Old Photo Restoration

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PhilipHowe
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Old Photo Restoration

Post by PhilipHowe »

Hi, I didn't want to post this in Film, as I don't think it is.

I have been asked by a colleague at work about any recommendations on photo restoration. She has an A3 photo that is curled and broken in places. We don't feel we have a good enough scanner to do it justice. It was taken in the 20s and I will try and get a digital copy when it's complete to show you all. I have googled photo restoration and found a few places, but i was mainly looking for a recommendation, if any of you have used one of these services.

Thanks.
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Re: Old Photo Restoration

Post by PhilipHowe »

Can I add to my question that she would like to print out the resulting photo at 60cm x 40cm (or 24"x16"), preferably on archival paper?
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John
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Re: Old Photo Restoration

Post by John »

Having this restored by a company would likely be very expensive. I would make a copy using your DSLR and then sort out the restoration in Photoshop. After that, you can upload the file to someone like Peak Imaging and they will make an archival print on a variety of papers.

As a general rule I wouldn't try to increase the size of the copy over the original, but that very much depends on the state of the original and the type of content.
Best regards

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Re: Old Photo Restoration

Post by PhilipHowe »

John, thank you, I'll check them out.
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Re: Old Photo Restoration

Post by Pensioner »

Phil,

Not meaning to boast but I've done many restorations with some notable success. It's isn't a simple task and consequently firms charge an arm and a leg as it's pure labour - but you'll pay for that knowledge of the restorer plus their labour. It depends on the amount of work that's needed.

I agree with John on one option - the DSLR route. Another would be the scanner route - if you haven't got an A3 scanner, slice the photo into 4 quarters and scan each one individually (once the restoration is done your friend won't be displaying the old one anyway so slicing it shouldn't be a problem - the slices could be kept for later work) then use PS jigger-pokery to merge them together and complete the job.

As a one off I would take a look at the original and see what needs to be done if you want.

Barry
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Re: Old Photo Restoration

Post by Janice Freeman »

PLEASE do not slice up the original photo. There is nothing more precious than original memories and in my opinion it is better to have a worn and faded original than a restored photo. By all means restore it - but the original should remain intact,

Janice

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Re: Old Photo Restoration

Post by John »

It's simple enough to scan each quarter of a picture without cutting it up. I agree with Janice that the original is precious. If it's kept intact it can always be scanned again when techniques have improved.
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Re: Old Photo Restoration

Post by Tracey McGovern »

Phil

I have got access to an A3 scanner, do you want me to get it scanned for you then you can decide if you want to have a go at processing it yourself? At least that way you can process it as a whole picture and not in quarters.

Let me know.

Tracey
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Re: Old Photo Restoration

Post by PhilipHowe »

Thanks all. She has decided to send it away, and it has already gone!

I didn't fancy having a go myself, as the photo has four people on it and the main crease in the photo goes right through one of them head to toe. She wouldn't tell me how much she is paying for it and I probably don't want to know.

Barry and Tracey, thank you both for your offers. I do agree with you Janice, I wouldn't be in a rush to slice it up, but it's her decision.

I'll try and get a copy when it's done and post it, it is a great photo and full of sentiment for her and her family.

Thanks again.
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"Twelve significant photographs in any one year is a good crop" -Ansel Adams and Philip Howe
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