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AAbner's avatar
AAbner
Iron Contributor
Jan 22, 2026

What is the best AI tool for restoring old photos?

Hi everyone, I just digitalized hundreds of old photos and some of them didn't look good. I heard these blurred images can be repaired or enhanced with AI tools. I want to digitally restore a collec...
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JacobBrown's avatar
JacobBrown
Iron Contributor
Jan 22, 2026

When using AI photo restoration tools to repair old or damaged photographs, following a scientific step-by-step process maximises restoration effectiveness while balancing precision with the original texture of the image. Adhering to the steps provided will enable you to efficiently utilise AI tools for restoration.

How to Use AI Photo Restoration Tools

  • Prioritise using a scanner to avoid image distortion and reflections.

  • Set resolution to 600 DPI or higher, saving in lossless TIFF or PNG formats.

  • Remove dust and blemishes using an image editor.

  • Straighten skewed photos and crop excess borders.

  • Repair tears, scratches, and creases first to ensure image integrity.

  • Employ AI upscaling to sharpen blurred details.

  • (For black-and-white photos only): Employ AI auto-colourisation to restore period authenticity.

  • Adjust brightness and contrast using AI's built-in tools to achieve tonal balance.

  • Fine-tune colour balance to correct oversaturation from AI colourisation.

  • Introduce subtle grain to prevent overly ‘perfect’ appearance, recreating vintage photo texture.

  • Make subtle adjustments to overall lighting and colour tones to match the photograph's original style.

By following this process, AI photo restoration tools can precisely repair damage, enhance image quality, and preserve the original charm of the photograph to the greatest extent possible, breathing new life into old and damaged photographs.

 

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