Photo Restoration
When we receive a photo, the first thing we do is make a copy of it. We never work on the original. We can improve all photos. This doesn’t mean they will look like they did when they first came out of the lab years ago, but they will look significantly better. Though restoration is done on a computer, it is not done automatically. A technician must work with the software to add subtle changes, adjust hues and correct flaws, all by hand. Each photo is given individual attention.
Although color fading can be restored in some pictures, a few will have faded beyond color retrieval. In many cases, it might be a better choice to take the image to black and white to maintain as much contrast and detail as possible. The inks used in the 1970′s did have a tendency to fade out the blues and greens, leaving reds and yellows behind. If the fading hasn’t been too severe, we can bring it back.
We work with whatever image you bring us, whether it is a print, a negative, a slide, or a digital copy of your original. Pictures over 50 years old still can be worked on, even though the silver may have begun to leach out of the print (you can tell by holding the print at an angle to your light and it will have a silver sheen on it). It you have a small print, it usually does not enlarge to a good print more than 50% beyond its original size. There are exceptions; we just need to look at each print individually.
Restoration is not easily done on the home computer. Our technicians are trained in the latest and most powerful software available. We then print out your image to the size you want, using paper and inks that will protect your memories from UV fading and moisture for over 200 years if stored in an archival-quality album, or 100 years if displayed in the home.
