How Does Photo Restoration Work?

Every new photo restoration client asks three questions:

 

1. “Can you do anything with my photo?”
2. “How does photo restoration work?”
3. “How much does this cost?”

 

The answers to #1 and #3 depend entirely on your photo and its chemistry. Our experts need to evaluate your original photo–including any damage–and develop a treatment plan that aligns with your photo goals. Every project is a little different, and we can’t force your images into a “one size fits all” box. We want to give your piece the care and attention it deserves.

 

So, what about #2? How does photo restoration work? It can seem scary to leave your precious photos with someone, especially if you’ve never worked with them before. We get it. That’s why we strive to educate our clients as well as make it easy for you. We want you to feel comfortable and excited about your project. Before we jump into the details, we first need to know your photo goal.

What Do You Want to Do with Your Photo?

daguerreotypes
I want to display the original.

Who doesn’t? A beautiful original photo is a unique work of art. Our clients are so proud of their images and family history. It’s rewarding to repair, clean, and preserve an original for your walls, tabletops, and bookcases. It’s important to understand that restoring an original does not mean it will look brand new. The damage becomes a part of the photo’s history and may still be visible to the human eye under close scrutiny. It is a painstaking and skilled process. When working with an original, the full conservation treatment from start to finish (display) must be considered.  In fact, some photos are not candidates for original restoration at all. But leave the assessment to an expert. It’s rare that a photograph can’t be saved. If you’re looking for perfection, you may want to consider a restored reproduction.

Tinting or Colorizing a Photo
I want it to look new.

This is where the artistic magic happens. With this type of photo restoration, we turn your image into a digital negative and create a restored reproduction. The final image looks better than ever. In fact, some people will think it is the original–that’s how good it is. With a restored reproduction, you are able to reprocess the photo (correct fading, color correct, add tinting, turn it black and white, retouch imperfections, etc.). You can also make copies to share with family, friends, and institutions. These copies are printed on archival photo exhibition paper that will outlast all of us, as long as you take care of it. It’s not the original, but it is the next best (or better) thing.

photo solutions
I want digital files and storage for the original.

If you want to condense and preserve, digital files and storage are the way to go. With digital files, you can easily share images with your family and view the images you don’t want to display. You can put them on a thumb drive or cloud service. After the photos and negatives are digitized, you can store them in an album or museum box. You can enjoy them in modern digital photo frames or picture books. Whatever you do, please don’t throw them away! Digital formats change all of the time (we’re looking at you, floppy disk), or you may run into technical difficulties (i.e. deleting or crashing). You may need to refer to them again in the future.

Once we establish your photo goal, it’s time to look at the photo itself.

Process

Assess Damage – This is arguably the most important part of the photo restoration process. Your photos are living, breathing documents absorbing environmental factors and showing signs of wear and tear. We need to know exactly what we’re dealing with in order to accurately restore the photo. We’ll analyze the photochemistry, study the damage, and evaluate the overall health of the piece. From there, we develop a treatment plan.

 

Treatment Plan – After assessing the photo, we will discuss restoration options. Some photographs are straightforward. There may only be one course of action. Others can be tricky and require multiple steps or options. Many times, we’ll run a small test before committing. We develop this plan based on our assessment and your goals. For instance, if you want your original photograph restored and want a restored reproduction for sharing, our treatment plan will reflect both options. Once we agree on how to proceed, we’ll confirm a timeline and get to work.

 

Restoration – If we’re restoring an original, our conservator will complete her cleaning or repair. If our project is a restored reproduction, we will use our large format copy system to photograph your piece to create a digital negative. From there, we restore your photo by hand using a mixture of traditional dark room and modern digital techniques. Our Coyle method does take time, but it delivers outstanding results.

 

Display or Store – Most original photo restorations need to be encapsulated for their specific chemistry. The repair needs to be protected and stabilized. The best way to do this is by creating the housing with framing as the support. If you have your original frame, always leave the artwork in it for travel. If you are not framing the photo, our conservator will create a custom conservation storage system just for your piece. If you have a restored reproduction, we will custom frame your image or give you an archival print for you to keep or share.

 

Enjoy! – This is the best part. The before and after. The piece you brought in is nothing compared to the photo you’re taking home. It is so exciting to see a piece of your family history come to life. Everyone is going to love it (they may even be a little jealous). Enjoy your moment.

Q&A

Will I get my original photos back?

 

Absolutely! Everything is returned back to you. We even recycle the backing off of old frames when possible . You will receive your originals and anything that came with it.

 

What does “digitize” mean?

 

Digitize means creating a digital file. We will either photograph or scan your pieces to turn them into a digital file (i.e. digitize). You view this file on your computer, phone, tablets, television, etc. We will give you a high-resolution file between 300 – 400 dpi or larger by request.

 

What does “dpi” mean?

 

DPI = dots per inch. In photography, the more dots, the better the image. A poor dpi is 250 and below. Cell phones usually shoot between 72 – 150 dpi, depending on the model and settings. When we return images, they are usually between 300 – 400 dpi. This resolution is what most people want. It opens well on a computer and is of high enough quality for printing. A great dpi is 600+, and while this is an extremely high resolution, it is a larger file size that takes up more space and can take longer to load on many systems. Our working files are 600 dpi or larger. We downsize for delivery and ease of use.

 

What can I do with the image?

 

Anything you want. You can custom frame a photo, share multiple photos, create a photo book, or use them for another project. If you’re looking for ideas, we’d be happy to brainstorm with you.

 

Are all companies the same?

 

Unfortunately, no. Some companies complete work in-house, while other companies send their work out of state or overseas (we’ve heard some horror stories about this). A professional will be insured and guarantee their work. At Coyle Studios, our team of experts work on your project in-house. We are insured, and we treat every photograph as if it is one of our own. If you’re not happy, we’re not happy. We live to create the best photo restoration projects in the country.

 

Still asking yourself, “How does photo restoration work?” Contact us and find out.