Are your old photos looking faded or damaged? Do you wish you could restore them to their former glory? Fortunately, there are several photo restoration software options available that can help you bring your beloved memories back to life.
In this blog post, we will review some of the best photo restoration software on the market and help you choose the right one for your needs. Whether you are a professional photographer or just looking to restore a few personal photos, there is a software option out there for you.
You can always use the default photo editor on your mac but it will have a lot of limitations.
What is meant by photo restoration ?
Photo restoration is the process of repairing or enhancing the appearance of a photograph that has been damaged or degraded over time.
This can include fixing cracks, scratches, and tears on a physical photograph, as well as correcting discoloration, fading, and other types of deterioration that can occur as a result of age, exposure to light, or other environmental factors.
Photo restoration can also involve enhancing the overall appearance of a photograph, such as adjusting the color balance or removing blemishes, to give it a more vibrant and lifelike appearance.
Photo restoration software can be used to automate many of these tasks, making it easier and faster to restore damaged or faded photographs.
How to restore old photos ?
There are several steps you can take to restore old photos:
- Gather your materials: You will need a high-quality scanner or camera, as well as photo restoration software and any other tools or materials you might need, such as a soft cloth or cotton swabs.
- Scan or photograph the photo: Use a high-resolution scanner or camera to digitize the photo. This will allow you to work with the image on your computer and make any necessary edits.
- Open the photo in your restoration software: Load the photo into your photo restoration software and assess the damage. Look for scratches, tears, discoloration, and other issues that you will need to fix.
- Make basic repairs: Use the tools in your software to fix any scratches, tears, or blemishes on the photo. You may also need to adjust the color balance or contrast to make the photo look more vibrant.
- Add any desired enhancements: Depending on your goals, you may want to enhance the photo further. This could include adding filters or special effects, or even retouching specific areas of the photo.
- Save and print the restored photo: Once you are satisfied with the results, save the restored photo and consider printing it out to enjoy in physical form.
It’s important to note that restoring old photos can be a time-consuming process, and the results may not be perfect. However, with the right tools and a bit of patience, you can often significantly improve the appearance of your old photos and bring back memories from the past.
Which are the top 5 best photo restoration software
There are many photo restoration software options available, and the best choice for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences. Here are five top photo restoration software options to consider:
Adobe Photoshop: Best photo restoration software but with a learning curve
Adobe Photoshop is a powerful and feature-rich photo editing software that is widely used by professionals and enthusiasts alike. It offers a range of tools and features specifically designed for photo restoration, including the ability to fix scratches, blemishes, and discoloration, as well as make more complex adjustments to color, contrast, and other aspects of the image.
Pros:
- Comprehensive toolset: Adobe Photoshop offers a wide range of tools and features specifically designed for photo restoration, including the ability to fix scratches, blemishes, and discoloration, as well as make more complex adjustments to color, contrast, and other aspects of the image.
- Widely used and supported: Adobe Photoshop is a well-established software that is used by many professional photographers and graphic designers, so it is widely supported and there is a wealth of online resources and tutorials available for learning how to use it.
- Works on various platforms: Adobe Photoshop is available for both Windows and Mac, so you can use it on whichever platform you prefer.
Cons:
- Subscription-based pricing: Adobe Photoshop is available as part of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite of tools, which requires a subscription fee to use. This may be a drawback for some users who prefer to purchase software outright.
- Complex interface: Adobe Photoshop has a very comprehensive toolset, which can make it somewhat overwhelming for users who are new to photo editing. It may take some time to learn how to use all of the features and tools effectively.
- High system requirements: Adobe Photoshop is a resource-intensive software that requires a powerful computer to run smoothly. This may be an issue for users with older or lower-powered systems.
Overall, Adobe Photoshop is a powerful and feature-rich photo restoration software that is well-suited for professional photographers and enthusiasts who need a comprehensive toolset for repairing and enhancing their photos. However, the subscription-based pricing and complex interface may be a drawback for some users.
Corel Paintshop Pro
Corel Paintshop Pro is a comprehensive photo editing software that includes a range of tools for restoring and enhancing photos. It offers features such as the ability to fix scratches and blemishes, restore color and contrast, and even remove unwanted objects from the photo.
Here are some pros and cons of using Corel Paintshop Pro for photo restoration:
Pros:
- Wide range of restoration tools: Corel Paintshop Pro offers a range of tools for fixing scratches, blemishes, and other damage, as well as for restoring color and contrast to faded or discolored photos.
- User-friendly interface: Corel Paintshop Pro has a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate, making it a good choice for users who are new to photo editing.
- Affordable: Corel Paintshop Pro is available at a lower price point than some other photo editing software, which may make it more appealing to users on a budget.
Cons:
- Limited support for raw files: Corel Paintshop Pro does not have native support for raw files, which can be a drawback for users who prefer to work with raw files instead of JPEGs or TIFFs.
- Limited compatibility with other software: Corel Paintshop Pro is not as widely used as some other photo editing software, which can make it difficult to find online resources or tutorials if you need help with a specific feature. It may also not be as compatible with other software as some other options.
Overall, Corel Paintshop Pro is a good choice for users who are looking for an affordable and user-friendly photo restoration software that offers a range of tools for repairing and enhancing photos. However, the lack of support for raw files and limited compatibility with other software may be a drawback for some users.
GIMP
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free and open-source photo editing software that is popular among users who want a powerful tool without the cost of a subscription. It offers a range of features for photo restoration, including the ability to fix scratches and blemishes, adjust color and contrast, and remove unwanted objects from the photo.
Here are some pros and cons of using GIMP for photo restoration:
Pros:
- Free and open-source: GIMP is free to download and use, which can be a significant advantage for users who are on a budget or prefer not to commit to a subscription-based service.
- Wide range of restoration tools: GIMP offers a range of tools for fixing scratches, blemishes, and other damage, as well as for adjusting color and contrast and removing unwanted objects from the photo.
- Works on various platforms: GIMP is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, so you can use it on whichever platform you prefer.
Cons:
- Complex interface: GIMP has a somewhat complex interface that may be overwhelming for users who are new to photo editing. It may take some time to learn how to use all of the features and tools effectively.
- Limited support and resources: As an open-source software, GIMP may not have the same level of support and resources as some other photo editing software. This can make it more difficult to find help or guidance if you run into any issues.
PhotoWorks
PhotoWorks is a standalone photo restoration software that is specifically designed to help users repair and enhance their photos. It offers a range of tools for fixing scratches, blemishes, and other damage, as well as for adjusting color and contrast and adding special effects to the photo.
Here are some pros and cons of using PhotoWorks for photo restoration:
Pros:
- Focused on restoration: PhotoWorks is specifically designed for photo restoration, so it includes a range of tools and features that are tailored to repairing and enhancing damaged or faded photos.
- User-friendly interface: PhotoWorks has a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate, making it a good choice for users who are new to photo editing.
- Standalone software: PhotoWorks is a standalone software that does not require a subscription or any other software to be installed in order to use it. This can be a convenient option for users who do not want to commit to a subscription or install additional software.
Cons:
- Limited support for raw files: PhotoWorks does not have native support for raw files, which can be a drawback for users who prefer to work with raw files instead of JPEGs or TIFFs.
- Limited compatibility with other software: PhotoWorks is not as widely used or supported as some other photo editing software, which can make it difficult to find online resources or tutorials if you need help with a specific feature. It may also not be as compatible with other software as some other options.
Fotor
Fotor is a photo editing software that includes a range of features for restoring and enhancing photos. It offers tools for fixing scratches, blemishes, and discoloration, as well as for adjusting color, contrast, and other aspects of the image. It also includes a range of filters and effects that can be applied to the photo to give it a unique look.
Here are some pros and cons of using Fotor for photo restoration:
Pros:
- Wide range of restoration tools: Fotor offers tools for fixing scratches, blemishes, and discoloration, as well as for adjusting color, contrast, and other aspects of the image.
- User-friendly interface: Fotor has a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate, making it a good choice for users who are new to photo editing.
- Affordable: Fotor is available at a lower price point than some other photo editing software, which may make it more appealing to users on a budget.
Cons:
- Limited support for raw files: Fotor does not have native support for raw files, which can be a drawback for users who prefer to work with raw files instead of JPEGs or TIFFs.
- Limited compatibility with other software: Fotor is not as widely used or supported as some other photo editing software, which can make it difficult to find online resources or tutorials if you need help with a specific feature. It may also not be as compatible with other software as some other options.
Luminar Neo
Luminar Neo is a photo editing software that includes a range of features for restoring and enhancing photos. Here are some pros and cons of using Luminar Neo for photo restoration:
Pros:
- Wide range of restoration tools: Luminar Neo offers a range of tools for fixing scratches, blemishes, and other damage, as well as for adjusting color, contrast, and other aspects of the image.
- User-friendly interface: Luminar Neo has a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate, making it a good choice for users who are new to photo editing.
- Works on various platforms: Luminar Neo is available for both Windows and Mac, so you can use it on whichever platform you prefer.
Cons:
- Subscription-based pricing: Luminar Neo is available as part of the Skylum Luminar suite of tools, which requires a subscription fee to use. This may be a drawback for some users who prefer to purchase software outright.
- Limited compatibility with other software: Luminar Neo is not as widely used or supported as some other photo editing software, which can make it difficult to find online resources or tutorials if you need help with a specific feature. It may also not be as compatible with other software as some other options.
GFP-GAN : A free AI tool to restore old photographs
Introduced by the author researchers for their paper “Towards Real-World Blind Face Restoration with Generative Facial Prior” by Xintao Wang, Yu Li, Honglun Zhang, and Ying Shan, GFP-GAN is a new GAN architecture designed to upscale the quality of human faces in damaged, aged, and otherwise low resolution photos.
In practice, this has a restorative and upscaling affect on the quality of the images, and can be used in conjunction with other models to dramatically raise the quality of images.
You can try a demo of GFP-GAN for free. The creators have also posted their code to let anyone implement the restoration tech in their own projects.
It’s worth noting that many of these software options offer both free and paid versions, so you may want to try out a few different options to see which one works best for you.
