How to Restore Old Photos with AI

What AI restoration can and cannot do

• Often helps: light scratches, dust, mild fading, soft focus from old prints.
• Risky: large missing faces, heavy creases across eyes, illegible text on signs or documents.
• AI may generate plausible but inaccurate facial features, clothing, or background objects. Always compare against the original scan.
• Restoration is not a legal authenticity certificate for archives or courts.

Prepare your scan or phone photo

• Lay the print flat; avoid glare and shadows.
• Capture the whole image; crop later if needed.
• Do not oversharpen in camera apps before upload—noise can confuse repair.
• Use files you have rights to process.

Step-by-step on Vocalove

1. Step 1

   Open Old Photo Restoration

   Go to the restoration landing and scroll to the tool.

   Open restoration tool

2. Step 2

   Upload the scan

   Follow the uploader’s format and size guidance shown on the page.

3. Step 3

   Describe the damage

   Write what you want fixed in plain language—for example scratches across the sky, faded colors, or a crease on the left edge. Be specific about areas that must stay unchanged (faces, medals, handwriting).

4. Step 4

   Generate, preview, decide

   Sign in when required. Credits appear on the generate control. Preview at zoom. Reject runs that invent jewelry, change age, or rewrite text. Download only when the result is acceptable for your use.

Prompt tips for restoration

• Name the damage: scratches, stains, tears, faded color, soft focus.
• Protect identity: “keep facial likeness; do not change age or hair style.”
• Avoid asking the model to “make them look young” if your goal is archival honesty.
• For colorization of black-and-white prints, say so explicitly—and expect guessed colors, not historical proof.

Important limits

AI restoration can fabricate missing detail. Treat every output as a creative or assistive preview, not ground truth. Keep the original scan. For memorial talking portraits, prefer a restoration you have reviewed over a damaged original—but disclose AI assistance when honesty matters to your family.

Memorial slideshow ideas

FAQ

Will AI perfectly reconstruct a torn face?

Usually not. Large missing areas are often invented. Prefer careful scanning and professional conservation for irreplaceable originals when accuracy is critical.

Can I use a restored photo in a talking portrait?

Yes, if you approve the likeness. Many families restore first, then animate on the talking photo flow. Always preview lip sync separately.

Does restoration guarantee historical accuracy?

No. Colors, clothing details, and filled gaps may be model guesses. Keep the original file.