So old and damaged I nearly turned the job down. In fact, other companies had done so! Sometimes I take a look at a photo my initial thoughts are, “no way I am not fixing that”. This was one of those images.
It had been with the client some time and was in desperate need of repair. They required it fixed but without an airbrushing or background replacements, as near to the original as possible. The only caveat was the lack of detail in the foreground.
Old torn and water damaged photo restored
Photos this old and size (around 16 inches) are often on board, almost like a fiberboard and suck up water like a sponge. Once this happens the board swells and softens and is prone to bending and cracking and flaking. All of which had already happened. Photographers were aware that images did not always turn out as they intended and had their own toolbox of fixes waiting in the wings. Just like today, they would have their equivalent of Photoshop on standby. Inks and pencils and dyes were used to outline areas that did not turn out so well, to give depth to a photo. Knowing this I used similar styles to enhance the foreground details so they did not look out of place.
The initial restoration had the seated man in a rocking chair but as the restoration went on I realized it was not the case.
As the restoration went on the feet had to be drawn in and the flooring shaded in such a way it did not look airbrushed. The restoration took far longer than I had hoped but the end result pleased both the client and me. When we are both happy, I am happy! To see what other damage can happen to board based photos see this post on restoring an old photo with flake emulsion.
This year has been one of the longest and toughest yet, thank you all for stopping by the site.
Happy New Year to you all in 2016!
There is a phtograph of my great grandfather and grandmother which is the only one photograph in the entire family. It is damged due to water. Can u please let me know whether they can be restored and also the cost ?
Thank You
I have sent you an email. Thank you for stopping by the photo restoration blog 🙂
Hi I have a picture, that if I take it out of the frame it will rip completely as its stuck to the glass, it’s already been ripped due to trying to peel it off. Can you help?
Hi Lorrieyn, im sure i can help. You can scan this type of photo through the glass. Remove the frame but keep the photo and glass in tact. Clean the front side of the glass and place on a scanner, with each corner of the glass supported by a corner of a business card or similar. Glass touching glass can cause strange patterns called “moire”. This can hinder the restoration process. Then scan your photo as per my 7 step guide. https://www.image-restore.co.uk/blog/seven-steps-making-better-scans/ Posting glass is best avoided if we can. Email the me file when complete and i can take a look for you. I hope this helps. I also sent you private email which bounced. Maybe you there is a typo in your email address?
Hi, I have a photograph that has slight rips due to being taken out the fame due to it being stuck because of water damage to the bottom. Would you be able to help and what would the cost be?
Regards Kerry
I have sent you an email reply. Thanks
I have found a few photographs of my husband’s family that are very bad. If I photograph them and send them by email could you advise me if they can be restored please, and at what cost!?
Thank you.
Sent you an email by reply 🙂
Except that your email bounced, please check it for me. Many thanks