Scratches, creases, fading: where to begin

Separate the damage from the capture

First check whether a bright stripe is damage or just a reflection. Retake the photo in soft light from another position. Clean your phone’s camera lens and keep the whole print in focus. If the mark moves or disappears in the new capture, you may not need to repair it at all.

Work on the copy

Don’t try to make the original look cleaner with tape, glue or household cleaning products. If handling it causes damage, stop and seek advice from a photograph conservator. Use a digital copy for experiments, and keep an untouched version of that file.

A flatbed scan can help when the print lies flat comfortably. A phone photograph may be more practical when a print is mounted or part of an album. Never flatten a fragile photograph by force just to fit your equipment.

Restore, then inspect the important parts

Upload your best copy to PicRenew and choose a restoration style. Compare the result with the source, paying particular attention to faces and to the parts crossed by creases. Removing the appearance of a scratch and recovering the exact lost detail are not the same thing.

Where the source contains little information, AI may create a plausible replacement. If a smile or an eye looks unfamiliar, try another style or improve the scan. Severe damage may call for a specialist’s manual work.

Save a version for sharing

Keep the original file, the restoration and any notes about the people in the picture. Make a separate copy for sharing so that you can always return to your best saved file. For the physical print, consider a suitable protective enclosure and display a copy when possible.