Types of Photo Damage
Physical photographs suffer many types of damage:
Surface Damage
- Scratches from handling
- Scuffs from storage
- Fingerprint marks
- Dust embedded in emulsion
Structural Damage
- Tears and rips
- Creases and folds
- Corners bent or missing
- Photos stuck together
Environmental Damage
- Water stains
- Mold or mildew spots
- Heat damage (warping)
- Light fading
AI restoration can address most of these issues.
What You'll Need
- Your damaged photo
- Scanner or phone camera
- AI restoration tool (we'll use RevivePhoto)
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Assess the Damage
Before scanning, examine your photo:
- What type of damage is present?
- How severe is it?
- Are faces/key areas affected?
Step 2: Scan Carefully
For damaged photos:
- Don't force flat - scan as-is
- Use glass to gently flatten if safe
- Scan at high resolution (600+ DPI)
- Include damaged areas (don't crop yet)
Step 3: Upload and Restore
- Go to revivephoto.app
- Upload your scanned image
- Let AI analyze and repair damage
Step 4: Review Results
Check that:
- Scratches are removed
- Torn areas are reconstructed
- Faces remain natural
- Important details preserved
Damage-Specific Tips
Scratches
- Usually repair very well
- AI fills in from surrounding area
- Light scratches nearly invisible after
Tears
- AI reconstructs missing portions
- Works better with simple backgrounds
- Faces torn in half are challenging
Creases
- Fold lines often fully removed
- Multiple creases take more processing
- White crease lines disappear well
Water Damage
- Stains usually reduced significantly
- Complete removal depends on severity
- Warped areas remain challenging
Fading
- Often fully restored
- Colors may shift slightly
- Details emerge from faded areas
Before and After Expectations
Minor Damage
Before: Light scratches, small spots
After: Nearly perfect, damage invisible
Moderate Damage
Before: Significant scratches, creases, fading
After: Major improvement, minor traces may remain
Severe Damage
Before: Tears through subjects, heavy damage
After: Reconstructed but may have artifacts
When AI Struggles
- Missing faces: AI can't recreate what wasn't captured
- Large missing sections: More guesswork required
- Fine detail destruction: Some detail permanently lost
- Severe warping: Physical distortion hard to correct
Preserving After Restoration
Once you have your restored digital file:
Digital Preservation
- Back up to multiple locations
- Use high-quality file formats
- Store originals separately
Physical Copies
- Print on archival paper
- Frame behind UV glass
- Store prints properly
Original Photo
- Store in acid-free materials
- Keep away from light/heat
- Consider professional conservation for very valuable photos
Common Issues
Problem: Restoration looks blurry
Solution: Original may have been low quality. Try higher resolution scan.
Problem: AI filled in wrong details
Solution: For major reconstruction, AI guesses. May need manual editing.
Problem: Some scratches remain
Solution: Very light scratches may need higher contrast scan. Try adjusting scan settings.
Conclusion
AI photo restoration makes repairing damaged photographs accessible to everyone. Images you thought were ruined can often be saved, preserving precious memories for future generations.
The key is getting a good scan and having realistic expectations for severely damaged photos.