How to digitize and restore old photos

Printed photos degrade over time — colors shift, paper yellows, and physical damage accumulates. Digitizing your prints is the first step to preserving them forever; restoring them with AI is the second.

Step 1: Choose your scanning method

Flatbed scanner (best quality)

A flatbed scanner gives the most consistent, distortion-free results. Scan at 600 DPI for standard 4×6 prints. For very small or heavily damaged prints, use 1200 DPI.

Good budget options: Epson Perfection V39, Canon CanoScan LIDE 300. Both are under $80 and produce excellent results for family photos.

Smartphone scanning app (good enough)

Apps like Microsoft Lens, Google PhotoScan, or Apple's built-in scanner (iOS 16+) can produce usable results. Place the print on a flat, well-lit surface and avoid shadows. Results will be slightly softer than a flatbed scan but acceptable for AI restoration.

Avoid direct photography

Taking a photo of a photo with your camera often introduces glare, perspective distortion, and moiré patterns (especially on glossy prints). Use a scanning app instead — it corrects for these automatically.

Step 2: Prepare your scans

Clean the glass — a smudge on the scanner glass appears as a blur on every scan.
Flatten curled prints — place under heavy books overnight before scanning.
Save as TIFF or high-quality JPG — avoid aggressive compression before restoration.
Don't crop too tightly — leave a small border so the AI has context at the edges.

Step 3: Restore with AI

Once digitized, AI restoration handles the heavy lifting:

Repair damage — scratches, spots, and torn areas are filled in automatically.
Colorize — realistic colors added to black-and-white or faded prints.
Enhance faces — facial details sharpened even in low-resolution originals.
Upscale 4× — the final file is enlarged without blurring, suitable for large prints.

Step 4: Store and share

After restoration, keep your files in at least two places:

Cloud backup — Google Photos, iCloud, or Amazon Photos (the latter offers unlimited original-quality photo storage for Prime members).
External hard drive — keep one copy offline in case of account issues.
Share with family — Google Photos shared albums make it easy to distribute copies to relatives.

Try restoration now

Upload your scanned photo and see a free watermarked preview in 1–3 minutes. Start restoring — no account needed, pay only if you like the result.

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FAQ

What is the best way to digitize old photos?

A flatbed scanner at 600 DPI is the best option for most family photos. It gives consistent focus, even lighting, and less distortion than a phone photo.

Can I restore a phone scan?

Yes, but results are usually better from a scanner. If using a phone, use a scanning app and avoid glare or angled perspective.

Should I digitize before restoring?

Yes. Always create a clean digital copy first, then run restoration on that file. Keep the original scan as your archive version.