How badly damaged can the photo be?

The AI handles moderate damage very well — cracks, scratches, fading, dust spots, and small tears. For severely damaged photos (large missing sections, extreme water damage), the AI will reconstruct what it can, but results depend on how much of the original content remains. Photos that are more than 30% destroyed may have noticeable reconstruction artifacts.

Should I scan or photograph my old print?

Scanning is much better. Use a flatbed scanner at 300–600 DPI for best results. If you must photograph the print, use even lighting (no flash), shoot straight-on (not at an angle), and use the highest resolution your camera offers.

Can I combine restoration with colorization?

Yes. After restoration, you can apply our AI colorization tool to add natural colors to a restored B&W photo. The recommended workflow is: restore first, then colorize. This produces the best results.

Does restoration change the photo's character?

No. Our restoration preserves the original film grain, toning, and vintage character. It removes damage — not age. Your photo will look like an undamaged version of the original, not a modern digital photo.

Free Online ToolNo sign-up required

AI Photo Restoration

Photocall AI's photo restoration tool repairs damaged, faded, and deteriorated photographs using AI. Upload an old or damaged photo and the AI detects and fixes cracks, tears, scratches, fading, water damage, dust spots, and discoloration in about 15 seconds. It reconstructs missing areas using context from surrounding detail. Works on scanned prints, old film negatives, and digital photos. Free for 3 restorations per month.

Restore old, damaged, faded, or scratched photographs to their former glory. The AI detects and repairs common damage — cracks, tears, scratches, fading, water stains, dust spots, and discoloration — while preserving the original character and detail of the photograph.

How It Works

Upload your damaged photo

Scan the photo at the highest resolution you can (300+ DPI recommended). Upload the scan as JPG, PNG, or TIFF.

AI detects and repairs damage

The AI identifies all types of damage and applies targeted repairs. Processing takes 10–30 seconds depending on damage severity.

Review and download

Compare the restored version with the original. Optionally add enhancement or colorization. Download at full resolution.

Features

Damage Detection

AI automatically identifies cracks, tears, scratches, fading, water stains, dust spots, and discoloration.

Context-Aware Repair

Fills damaged areas using surrounding texture, color, and pattern. Repairs match the original image style.

Color Restoration

Reverses fading and discoloration, bringing back original colors from whatever color data remains.

Grain Preservation

Preserves the original film grain and character while repairing damage. Your photo still looks like a vintage photo — just undamaged.

Specifications

Supported Formats

JPGPNGTIFFBMP

Max File Size

20MB

Output Options

Restored (preserve original tone)Restored + enhanced (modern clarity)Restored + colorized

Who Uses This Tool

Restoring old family photos for printing and sharing

Repairing water-damaged or sun-faded photographs

Cleaning up scanned prints with dust and scratches

Preparing historical photos for archiving and display

Fixing torn or creased photographs digitally

Pricing

Free tier: 3 photo restorations per month. Pro plan: unlimited restorations, batch processing, and manual touch-up tools at $9.99/month.

Try AI Photo Restoration Now

No sign-up required. Start using this tool for free.