Restoring Photos Recovered from Cedar Chests and Trunks

Cedar chests and old family trunks are among the most common places family photos are discovered — the chest opened decades after an ancestor's passing, yielding a collection of photos no living family member can identify. These discoveries connect families to unknown ancestors.

The Challenge

Cedar chest storage created a specific damage environment — the cedar oils that preserve textiles against moths also penetrate photographic prints, leaving a characteristic cedar resin staining that penetrates the emulsion layer. This distinctive damage requires targeted treatment.

How AI Helps

AI restoration addresses cedar resin staining as a distinct damage type from ordinary chemical deterioration. The algorithm models the photographic content beneath the resin penetration, recovering images from one of the most unusual family storage environments.

Next Steps

Gather your photographs, scan at the highest resolution available (600 DPI minimum), and visit PhotoFix to start the restoration process. AI tools can handle damage that once required expensive professional services, making preservation accessible for every family.