Photos that are damaged or old often evoke powerful emotions, but they can lose their quality over time due to age, scratches, or fading. People might want them to restore family albums, historical records, or printed memories. In this case, the use of photo restoration software comes in very handy to repair and improve the quality of pictures.
This article explores the 5 most efficient automatic old photo restoration software to bring old memories to life.
What is a digital photo restoration software
Digital photo restoration software is an application meant for fixing and enhancing photographs that are aged, damaged, or in some way altered. Restoring scratches, overlying marks, or boundary lines is a task many such programs carry out, alongside bringing life to dull pictures or repairing incomplete pictures. This can be done with a variety of features and modern technology, like editing software or artificial intelligence aimed at correcting flaws in images, whether they are scanned or digital.
The 5 best software to fix old photos
CapCut desktop video editor
The CapCut desktop video editor is one of the best options for restoring old photos and images, as it comes with AI-based tools tailored for photo restoration. It efficiently removes scratches and faded colors as well as repairs damaged portions of scanned images. This tool is perfect for people looking to restore their images in a matter of minutes.
- Enhance the image easily: Use the AI video upscaler to improve the sharpness, brightness, and clarity of videos and images, perfect for restoring faded or blurry photos quickly.
- Apply AI spot removal: Automatically remove spots, stains, and small damage from scanned pictures using AI for a cleaner, vibrant look.
- A rich collection of filters: Use vintage, black-and-white, or modern video effects and filters to match the original photo style or give it a fresh, creative touch.
- Dynamic AI color correction: Restore natural tones and fix uneven or faded colors in old images using smart, automatic color adjustment tools.
- Export images in 8K: Save your restored photos in ultra-high resolution, suitable for printing or archiving, with top image quality.
- AI functions need to be used in a stable network environment.
- Some advanced functions require a membership subscription.
How to efficiently restore your old images using CapCut
To restore old images, first download the CapCut desktop video editor. Click the download button below to start the free download. Once downloaded, open the file and follow the steps to install it on your PC.
- STEP 1
- Import the image
Launch CapCut and create a new project. Click "Import" to add media from your device, or drag and drop your files directly into the editor.
- STEP 2
- Edit the image
Start by adjusting the image size, then navigate to the "Filters" tab to apply a suitable filter like "4k" that enhances the image. Next, go to the "Basic" editing tab and click on "Reduce image noise" to automatically improve the clarity and overall quality. Finally, click on "Adjust" to fine-tune the image’s colors, including brightness, contrast, and saturation, for a polished and professional look.
- STEP 3
- Export the image
Once you're ready, click the menu icon (three lines) at the top-right of the display panel. Pick "Export still frames," choose your preferred resolution and format, and hit "Export" to save the image.
PhotoGlory
Not everyone needs advanced tools to bring their memories back to life. Simple and easy-to-use old photo editing software is often enough to fix minor damage, color fading, or scratches. For users who want quick results without any complexity, beginner-friendly tools are a smart choice. That's where PhotoGlory fits in well.
PhotoGlory is beginner-friendly software to fix old photos with easy controls and built-in AI. It helps restore black-and-white images, remove defects, and colorize them in just a few clicks. The tool is ideal for people who want fast, decent photo recovery without complex steps. It's designed specifically for repairing scanned or digital copies of vintage photos.
- One-click photo restoration.
- Auto-colorization for black-and-white photos.
- Easy scratch and dust removal.
- Beginner-friendly interface.
- It is available on Windows only.
- Limited export resolution.
How to restore old pictures using PhotoGlory
Restoring old pictures doesn't have to be hard, especially with beginner-friendly tools like PhotoGlory. This simple software to fix old photos helps remove damage, fix faded colors, and even colorize black-and-white images. With just a few steps, you can bring old memories back to life. Here is how to use this tool for editing photos easily:
- STEP 1
- Remove damage and torn edges
Use the retouching tools to cut away torn corners and erase creases, stains, or scratches in seconds.
- STEP 2
- Restore and colorize
Fix faded colors or bring black-and-white images to life using one-click colorization built into the software.
- STEP 3
- Add vintage style and captions
Apply era-matching effects and insert date stamps or captions to complete your restored photo with a personal touch.
Photoshop
Users looking for customization will appreciate the wide range of capabilities and creative tools available for deeper editing. While simple tools are good for quick fixes, detailed repairs often need a more capable solution. That's why many professionals turn to industry-standard custom photo-editing software like Photoshop for precise restoration work.
Advanced tools for retouching, layering, and color correction make Photoshop one of the best photo restoration software. From fine crack removal to restoring heavily damaged photos, Photoshop can do it all. It's ideal for professional-grade photo restoration because of its wide range of brushes, filters, and AI features. Even though it requires some learning, it delivers high-quality results.
- Professional-level editing tools.
- AI-powered content-aware fill.
- Precise manual retouching options.
- Excellent color correction tools.
- Steep learning curve.
- Subscription required.
How to restore old photos using Photoshop
Full control and professional outcomes are what you get when restoring photos in Photoshop. As top-rated photo restoration software, it enables you to clean up damage, enhance details, and even add color to black-and-white images. With sophisticated tools and neural filters, work can be done alongside and not against the pixels to ensure every detail is preserved. Here are some steps to using this tool efficiently:
- STEP 1
- Import and prepare layers
Open your scanned photo as the locked background layer, then create a new empty layer for all edits to ensure non-destructive adjustments.
- STEP 2
- Apply photo restoration filters
Use "Filter" > "Neural Filters" > "Photo Restoration" to enhance clarity, reduce scratches, and improve faces. Fine-tune with "Spot Healing Brush" and "Clone Stamp" tools to fix remaining damage.
- STEP 3
- Colorize and export
Merge layers, apply the "Colorize" filter for adding color to black-and-white photos, set the layer to "Color Blending" mode, and then export your restored image in your preferred format.
Picsart
Picsart is a popular online editor known for its easy-to-use interface and creative tools, including basic photo restoration features. While not as advanced as Photoshop, it provides a good balance of automation and manual control, especially for casual users who want to clean up old photos quickly. Its AI tools help reduce blemishes, enhance clarity, and improve colors with minimal effort.
- User-friendly interface for beginners.
- AI-based enhancement and retouching tools.
- Works well on mobile and desktop.
- Extensive library of filters and effects.
- Limited precision for heavily damaged photos.
- Requires subscription for full feature access.
How to restore old photos using Picsart
Picsart offers a quick and accessible way to enhance old photos using AI tools and manual retouching.
- STEP 1
- Open Picsart, import your scanned photo. STEP 2
- Using AI enhances auto-improve clarity and lighting. STEP 3
- Finally, you can download or edit more.
Nero Software
Nero offers specialized AI-based photo restoration software that focuses on old photo repair with automatic enhancement features. It’s particularly useful for reviving vintage photos with faded colors, dust, cracks, and noise. The software is designed for ease of use, offering one-click restoration functions for beginners and enthusiasts alike.
- Dedicated to old photo restoration.
- Simple and automated workflow.
- Good at restoring faded colors and damaged areas.
- Batch processing is supported.
- Limited manual control for advanced users.
- Requires separate download; not part of the main Nero suite.
How to restore old photos using Nero Software
Nero's AI Photo Restoration software simplifies the entire process with automated features.
- STEP 1
- Open Nero AI Photo Restoration, and import your old photo. STEP 2
- Click "Choose your restore tools". Then click "Start" to optimize your photo. STEP 3
- Preview your restored photo, then click "Download" to save your photo.
Top 5 photo restoration software compared
Here's a detailed software comparison table for 5 photo restoration software.
Practical tips for using photo restoration software
Restoration software is an invaluable asset, especially when dealing with old photographs. By investing time that is well organized, you may achieve optimal results every time. Many features can be achieved by using simpler software such as CapCut. Here are some tips for using this software like a pro:
- Scan in high resolution
Start by scanning your photos and ensure that it is done at a higher resolution. The level of detail that is captured while scanning needs to be very detailed. Sharp scans ensure that every fine detail, such as scratches and many others, can be processed easily. However, to restore and export 1080p-8k images, you can use CapCut.
- Crop and align first
Before retouching the photo, cropping and trimming the edges while straightening must be done to improve photo alignment. By following these procedures, photo restoration software is allowed to focus on the core elements and not the distractions. For trimming and realignment, using professional tools like CapCut is recommended.
- Adjust brightness and contrast
Correcting brightness and contrast reveals details in photos that are faded or too dark. This ensures the image is primed for optimal color correction and spot removal in subsequent stages. AI color correction in CapCut can balance brightness and contrast, providing optimal results.
- Remove dust and scratches
Use the healing or spot removal tools in your old photo editing software to eliminate scratches, dust, and small stains from the image. These marks can be removed with precision to maintain the integrity of the photo and restore it to its original state. This step is more accurate and faster with CapCut's AI spot removal.
- Reduce noise gently
Scanned images often have a grainy noise that makes an image appear low quality, especially when scanned. Be sure to use noise reduction tools gently when scanning an image so as not to blur essential elements and textures. Dynamic AI color correction in CapCut can reduce noise while improving clarity.
- Fix faded colors
Use color correction tools for photos with washed-out colors so that they can be restored to their natural tones. Certain advanced tools enable the addition of color to black-and-white images. Filters and color correction options on CapCut aid in the effective recovery and enhancement of faded colors.
- Export in high-quality
After restoring a photo, remember to save the file in a format that maintains its resolution for optimal printing or sharing. All your painstaking efforts might go to waste if you export at a low resolution. Tools like CapCut can export images with up to 8K resolution.
Conclusion
Photo restoration software brings old and damaged photos back to life, preserving precious memories for years to come. Most modern tools simplify the process of removing scratches, faded colors, or any other damage. From quick fixes to meticulous detailing, there is software tailored to every expertise. For fast and reliable restorations, the CapCut desktop video editor is unparalleled due to its effortless restoration.
FAQs
- 1
- How do I choose the best photo restoration software?
Your budget and skill level dictate what features are important when selecting restoration software. In most cases, basic undo functions and color correction should be readily available. Always look for user feedback and try out demo versions before concluding. For example, the CapCut desktop video editor has AI features like image enhancement, noise removal, and color correction, which are beneficial for any skill level.
- 2
- Is cloud storage included in the software to fix old photos?
Software designed to edit old photos does not include cloud storage since the main focus is on actual editing. However, some applications have apps that connect to popular cloud services to store files and share them. If you often need to access documents from multiple devices, make sure to use CapCut to save and export your projects in 1080p-8k.
- 3
- Which file types work with digital photo restoration software?
Most photo restoration software accepts file types such as JPG, PNG, TIFF, and BMP, as they are standard image files. These formats do not lose quality during processing and are ideal for retouching photographs. For archival and printing purposes, resolution TIFF and PNG file formats are the best choices. Furthermore, the CapCut desktop video editor supports importing files like .jpg, .png, .gif, or .bmp files and also exports .jpg, .png in 8K.