Before and After: 15 Stunning Old Photo Restoration Examples
Sometimes you need to see it to believe it. Here are 15 real examples of old, damaged photos transformed by AI restoration technology. Each restoration was done using ArtImageHub in under 60 seconds.
1. 1940s Wedding Portrait - Severe Fading
Before: A barely visible wedding portrait from 1945. Colors had faded to almost nothing, faces were indistinct blurs, and the entire image was washed out.
After: Restored colors, sharp facial features, and clear details. The bride's dress is now pristine white, skin tones are natural, and you can see individual eyelashes.
Damage types: Extreme fading, low contrast, color loss Processing time: 45 seconds Techniques used: Face enhancement, color restoration, contrast adjustment
2. Victorian-Era Family Photo - Torn and Stained
Before: A late 1800s family photograph with a severe tear down the middle, water stains, and multiple scratches. One person's face was almost completely obscured.
After: Tear seamlessly repaired, water stains removed, faces clear and detailed. The texture of clothing and background patterns fully restored.
Damage types: Physical tear, water damage, scratches Processing time: 52 seconds Techniques used: Inpainting, scratch removal, face restoration
3. 1960s Childhood Photo - Severely Faded Color
Before: A childhood photo from the 60s where all colors had shifted to orange-brown. Details were soft and unclear.
After: True-to-era colors restored—blue sky, green grass, realistic skin tones. Sharp details and proper contrast.
Damage types: Color shift, chemical degradation, softness Processing time: 38 seconds Techniques used: Color correction, sharpening, detail enhancement
4. 1920s Portrait - Extreme Damage
Before: Severely cracked, scratched, and torn portrait from the 1920s. Large sections were missing or obscured by damage.
After: All cracks removed, faces restored with incredible detail, missing sections intelligently filled in. The subject's eyes are now sharp and expressive.
Damage types: Cracks, tears, missing sections, age damage Processing time: 58 seconds Techniques used: Full restoration AI, face enhancement, texture reconstruction
5. Black and White Baby Photo - Colorized
Before: A sweet but faded black-and-white baby photo from 1952. Contrast was poor, and details were soft.
After: Beautifully colorized with natural skin tones, sharp details, and added dimension. The baby's eyes now have color and life.
Damage types: Black and white (no color), fading, low contrast Processing time: 41 seconds Techniques used: AI colorization, contrast enhancement, sharpening
6. 1980s Group Photo - Blurry and Low Resolution
Before: A group photo from the 80s that was originally taken with a low-quality camera. Faces were blurry blobs.
After: Faces are now sharp and recognizable, individual facial features visible, overall image upscaled from 400x300 to 1600x1200 pixels.
Damage types: Motion blur, low resolution, poor original quality Processing time: 35 seconds Techniques used: Super-resolution AI, face enhancement, sharpness
7. Faded Polaroid - 1970s
Before: A Polaroid from the 1970s with significant color fading and chemical degradation. The image was almost sepia-toned.
After: Vibrant colors restored, clear faces, and proper exposure. The characteristic Polaroid look is preserved while damage is removed.
Damage types: Polaroid fading, color shift, chemical degradation Processing time: 33 seconds Techniques used: Color restoration, exposure correction
8. WWII Soldier Portrait - Scratched and Damaged
Before: A military portrait from WWII with scratches across the face, staining, and fading.
After: Scratches completely removed, uniform details sharp, face clear and dignified. The restored image honors the subject's service.
Damage types: Scratches, stains, fading Processing time: 47 seconds Techniques used: Scratch removal, stain correction, face restoration
9. 1950s Beach Photo - Sun-Damaged
Before: A beach photo from the 50s with extreme sun damage. One entire side of the photo was nearly white, and the other side was faded.
After: Even exposure across the entire image, faces visible, colors restored. Background details like the ocean and sky are now clear.
Damage types: Sun damage, uneven fading, overexposure Processing time: 44 seconds Techniques used: Exposure correction, local adjustments, color restoration
10. Grandparents' Anniversary - Yellowed and Cracked
Before: A 50th anniversary photo from the 1980s that had yellowed severely and developed cracks throughout.
After: True colors restored, cracks removed, faces sharp. The joy of the occasion is now visible in their expressions.
Damage types: Yellowing, cracks, fading Processing time: 40 seconds Techniques used: Color correction, crack removal, facial enhancement
11. 1930s Countryside Photo - Severe Deterioration
Before: A rural scene from the 1930s with almost total loss of detail. The image was barely recognizable.
After: Stunning transformation revealing buildings, trees, people, and animals. Details that were invisible are now clear.
Damage types: Extreme deterioration, detail loss, fading Processing time: 55 seconds Techniques used: AI reconstruction, detail recovery, contrast enhancement
12. School Photo - Water Damaged
Before: A school photo from the 1970s with severe water damage creating wavy lines and stains throughout.
After: Water stains completely removed, image perfectly flat and clear, faces recognizable, colors corrected.
Damage types: Water damage, staining, warping Processing time: 49 seconds Techniques used: Stain removal, geometric correction, color restoration
13. Tiny Wallet Photo - Super-Resolution
Before: A wallet-sized photo (1x1.5 inches) from the 1960s, faded and very low resolution when scanned.
After: Upscaled to 8x10 inches with added detail, sharp faces, and clear features. Perfect for framing.
Damage types: Very small size, low resolution, fading Processing time: 42 seconds Techniques used: 4X super-resolution, face enhancement, sharpening
14. Faded Graduation Photo - 1990s
Before: A graduation photo from the 90s with faded colors, reddish tint, and soft details.
After: True colors restored, details sharp, proper skin tones. The pride of the moment is now preserved clearly.
Damage types: Color fading, color cast, soft details Processing time: 36 seconds Techniques used: Color correction, sharpening, contrast adjustment
15. Multi-Generation Family Photo - Complex Damage
Before: A large group photo from the 1950s with multiple damage types: tears, stains, fading, scratches, and missing corner.
After: All damage repaired, 15+ faces now clear and recognizable, missing corner intelligently reconstructed, colors vibrant.
Damage types: Multiple (tears, stains, scratches, fading, missing sections) Processing time: 59 seconds Techniques used: Full AI restoration pipeline
What These Restorations Have in Common
Every single restoration shown here:
- Was completed in under 60 seconds
- Required no manual editing (fully automatic)
- Used AI technology (GFPGAN, CodeFormer, Real-ESRGAN)
- Preserved the original character of the photo
- Made faces recognizable and clear
The Technology Behind the Magic
These transformations use state-of-the-art AI models:
GFPGAN - Specializes in restoring facial features with incredible detail CodeFormer - Balances quality and identity preservation in faces Real-ESRGAN - Adds realistic detail while upscaling resolution DDColor - Intelligently colorizes black-and-white photos
All available through ArtImageHub with one click.
Your Turn
What old photos do you have hiding in boxes, albums, or drawers? Faded wedding photos? Damaged childhood memories? Blurry group photos?
See what AI restoration can do for your photos:
- Upload your old photo
- Watch the AI work its magic (30-60 seconds)
- Compare before and after
- Download your restored memory
Free tier: 3 photos per day, no credit card required
Tips for Best Results
Based on restoring thousands of photos, here's what works best:
✅ DO:
- Upload the highest resolution scan you have
- Use natural lighting if photographing a print
- Try multiple photos if you're unsure which is best
- Download and save both before and after versions
❌ DON'T:
- Use flash when photographing prints (creates glare)
- Upload extremely small images (under 200x200 pixels)
- Expect miracles with completely destroyed sections
- Delete the original after restoration
Real User Testimonials
"I couldn't believe it when I saw my grandmother's wedding photo restored. I cried. Details I'd never seen before were suddenly clear. Thank you for bringing her back to life." — Sarah M.
"I had given up on this torn photo of my grandfather. ArtImageHub not only repaired the tear but made his face clearer than I'd ever seen it. Worth every penny." — James T.
"As a professional genealogist, I've tried many restoration tools. ArtImageHub consistently delivers the best results, especially for very old or severely damaged photos." — Patricia R.
Share Your Restoration
We love seeing restored family photos! Share yours:
- Tag us on social media @ArtImageHub
- Use hashtag #PhotoRestorationAI
- Send before/after pairs to hello@artimagehub.com
We feature the best transformations on our blog and social channels (with permission).
Conclusion
These 15 examples barely scratch the surface of what AI photo restoration can achieve. Every old photo has a story, and AI technology ensures those stories survive for future generations.
The photo you thought was too damaged to save? Try it. You might be surprised.
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