Image Utilities
Restore Old Photos with AI
Old prints fade, pick up scratches and lose detail. There isn't one restore button in PixeLift: you restore a photo with the AI Photo Enhancer, for sharpness and detail, and Colorize, if you want color. This page explains the order that works and what AI can and can't repair.
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How do I restore an old photo?
Make a good copy of the print with a scanner or a phone, then upload it to the AI Photo Enhancer in the PixeLift web app to sharpen it and bring back detail. If you want color, run the result through Colorize. Take out a date stamp with Remove Text, and keep the original scan.
- Make a good copy of the print with a scanner or a phone (tips below).
- Upload the copy to the AI Photo Enhancer in Image Utilities.
- If the photo is black and white and you want color, run the enhanced version through Colorize.
- Take out a date stamp with Remove Text, or a mark with Remove Object, if you need to.
- Compare the result with the original using the Before / After button and save it. Keep the original scan as well.
What resolution should I scan old photos at?
300 DPI keeps a print at its own size; the Library of Congress recommends it for 4x6 to 8x10 photos. Scan at 600 DPI if you want to enlarge the photo or restore fine detail. Going higher makes the file bigger but rarely adds detail from a print. Scan in color, even for black-and-white photos, and turn off the scanner's own sharpening and restore filters.
- With a phone: lay the print flat in even daylight, switch off the flash, hold the phone straight above it and avoid glare and digital zoom.
- Clean the scanner glass, and don't force curled or stuck photos flat.
Work out the setting for the size you want to print with the print size calculator
What can AI fix in an old photo?
- Fading and dull, washed-out color.
- Soft, slightly blurry detail.
- Small scratches, dust and specks.
What can't AI restore?
AI can't faithfully rebuild a piece that has torn away, recover a face that has no detail left, or know the real colors of a black-and-white scene. When detail is missing, the AI invents something that looks plausible, and it may not match the person or place. Always compare the result with the original.
Keep the original
Save the untouched scan next to the restored version. The restored photo is a new picture, not a replacement, and you may want to try again later.
More questions
Will the faces still look like my family?
Usually, when the face still has some detail. When a face is tiny or badly damaged, the AI has to guess, so compare the result with the original before you print or share it.
Do I need a scanner?
No. A phone photo of a flat, evenly lit print works. A scanner usually keeps more detail.
Should I add color?
That's up to you. Colorize gives a natural-looking result, but the colors are the AI's best guess.
Can I restore many photos at once?
Not in one go. The web app works on one photo at a time, so a box of prints means one upload per photo.
Can I restore old photos on my phone?
Yes. The web app works in your phone's browser, and the PixeLift app for iPhone and iPad has its own photo enhancer for old photos.
Using the tools needs credits or a plan: see pricing. The rules for what you may edit are in the Acceptable Use Policy.
Guides on restoring old photos
Repair faded, scratched and soft old prints, and add color to black-and-white ones. Start with the photo restoration guide, which links to every article on the topic.
Try it on your own photo
You need a free account. Results have no watermark, and you can compare them with your original before you save.