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Artificial intelligence (AI) is here for your family photos,
along with photographic history and other resources.  

 

 

 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has stormed the photographic landscape.

February  2026 — PhotoTree.com has embraced AI , when appropriate, to help restore and preserve photographs, images, and documents.

Civil War tintype restored w/AI. (Click image)

More than Restoration

AI treatments can help you create attractive renditions of your family images for framed artwork, greeting cards, and improved reproduction in publishing.  

AI Pencil sketch of 1925 photo. (Click image)

Many examples and how-to tips are offered here that wiil help you navigate the fascinating new tools.

Explore the Galleries

  • Restoration Gallery
  • Sketch Gallery
  • Paint Gallery 

Download Free AI Prompt Guide

Download our recent Guide to AI Prompts for Image Edits, a two-page PDF guide to help you understand and create productive prompts.  

Explore Products, Prompts & Tips

  • Technology & Product News
  • Restoration Prompts & Examples
  • Artistic Treatment with AI
  • PhotoTree Restoration & Art Services 

 

New Book Released:

AI Photo Restoration and Enhancement  

AI For Photo Restoration and Enhancement – for Genealogists and Family Historians was published May 21, 2026, available at Amazon.com.

This is a complete, easy-to-follow guide for Genealogists and Family Historians that helps them preserve their family's photographic history. 

Written by a fellow genealogist with over 30 years of restoration experience, it walks them through popular AI applications.

Included are over 300 images, scores of prompts, and examples that guide the family archivists through the restoration of damaged or faded photographs.

In addition, it is a great idea book for treatments to try on your photographs. See fascinating examples and details of the book here.

 You Can Learn 

  1. Accurate photo restorations 
  2. How to write effective prompts 
  3. Recreate missing pieces 
  4. Restore faded or darkened images 
  5. How to fix scratches, tears, blemishes 
  6. Upscale images 
  7. Applying artist & era styles 
  8. Colorize B&W photos 
  9. Natural Retouching

Click here to see a preview & examples. 

  

 

Books the Way You Want Them
Books from Phototree are recognized as some of the most complete, easiest-to-following resources for vintage photographs. In addition, new works covering a variety of historical periods help place your family history in context to surrounding events. See all these books on the Amazon author page.
Title Printed - Amazon Kindle
Photography Resources    
20th Century Photographs KwikGuide Yes –
19th Century Card Photos KwikGuide Yes –
Cased Images & Tintypes KwikGuide Yes –
Real Picture Postcards KwikGuide Yes –
Photo Restoration KwikGuide Yes –
Archive Photography Yes Yes
Slides and Negatives Yes Yes
Historical Research    
G.A.R. and Union Veteran Research Yes –
Cemetery and Gravestone Handbook Yes –
Shot in the Butt (Available Kindle & iBook) – Yes
Teenage Soldier Yes –
Lessons From The Gibson Girl Yes –
Cruel Irony Yes Yes
Write a Captivating Family History Yes Yes
FUBAR 2.0 Yes Yes

Popular Books in 2026

As usual 19th Century Card Photos is the #1 Phototree book this year. Recognized as the expert book on card photos from the 1800s for genealogists, it is a valuable resource for family photo keepers.

 Here are the top five:

  1. 19th Century Card Photos
  2. Cemetery and Gravestone Handbook
  3. Cased Images and Tintypes  
  4. 20th Century Photographs  
  5. Grand Army of the Republic & Union Veteran Research

The >Cemetery and Gravestone Handbook has quickly become a popular resource in the #2 position 


Photo Restoration

Gary Clark has over 30 years photo editng, and restoration experience. Using state-of-art digital tools including powerful AI. Old and damaged photographs can usually be brought back to an accurate and pleasing look. Click to see the possiblities.


 

 


Gravestone Cleaning Videos

View a variety of videos on cleaning gravestones: Tools, solutions, techniques, and more. These will change your ideas about the possibilties of safely cleaning family stones.