How to Restore Old Family Photos at Home
October 27, 2026
Start with a good scan
Restoration starts before any editing: a poor scan limits everything that follows. If you have a flatbed scanner, clean the glass, lay the print flat and scan at 300 to 600 dpi, which is plenty for most prints. Save the scan as a high-quality JPG or PNG and turn off any automatic "enhance" option in the scanner software, so that you start from a neutral image and make the decisions yourself.
Without a scanner, a phone works well if you are careful. Use soft, even daylight near a window, avoid the flash, keep the phone parallel to the print so it does not look trapezoid-shaped, and look for reflections on glossy paper by tilting the print slightly. Never remove a photo from its frame or album in a way that could tear it.
Know what can and cannot be fixed
- Can be improved: faded contrast, dark shadows that hide detail, a yellow or green color cast, scanning grain, soft edges and a crooked scan.
- Cannot be fixed automatically: tears, creases, missing pieces and deep scratches. Those need manual retouching in an image editor.
- Cannot be invented: color in a black and white photo, or detail that was never captured.
The order that works best
Work from the biggest problems to the finest, because each step changes how the next one looks. The restore old photos tool has the controls for all of them.
- Straighten and crop. Level a crooked scan and trim the white border and scanner edges.
- Exposure, contrast and shadows. Bring the brightness and contrast to a natural level, and use shadow recovery to reveal detail in dark areas. Compare with the original as you go.
- Color balance. Use temperature and tint to remove the yellowing or color cast that old prints pick up. If the photo is black and white, you can apply a black and white or sepia preset instead.
- Noise reduction. Soften the scan grain gently. Too much makes faces look smooth and plastic.
- Sharpening, last. Sharpen only at the end, otherwise it also exaggerates the grain you have just reduced.
Keep it believable
The aim of restoration is a photo that looks like the original did when it was new, not a modern one. Moderate changes look better than extreme ones. If a face starts to look waxy, undo some noise reduction. If the sky or shadows look unnaturally flat, lower the contrast. Always keep the untouched scan as a separate file, so you can start again.
Finish and share
- Crop to a final shape with the image cropper if you want to remove a damaged edge.
- Reduce the file for sending by email or messaging with the image compressor.
- If a website asks for another format, use the image format converter.
- Add your name or the family name with the watermark tool if you plan to publish the photo online.
Preserve the originals too
A restored copy is a bonus, not a replacement. Store the original print somewhere cool, dry and dark, in acid-free sleeves if possible, and keep the scan on at least two places. Write the names, place and date on the file name or in a spreadsheet, because the people who remember who is in a photo will not always be around to tell you. Everything in the restoration tool runs in your browser, so your family photos are never uploaded to a server.
Frequently asked questions
Can the tool add color to a black and white photo?
No. It adjusts tones and color balance that already exist and can apply black and white, sepia or vintage looks, but it does not colorize.
What scan resolution should I use?
300 to 600 dpi is enough for most prints. A higher resolution mainly makes the file larger, and the tool works best up to about 2200 pixels on the long edge.
Is my photo uploaded anywhere?
No. The whole process runs in your browser, so your family photos never leave your device.