Disappearing Tape

Take a look at your photographs with tape in various areas. Always scan the entire photo to preserve the original image. Then consider cropping out as much of the tape as possible by moving the scanner's selection tool and scanning the smaller section (with less tape showing) at a high enough resolution to print at the size you desire. Photo editing techniques can lighten the tape or make it a different color to help make it disappear. Don't let that tape keep you from preserving those damaged images. If you have to scan a photo taped to an album, look at the tips on other blog posts regarding scanning from albums.

Photos Stuck to Glass

Sometimes photos get stuck to flat glass, sometimes to domed glass. Depending on the situation, it might require a professional's help in scanning if you are facing an issue with curved glass. However, if the glass (with photo stuck to it) will fit your scanner bed, place a transparency sheet down on the glass bed of your scanner. Then carefully place the glass and photo down over the transparency sheet so you don't scratch your scanner's bed. Scan at correct resolution for print size. Then carefully lift the glass and photo. Most of the time there will be problems with color, tears, cracks, or changes in surface texture. If it's a one-of-a-kind photograph, it's better to try and get a good scan before the image degrades any further. Digital editing can be done at any time. Preserving the original should be your prime motivation to scan as soon as possible.

Missing Pieces of a Photograph

This photo has suffered so much damage throughout the years, and the family hoped to recover whatever they could of the darling image before it completely fell apart. Fortunately there is enough of the original to "borrow from" to fill in much of the missing areas because the family was not looking to maintain historical accuracy. Budget constraints might cause you to place limits on the extent of restoration done by a professional. Be sure to fully discuss the options of printing a smaller size, cropping to lessen the area to restore, and any other ideas a specialist might suggest. There is a positive side to this limitation of funds you might be facing. In effect, you will end up with what can be considered a "more historical image" when restoration stops short of perfecting such a photo. No matter what level of restoration you can achieve (or afford to have done), the result will always provide you with the joy of a newly-found image for your family to print and share.

Restoration from a Damaged Negative

Here is a composite layout to emphasize the importance of saving ALL your negatives, no matter how damaged. The wrinkled negative (below left) was scanned. The result of the scan can be seen as the unrestored portion of the photo (above right). The restored portion of the photo demonstrates just how much of an image might be recovered with some heavy-duty restoration techniques. Definitely inspiring to those hoping their one-of-a-kind negatives will yield a photo treasure! A larger negative can be scanned at 2400dpi or even 1200dpi, instead of the usual 3200dpi used for the smaller negatives and slides.

Grainy Photographs with Severe Surface Damage

The original is 3.5" x 4.5" and the family hoped to print this image much larger than it's original size. It isn't the damage that is determining the final print size, but the photo's "texture" or spotted appearance. Were this to be a very sharp original, a slight blurring of the surface would have produced a smoother image ready to print at the desired size. Unfortunately, it is so blurry to begin with that smoothing the surface would harm the final image too much. Printed at a smaller size, the photo looks great hanging on a wall in a wonderful frame. When looking at your old photos, remember that hanging their restored prints on a wall minimizes the appearance of surface texture enough to trick the eye into thinking you must have a marvelous original. Also, consider printing in black and white. The contrast helps "sharpen" the image, as opposed to the softer tones of a sepia print. However, sometimes sepia prints help minimize surface damage. Experiment with printing to see which works best for your image.

Making Photos Fit Frames

Sometimes we come upon photos that need more than restoration of cracks, colors, lighting, etc. Ancestors may have cut these treasured images to fit some old or long-lost frame. If you are facing such a situation, look closely at the edges of your photo to see if parts of the image's edges can be used to "fill" or "create" those missing areas. This family's photo was restored to fit an 8"x10" frame.

Handwriting--to Be or Not to Be

It's such a treat to find identification with a photo, and it's usually written on the back. My husband has received a photo with a family member's handwriting blazing across the prairie sky. At least we know who this incredible woman is! Photo editing software contains tools to either obliterate the writing or enhance it. How you restore the photo is totally up to you. And you may consider using this slick trick scrapbookers use to make a family member more visible--especially when it's just prairie grass stretching for miles all around!

'22 Model T

Even without a date on this photo, the vehicle gives some idea of the time frame since it's a '22. It helped to find photos of this car on the internet so the front fender could be recreated. This little (1-1/2 by 2-3/8 inch) gem was treasured by the man's son who now has a much better 6x9 inch print to share with his family.

Scanning at about 1200dpi or so would have been sufficient to print at the size required (about 4 times the original's size). However, a higher resolution was required so that the scan would include more "good" pixels to fix so many "bad" pixels. When scanning images with more damage, you need to scan at a higher number than normally indicated. Look at the numbers listed on your scanner and choose the next higher number. Scanning at 300dpi means you can print at the same size as the original. A 600dpi scan will give you twice the original's size to print. 900dpi would give you a print three times the original's size, etc.

In some cases a photo can only be rescued by cropping off the most damaged, irretrievable portions and focusing on the main subject. If one of your photos just seems too far gone, beyond the level of expertise you have achieved in your photo restoration skills, then consider that option. OR, if it is a very important one-of-a-kind picture, ask a professional to evaluate it (especially if the part to crop would be the face--NOT an option!!!) before you shove it back into a drawer or box. As you can see from the examples above, there is hope for revealing the hidden details of such incredible glimpses into your ancestors' past.