Photo Restoration

Giving a new lease of life to old faded photo's from days gone by. There are several ways to enhance an old print such as fixing a colour cast, contrast, sharpening, removing spots and scratches etc - but you cannot fix blur. If your photo is blurred it will always be blurred..... This gallery updated frequently.
Read More
  • 1940's

    1940's

    My nan (Emily) back in the 1940's. Has a light-leak on the right but doesn't spoil the picture so I left it. Reduced saturation, sharpened and boosted contrast. Nice result for such a lovely lady, was still a schoolboy when she died in July 1974 aged 62 - RIP nan x.

  • Late 60's

    Late 60's

    Staff at Lewis Springs factory posing for a Christmas photo around 1968. Given a colour boost as quite faded, dust and scratches removed then sharpened.

  • Early 1950's

    Early 1950's

    My mother and her friend around 1952. Verticals straightened, spots removed, bit of clarity added and balance between lights and darks boosted.

  • 1950

    1950

    My mothers dog when she was a schoolgirl, he was called Spot. Another photo from my nans old albums. Photo could possibly be from late 1940s.

  • Late 60's

    Late 60's

    Christmas party photo given a contrast and colour boost then spots removed and sharpened.

  • 1949/50

    1949/50

    My uncle Reg with Spot.

  • Late 1940s

    Late 1940s

    My mother and her dog lovingly restored.

  • 1980

    1980

    Badly damaged photo from The Night Out theatre restaurant (Birmingham) in July 1980, restored to an acceptable level. Not going to tell you which act we were watching, they had several hits during late 70's and early 80's - much too embarrassing....... go on have a guess.

  • 1952

    1952

    Spots removed, contrast boost and sharpened. My mother in her teen years. RIP Love you.

  • Possibly 1940's

    Possibly 1940's

    Another from my nans album, slightly cropped, converted to black & white then given a subtle hint of sepiatone. Contrast boosted and eyes sharpened.

  • Early 1950's

    Early 1950's

    Barbara my mothers lifelong friend. Old faded photo lovingly restored giving it a much fresher look. I didn't get to meet her till the 90's, definitely a woman you don't forget easily - RIP Barb.

  • 1969

    1969

    Party picture was faded with age, colour and contrast boosted then sharpened slightly. It's one of those occasions when I wish I could turn back time, there's no way I'd be wearing that pink hat - party or no party!

  • 1985/6

    1985/6

    Mom & me. Photo had a horrible red cast so de-saturated and whitened the background for when you know a colour correction isn't going to work to an acceptable level. Given a subtle yellow tint, adjusted highlights and a little sharpening, looks much cleaner.

  • Late 70's

    Late 70's

    An old washed-out photo of a handsome dude, judging by the TV it was probably late 1970s. Given an overall boost and spots removed.

  • 1952

    1952

    Faded picture of my dad eating grapes, removed distractions and light leak, given some clarity, straightened the horizon, looks much better.

  • 1981

    1981

    Taken in Paris, facial features blown out by flash. Some detail restored, spots removed and flash reflection on woodwork reduced.

  • 1967/8

    1967/8

    Don't you just hate school photo time? Levelled off the balance between lights and darks to give a better exposure, sharpened slightly. The problem with scanning heavy matt paper from this era is you actually scan the paper texture too which is annoying.

  • 1983

    1983

    Taken in London in 1983, photo has a nasty red colour cast. Colour fixed and verticals straightened, bit blurred but can't fix that. Can anyone remember Big Ben when it wasn't covered in scaffolding?

  • 1983

    1983

    Took my young cousin to Wembley Stadium to watch England. Red colour cast removed, verticals straightened then dehazed. Still can't remember who we were playing but we won 2-0.

  • 1982

    1982

    Taken in very dark underground caves in Greece, photo looked flat and lacked any impact. Not perfect but much improved with clarity, now some detail can be seen.

  • 1986

    1986

    Taken in Paris (obviously) photo was muddy and flat, cleaned up the highlights and opened the shadows then given a tighter crop to remove distracting lamp on the feft. Photo a bit blurry but looks much cleaner.

  • 1991

    1991

    My 4 year old nephew learning to ride a bike. Red colour cast removed, shadows lightened and a little sharpening for a cleaner crisp look. There's no doubt that the cheap, crappy instamatic film camera used on this picture leaves a horrible colour cast. You'll get fantastic photo's these days using a DSLR, entry or pro level camera, makes little difference.

  • 1969

    1969

    Well there's always one show-off isn't there, glad I'm sat at the back. This photo was faded and flat, lacked any impact. Given a much needed bit of punch.

  • 1985

    1985

    Christmas Day in Benidorm. Photo was flat and hazy , colour restored, clarity boosted, spots removed, now has much more impact.

  • 1985

    1985

    Christmas in Benidorm. Photo faded over time, given a clarity boost, spots removed, verticals straightened and vibrance restored, finally cropped to give the photo greater impact. Over 30 years ago but you don't tend to forget getting chucked out of the hotel and having to sleep on the beach, still the temp was about 66 degrees - no problem.

  • 1986

    1986

    Colour cast removed, clarity boosted and slightly sharpened. Drinking guinness in Paris - photobombed! The guy 2nd left was definitely not with us.

  • 1984

    1984

    Detail restored as this old photo looked flat and lifeless. Hired boat on River Thames back in the spring of 84.

  • 1984

    1984

    Red colour cast reduced, shadow area lightened, spots removed, despeckled and sharpened. You were not allowed to drive the boat after dark and river police were there to enforce it, we always managed to moor outside a pub.... Oh Steve we forgot to mention that you have snooker chalk on your nose, yeah right!

  • 1986

    1986

    Paris in 1986, colours in the photo were washed out and has a red light leak at the top and a saturation boost looked fake. Converted to mono and given a sepia vintage look for a cleaner appearance.

  • 1979

    1979

    On the bridge in Stratford upon Avon. This photo was drained of colour over time so distracting litter removed, given a clarity boost and a nostalgic vintage look.

  • 1982

    1982

    Whoever took the photo of this handsome hunk (I can't remember) used flash which has blown out the highlights, image cropped, colour corrected and given a contrast boost and little sharpening, now has a bit more impact.

  • 1962/3

    1962/3

    So I did get to meet Santa around 1962/3. Old faded photo washed out and lifeless. Given a contrast & clarity boost, few spots removed, now has more definition and would now make a decent print.

  • 1945

    1945

    VE day celebrations in July 1945. Instantly recognised my mother as an 8 year old directly behind the girl front right. Photo was in bad condition, done what I could to improve it.

  • 1951

    1951

    No idea who he is, no doubt my nan would know if she was still here.

  • 1977

    1977

    Sealink Ferry (remember those?) Old photo was flat and lifeless, now given a new fresher look.

  • 1973

    1973

    Beautiful Judy (1969 - 1982) enjoying a bone in the garden. Photo was dull and flat, highlights brightened and shadows opened, given some clarity, looks much better.

  • 1979 - 1981 (Not sure)

    1979 - 1981 (Not sure)

    Given a tighter crop to remove distractions and improve composition, dehazed and sharpened. Me and my dog Judy.

  • Late 70's

    Late 70's

    My old man clearly having a good time. This old photo had a nasty red colour cast but was otherwise in decent condition, taken in Minehead around 1977/78.

  • Early 1950's

    Early 1950's

    My mom on the right with her lifelong friend Barbara during their teenage years, doing a bit of gardening by the looks of it. 2 lovely ladies RIP. Dirt spots and yellow cast removed, sharpened slightly.

  • 1951

    1951

    Dirt and bend marks removed with cloning, shame the photo is a bit blurred but you can't fix that successfully.

  • 1956

    1956

    Mom & dads wedding in March 1956, the little guy is my much older cousin.

  • Early 1950's

    Early 1950's

    Looks like a picnic, my mother around 1952/3 in Evesham. Photo given some clarity to bring more detail out of her face and dress.

  • Mid 1960's

    Mid 1960's

    Leaving work?, spots and scratches removed, contrast and clarity boosted then sharpened. My late mother on the left and her best friend Janet.

  • 1969

    1969

    Still got the same show-off only at the back now, gotta laugh. My dear mother pouring the drinks - lovingly restored.

  • Photo Sharing
  • About SmugMug
  • Browse Photos
  • Prints & Gifts
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Owner Log In
© 2023 SmugMug, Inc.

    Buy this photo

    1983
    1982
    1986