Fix scratched and torn photos
Scratches, folds and tears are the most repairable damage in an old photo. How to scan them so the repair works, and what to expect.
Scratches, creases and tears are different problems
- Surface scratches are thin lines through the emulsion. They show up light on dark areas and are removed by regenerating the surrounding texture.
- Creases and folds add a bright line and sometimes crack the surface. Usually repaired well.
- Tears remove part of the picture. Small ones fill convincingly; large ones are guesswork.
Scan a damaged print so the repair works
- Lay it flat. Do not tape a tear. Hold fragments in place under a sheet of clean glass or place them on the scanner bed.
- Scan at 600 dpi, color mode even if the photo is black and white, so the paper's damage is captured.
- Avoid glare: if you photograph instead of scan, use indirect daylight and tilt slightly to move reflections off the faces.
- Do not pre-apply any “dust and scratch” filter. Let the restoration see the raw damage.
What happens when you press restore
The model identifies the damage patterns, then regenerates those areas with texture and tone that match their surroundings, while being told to keep people, pose and framing unchanged. Check the repaired areas against the slider: invented detail in a torn face or a patterned shirt is the thing to look for.
When damage is too severe
Mold, water damage that has stuck prints together, and flaking emulsion should go to a conservator before they are scanned. Scanning first is still wise: it preserves what is there.
For the full workflow, see how to restore old photos.
How bad does a scratch have to be?
Hairline scratches and dust are the easy case: they sit on top of the picture and the picture underneath is intact. Deep scratches that cut through the emulsion remove image, so the repair rebuilds it. On a plain background that is invisible; across an eye or a patterned dress it is a guess. Check those spots first.
Creases and white fold lines
A fold usually leaves a pale line and sometimes a ridge of lost color. These repair well when the line crosses simple areas such as sky or a studio backdrop, and less well across faces and hands. If a crease crosses a face, try a second scan with the light coming from the side; shadows from the ridge are sometimes easier for the model to read.
Torn corners and edges
A missing corner is mostly background, so filling it is low risk. If you want the original frame kept, crop to the intact area instead of letting the AI redraw the edge. Never trim the original print.
Do not forget the back
The writing on the back (names, places, dates) is part of the photograph's value. Scan it at the same time, and keep both scans together.
More guides
Questions
Can scratches be removed completely?
Thin scratches and dust, usually yes. Deep gouges that remove the image layer are filled with plausible texture, which is not the lost content.
What about a photo torn in pieces?
Fit the pieces together on a flat, dark surface, scan under clean glass or photograph them from above, and restore the joined image. Do not tape the original.
Does it work on glossy prints with glare?
Glare is part of the image after scanning and is harder to remove. Rescan at an angle that avoids reflections.