# AI photo restoration > Upload an old photo and choose a repair direction, optional colorization, Custom text, or one tone reference. Generate one restoration interpretation and compare faces and photographic texture with the original; reconstructed details and colors are not historical facts. Canonical URL: https://imaginescenes.com/ai-photo-restoration ## New-account credits - New accounts receive 40 free credits after signup with Google or GitHub. Use them for generation within 30 days of signup. ## How it works 1. Upload one clear scan or photo of an old print. 2. Choose one of 6 goals in Restore: Natural restore, Damage repair, Portrait clarity, Revive faded colors, Restore & colorize, and Neutral B&W, or open Custom for a description of up to 1,000 characters or one tone reference. Text and reference are mutually exclusive; preset pictures are not sent to the model. 3. Select an aspect ratio (default 1:1) and 1K, 2K, or 4K resolution. Check the displayed credit cost. 4. Generate one image with GPT Image 2.5, compare it with your original, and download it or find it in My Creations. ## Capability boundaries The request aims to preserve recognizable faces, composition, and photographic grain. Generated detail can drift and colorization is an interpretation, not verified historical color. Keep the untouched scan. Severe damage or missing faces may not produce usable results. ## Illustrated examples The page uses fictional source/result pairs and 6 static before/after goal examples, plus three larger comparisons for Damage repair, Revive faded colors, and Restore & colorize. Each comparison links to its matching preset. The three comparisons show light-scratch repair, revival of surviving color in a faded print, and plausible colorization of a monochrome family photo. These are demonstrations, not verified generations from the site provider or guarantees of model quality. ## Frequently asked questions ### How can I restore an old photo without changing the face? Natural restore asks for a gentle repair while retaining facial structure, expression, and film grain. Upload your clearest scan; in Custom, name distinctive features to keep. Compare the eyes, mouth, and hairline with the original. AI can still alter identity, and there is no face lock. A sharper generated face is not proof of a recovered likeness. ### Can AI restore a blurry old photo without making it look artificial? Portrait clarity requests modest improvement to visible facial, hair, and clothing edges while retaining grain and natural texture. Use the original scan rather than a compressed screenshot. Strong blur may leave insufficient detail, so AI can invent a sharper-looking face. A 2K or 4K output does not recover verified information missing from the source. ### Can I repair scratches, stains, and fold marks in an old photo? Damage repair targets light scratches, small stains, and thin fold lines while asking to retain faces, clothing, tones, and grain. Keep an untouched scan for comparison. Large tears, missing faces, and heavily obscured areas can produce guesses. Consider manual restoration when accurate reconstruction matters; this AI workflow cannot guarantee repair of every defect. ### Can I restore faded photo colors without adding new colors? Revive faded colors is designed for an originally colored print. It requests reduced fading and color casts using surviving tones, rather than colorizing a monochrome photo. In Custom, name known colors, such as a blue dress. Compare with the original print or other evidence; AI cannot verify pigments or colors that have completely disappeared. ### Can I restore a black-and-white photo without colorizing it? Natural restore keeps the source's monochrome, sepia, or color treatment. Choose Neutral B&W for restrained gray tones, or use Custom to retain a specific sepia finish. Restore & colorize deliberately adds plausible colors to a separate interpretation. Keep the untouched original; generated colors and details do not establish historical accuracy. ### Should I scan an old photo or upload a phone picture of the print? A clear scan provides more visible detail for photo restoration. A straight-on phone picture can also be used if the whole print is visible with even light and no glare. Upload JPEG, PNG, or WebP and retain the original file. The editor does not provide a dedicated scanning, perspective-correction, or glare-removal control. ### What prompt should I use to restore an old family photo? Describe the damage and what should stay. For example: Reduce light scratches and fading; keep the photo black and white, with the same faces, expressions, clothing, background, and film grain. Custom accepts up to 1,000 characters or one tone reference, used separately. The reference guides finish, not missing facial identity or factual color recovery. ### Can I restore old photos online for free? You can explore the restoration editor without an account; generation requires sign-in and credits. New accounts receive 40 credits for 30 days. Check the displayed cost before submitting. Failed generation returns credits, while a successfully generated image you dislike still uses them. Another repair attempt is a separate request, so restoration is not unlimited or guaranteed usable. ## Related photo tools - https://imaginescenes.com/ai-career-portrait-generator - https://imaginescenes.com/ai-90s-photo-generator - https://imaginescenes.com/ai-age-transformation - https://imaginescenes.com/ai-background-changer Updated: 2026-10-01