there’s a practical workaround. This guide will show you how to do it yourself, step by step, with guidance from the professional restorers at Pixels Photo Art.

If this guide feels a bit too technical, don’t worry—there’s still hope! You can get expert help with photo repair from the photo restorers at Pixels Photo Art!

Why to restore photos?

Restoring faded or damaged photos helps preserve the memories and moments they hold for years to come. There are many reasons why reviving and protecting family photos matters beyond the obvious. Sadly, in most situations, we aren’t prepared and are caught by surprise. This guide is hands-on, providing you with the exact steps to do it yourself, so when an issue arises, you’ll be more than ready.

Most of the time, we feel compelled to act because the vintage photos have suffered some type of damage, and waiting too long could make restoration more difficult or impossible. By understanding the essential steps and techniques, you can take action quickly and confidently, whether you choose to handle the process yourself or seek professional assistance. Acting promptly ensures that these treasured memories are preserved for future generations.

The photo restorer's tools

You will need access to multiple software programs, plugins, and websites. Some may be free, while others require a subscription or a one-time fee.

• Adobe Photoshop – It is a subscription-based software available monthly or yearly, making it highly accessible if you’re willing to invest the time. Photoshop includes a full suite of tools to enhance and restore pictures, allowing you to transform a damaged or faded photo from “oops to wow.” Key features include healing tools, clone stamp, adjustment layers, layer masks, and generative fill for complex reconstructions.

• Topaz Labs – Specialized software for enhancing photos. Topaz Sharpen AI and Topaz Bloom refine and sharpen photos, bringing out subtle textures and clarity. Topaz Gigapixel increases resolution while preserving quality, which is essential for printing or enlarging older photos.

• Affinity Photo – Particularly useful for old photos with repeating patterns, such as honeycomb or textured paper. The Pattern Suppressor FFT filter removes these unwanted artifacts. While Photoshop’s neural filters (Filter > Neural Filters) can be used, they are not effective at removing honeycomb patterns. On Windows, the Pattern Suppressor plugin integrates directly into Photoshop; however, it is not compatible with Mac.

• Adobe Firefly – Used for blending, reconstructing hair edges, and filling in missing parts of photos. It is especially helpful for restoring areas where details are partially lost or damaged. This is our preferred online photo editing tool, which incorporates AI. It requires credits to use!

• Gemini – A research tool that provides historical context about the photo, such as its period or location. This ensures accuracy in coloring and restoration, keeping recreated photos true to their original context.

• PicWish – Enhances clarity in photos, improving sharpness and bringing out subtle features that may have faded over time.

Old photos can only be fixed using one or multiple software. The one thing that doesn’t change is the procedure!

How to repair damaged photos?

The restoration of old photos is a multi-step process that requires patience, practice, and time. If time or patience is an issue, the photo restorers at Pixels Photo Art can be extremely helpful!

Most old photos have the same approach, while for some, the approach will be different. If your old photos have been affected by moisture or flooding, knowing how to fix a water-damaged photo is essential. This guide provides a general approach, but we’ve also created a detailed guide to help you learn more about how to save water-damaged images, which require a different approach than other types of damage. In this article, we’ll focus on general restoration methods.

On the other hand, old photos that have been left for too long next to a window can experience fading. Direct light exposure causes the colors to fade, often resulting in red or yellow tones and signs of overexposure. This requires a completely different approach, and it’s extremely important to understand why sun-fading occurs.

Digitize your old photographs

Old prints can be preserved by creating a digital photo through a high-quality scan, since restoration can only be performed digitally. Carefully remove the photo from the album or frame. If the photo is stuck to the glass, there are safe methods to detach it. Make sure to clean the photo properly before attempting to scan it.

It’s important to use a professional flatbed scanner rather than a typical home scanner, which is designed for documents. Be sure to scan the photos at 600 DPI and save them as TIFF or PNG files to preserve maximum quality.

If you don’t have access to a flatbed scanner, your alternative is to take a photo of the photograph. This can be challenging, as it may introduce glare, shadows, reflections, or additional damage. If you need extra guidance, our article on how to digitize a photo will show you the proper way to digitize your old photographs.

Adobe's Photo retouching tools

To understand how to restore old photos in Photoshop, you need to be familiar with the tools involved and their specific uses. Using Shift + [Key Shortcut] allows you to cycle through the available options.

• Crop Tool – Used to trim unwanted edges, straighten pictures, and improve overall composition. Found in the left toolbar and accessible with the C shortcut.

• Selection Tool – Allows you to select specific areas of an image for targeted edits. Found in the left toolbar, grouped with the Lasso and Polygonal tools, and accessible with the L shortcut.

• Lasso Tool – Creates freehand selections for targeted edits. Found in the left toolbar, grouped with Selection, Polygonal, and Magnetic Lasso tools, and accessible with the L shortcut.

• Marquee Tools – Makes rectangular or elliptical selections for specific area adjustments. Found in the left toolbar and accessible with the M shortcut.

• Spot Healing Brush – Automatically blends small marks into surrounding pixels for quick cleanups. Found in the left toolbar, grouped with healing tools, and accessible with the J shortcut.

• Healing Brush – Allows you to define a source area for more controlled texture blending, making it useful for detailed work. Located in the same healing tool group in the left toolbar, also under the J shortcut.

• Patch Tool – Replaces a selected area with content from another part of the image while preserving lighting and shading. Grouped with the healing tools in the left toolbar and accessible via J.

• Remove Tool – Quickly eliminates damage in old photos with minimal effort by intelligently filling the area. Located in the left toolbar, usually near the healing tools, depending on the Photoshop version.

• Clone Stamp Tool – Copies pixels exactly from one area to another, offering precise control. Found in the left toolbar and selected with the S key.

• Generative Fill – Creates new content based on surrounding areas using AI. Available after making a selection through the contextual taskbar or via Edit → Generative Fill in newer Photoshop versions.

• Adjustment Layers – Used to modify tone, contrast, and color without altering the original image. Found in the Layers panel or under Layer → New Adjustment Layer.

• Layer Masks – Control where edits appear by hiding or revealing parts of a layer. They can be added from the Layers panel using the mask icon. By painting with black or white on the mask, you can hide or reveal portions of the underlying layer. This is one of the most useful tools for blending, merging, and compositing layers.

• Blur Tool – Softens areas of the image for smoother transitions or reduced noise. Found in the left toolbar, grouped with Sharpen and Smudge tools, and accessible with the R shortcut. Use Shift + R to switch between Blur, Sharpen, and Smudge.

• Sharpen Tool – Enhances detail in targeted areas. Part of the same group as the Blur tool and accessible with R.

• Dodge Tool – Lightens areas to bring out highlights, making things pop. Found in the left toolbar, grouped with Burn and Sponge tools, and accessible with the O shortcut.

• Burn Tool – Darkens areas to add depth or correct exposure. Found in the left toolbar, grouped with Dodge and Sponge, and accessible with the O shortcut.

Photo repair process

The first step after digitizing your photo is to inspect it and identify the types of damage present. Some issues can be addressed using different techniques, so it’s best to determine the right approach before you begin. Before you start, keep in mind that it’s best to place each change on a separate layer. Working with multiple layers allows you to make precise, targeted adjustments later, instead of relying on undoing previous edits.

Below, we outline a general approach, accompanied by visual examples.

Cropping the original photo

The crop feature offers several options, each suited to different types of pictures. For straight photos, the default Crop Tool works perfectly. However, if the photo is at an angle, the Perspective Crop Tool should be used.

After cropping, if there are empty areas left in the image, you can select them using the Selection Brush Tool. You then have two options to fill the missing content: Generative Fill or Remove Tool. Both methods aim to intelligently regenerate the selected areas.

Removing Damage

If your old photos contain a pattern, such as the common honeycomb texture, it needs to be removed. Fortunately, there are plugins and software that can speed up this process. The Pattern Suppressor FFT filter in Affinity, or the corresponding plugin for Photoshop, can handle this task efficiently.

If your photograph has scratches, creases, tears, or dust, removing them is easier said than done. Each type of damage must be addressed individually. The Remove Tool handles most cases, but in other situations, you may need to use the Healing Brush or the Clone Stamp Tool.

For simple backgrounds, you can separate the subject by selecting it (using the Select Subject command in Photoshop: Select > Subject), then invert the selection (Select > Inverse), and make a duplicate layer of the background. If the background is simple, the Patch Tool works exceptionally well to clean up any remaining imperfections.

Reconstructing using Layer Mask

Once surface damage and small imperfections are removed, the reconstruction stage begins. More severe damage, such as tears or missing sections, can leave parts of the image incomplete. When this happens, it does not mean the photo repair cannot be done. In many cases, lost areas can be convincingly rebuilt by reusing existing visual information from the image itself. One of the most effective techniques is mirroring intact areas and blending them seamlessly into the damaged section.

Imagine a portrait where the right side of the face is partially torn or missing, while the left side remains intact. Start by selecting the intact side of the face using a selection tool such as the Lasso Tool, found in the left toolbar and accessed with the L key. Carefully trace the area you want to copy, including enough surrounding detail to allow for natural blending.

Once selected, duplicate the selection onto a new layer by pressing Ctrl + J on Windows or Cmd + J on Mac. With the duplicated layer active, flip it horizontally by going to Edit → Transform → Flip Horizontal. Move the mirrored layer into position using the Move Tool, accessible with the V key, aligning it over the damaged side of the face.

At this point, the mirrored section will look unnatural, which is expected. To blend it properly, add a Layer Mask by clicking the mask icon at the bottom of the Layers panel. Select the Brush Tool with B, set the brush to a soft edge, and paint with black on the mask to gently hide harsh edges. Switch between black and white on the mask to refine the blend, revealing or concealing areas as needed. Lowering the brush size and opacity helps create smooth transitions between the original and reconstructed areas.

Once the structure is in place, fine-tune the result using subtle adjustments. Minor lighting differences can be corrected with Adjustment Layers found under Layer → New Adjustment Layer, while small texture inconsistencies can be softened using gentle retouching tools. The goal is not perfection, but visual harmony, so the reconstructed area feels like it naturally belongs to the original photograph.

This technique is especially effective for faces because of their natural symmetry, but it can also be applied to hands, clothing, backgrounds, or architectural elements. With patience and careful blending, even heavily damaged areas can be convincingly restored.

Adjusting brightness & contrast

Adjusting brightness and exposure levels is a crucial step once structural repairs are complete, as it helps restore balance and clarity to the image. Over time, old pictures often lose tonal range, appearing flat, dull, or overly dark in certain areas.

In Photoshop, this is best handled non-destructively using Adjustment Layers, found under Layer → New Adjustment Layer → Brightness/Contrast or Curves. Using Curves offers more precise control, allowing you to lift shadows, recover midtones, and gently restrain highlights without washing out details.

If only specific areas need correction, add a Layer Mask to the adjustment and paint with a soft black brush (B) to limit the effect. Subtle changes work best here, as the goal is to restore natural depth and readability rather than overcorrect. When done carefully, brightness and contrast adjustments bring faded images back to life while preserving their original character and historical feel.

Blending

Blending in Photoshop is done by combining manual control with smart tools. After making your edits, select the layer you want to blend and add a layer mask by clicking the Add Layer Mask icon at the bottom of the Layers panel. Press B to activate the Brush Tool, set the brush to a soft edge, and paint with black on the mask to hide harsh edges or white to reveal areas again.

Adjust brush opacity from the top options bar to create smoother transitions. For AI-assisted blending, make a selection first using the Lasso Tool (L) or Marquee Tool (M), then trigger Generative Fill either from the contextual task bar or via Edit → Generative Fill.

Adobe Firefly will generate content that matches lighting, texture, and structure, which you can then refine using the layer mask and brush. This combination of masking, soft brushing, and AI-generated fills allows different parts of the image to merge naturally without visible seams.

Coloring

Old black and white photos hold precious memories, and restoring them to their former glory gives them new life. Whether as physical copies or digitally shared with friends, they help keep the past alive. Adding a touch of color to your old memories can make them truly stand out!

Accuracy is the key when adding color to black and white photos! Start by researching real references using tools like Gemini to identify authentic colors from the period, such as clothing, architecture, or natural elements. Once you have reference images, open them alongside your photo in Photoshop and arrange your workspace in a split-screen view—one side for selecting colors and the other for applying them.

Use the Eyedropper Tool (I) on the reference image to sample colors, which you can then save in your Swatches panel for consistency. For the coloring process, create new layers above your photo for each element (skin, clothing, background, etc.) and set the blending mode to Color or Soft Light.

Then, select the Brush Tool (B) with a soft edge and start painting on the respective layer. Using multiple layers is a safe approach, allowing for fine-tuning without affecting the original image.

Constantly toggle visibility, adjust opacity, and refine edges with Layer Masks to achieve a natural, realistic look.

There’s much more to learn about colorizing old photos, and you can check our article for additional tips on adding color to a photo.

Improving Clarity and Details

Assuming the image is finished and you only want to improve overall clarity, PicWish is used as a final enhancement step outside Photoshop. First, export your completed image from Photoshop at full resolution, preferably as a PNG or TIFF to avoid compression. If you don't have enough storage, save as a JPG.

Next, open PicWish in your browser or desktop app and upload the image. Choose the Enhance Photo option, which automatically analyzes the photo and boosts clarity and perceived sharpness. Let the process complete, then carefully compare the before-and-after result, paying close attention to facial features, edges, and fine textures to ensure nothing looks overprocessed. A few years ago, fixing blurry photos online was not possible; nowadays, you can improve image quality with these AI tools in just a few clicks.

Once satisfied, download the enhanced version at the highest available quality. As a final check, reopen the image in Photoshop if needed and slightly reduce opacity or apply a soft mask if certain areas feel too sharp. Used this way, PicWish acts as a finishing polish, subtly lifting details that may have faded over time without altering the original work.

Fixing fading

Have you noticed that the vintage pictures left next to the windows tend to fade the quickest? Often, when removing the frame, you notice marks where the frame protected the photo, showing the original color while the exposed area appears brighter. If you want to learn more about fading and how to handle affected photos, check our guide on restoring photos affected by sunlight. 

Some old photos primarily suffer from fading, yellowing, or a reddish tint. In such cases, simply adjusting brightness, contrast, or hue isn't enough, and restoring the image with true colors may be necessary.

Light and dark spots in a photo become more pronounced over time, contributing to fading. The image can start to lose clarity, and restoring tonal balance is a crucial step toward bringing it back into focus.

In most old color prints, photos exposed to light, heat, or humidity fade more quickly. Fading occurs gradually with age, and sunlight exposure accelerates this process. Often, you will notice yellowing or a shift toward red tones. 

This can happen even with well-preserved old pictures. In such cases, adding fresh, new colors becomes necessary, profoundly transforming their appearance and bringing renewed vibrance and life.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to restore old photos is ultimately about giving meaningful memories a second chance. While the process can feel technical at times, it is largely driven by human editing skills, patience, and decision-making, with roughly 90% of the work done manually and only about 10% relying on AI for final refinements.

The goal is always the same: to achieve the best possible result for your old images. Some people prefer not to use AI at all, yet when they are comparing versions side by side, they often gravitate toward the one where AI was used. If a small technological boost helps recover lost details or gently unblur areas that were once impossible to fix, it makes sense to use it.

There is a common belief that an AI photo restorer can fully restore photos and turn black and white images into color with just a single click. This is not entirely true, as AI enhances facial clarity, but in most cases, it can add colors inaccurately, resulting in color spills and potentially distorting or misplacing features and proportions.

Many users rely on AI restore features to fix and enhance their pictures, but after a few tries, they often realize its limitations. AI enhances existing details and can help with face enhancement, but it is not effective for fixing scratches. However, seeing the last developments in artificial intelligence, a complete AI photo restoration will soon be possible

This raises the question of whether AI will replace a skilled photo restorer. Most likely, it won’t—but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use it as a powerful support tool, especially since it provides an advantage.

Whether you follow our guide on how to restore old photos or work with a professional photo restorer, taking action early and using the right balance of technique and technology ensures these irreplaceable memories remain part of your family history for generations to come.