Photo Restoration
We can repair digital copies of your vintage photographs, returning them to their 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. Download the Mailing Tip PDF.
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 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" x 6", e.g. Cabinet Card) |
600 DPI |
Small (2" x 4", e.g. CDV) |
600 or 1200 DPI |
Very Small (2" x 2" 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
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. |
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Restoration Samples
Sending the File - Email or Upload
Scanned files can become very large, approaching 20 Megabyte or more. If the file is large (> 10MB), and cannot be emailed, we can arrange to send it via Dropbox.
Costs
A firm quote will be provided from a scan of your photo before work starts. A low resolution scan is usually sufficient for the quote. As a general rule, restoration is usually between $30 and $100.00, depending on the amount of restoration required (plus shipping). PhotoTree can deliver a photographic print of the restored image and digital images in multple sizes
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