Photo Restoration
We can repair digital copies of your family treasures, returning them to original glory. You can then share these restored images with relatives, frame as beautiful artwork, and rest assured you have preserved your family history.
Send PhotoTree Your Image
Send Original Image
Ideally, we like to work from the original image. This gives us the opportunity to scan the image or copy it with a copy-camera, to get the optimum digital file for restoration.
Some images may require special controlled lighting to get best results. This is particularly important with images that are extremely faded or very dark.
PhotoTree recognizes the reluctance to send your family heirlooms through the mail or express delivery. However, you do not have to part with them to restore and preserve them.
. . . or Send us a a Digital File
This is the easiest method for most people. And it still can produce wonderful results if done with care taken to get the best scan possible.
Flatbed scanners have become inexpensive yet can produce very good results. The key to good restoration is having as much image detail in the file as possible. This is accomplished with high resolution and the correct file format.
Resolution
Resolution is typically described as Dots Per Inch (DPI) or sometimes Pixels Per Inch (PPI). For this purpose, they are the same thing. The following resolutions for your images are highly recommended:
Original Image Size |
Recommended DPI |
Large (8" x 10" or more) |
300 or 600 DPI |
Medium (4"x6", e.g Cabinet Card) |
600 DPI |
Small ((2"x4", e.g. CDV) |
600 or 1200 DPI |
Very Small (2"x2" or less) |
1200 DPI |
The above resolutions will produce good results. More is better. Under no circumstances can restoration be performed on anything less than 300 DPI.
File Format
Much information has been published about the merits of TIF vs JPG files. JPG files reduce not only the pixel detail, but also the number of colors in an image. BOTH of these are BAD for restoration work.
Save a scan as a TIF file. If your scanner cannot save as TIF, save as JPG with the highest quality setting, which results in the largest file. Please email us if you have questions.
If you are scanning while in PhotoShop or PhotoShop Elements, saved PSD files are acceptable also. This is the native PhotoShop format, and it preserves all detail the same as TIF. Note: Sometimes TIF is referred to as TIFF also. PhotoTree.com conducts all work with the latest version of PhotoShop.
Tip Sheets
One page, printable PDF Tip Sheets are available for a variety of topics. These are in the Restoration Kit.
Images Suitable for Scanning and Sending
Flat Paper Photographs or Tintypes
Most paper photographs such as cartes de visite (CDV) or cabinet cards will scan well and are suitable for email or uploading, provided the scanning guidelines previously described are followed
Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, and Cased Tintypes
These images present a variety of challenges that a scanner usually cannot overcome. These include reflective surfaces, cover glass reflection, and dirt on the image or cover glass.
In most cases, these images require sending the original to PhotoTree. Please contact us to discuss.
Sending the File - Email or Upload
Scanned files can become very large, approaching 20 Megabyte or more. If the file is large, and cannot be emailed, PhotoTree.com provides a free upload service through YouSendIt.com. This simple service allows very large file uploads. Contact us for the link that will walk you through the simple steps to upload your file. |
