We do A LOT of photo restoration. Some are easier than others. We have spent hours on a single image to bring it back to life for our clients. Here you will find the most common mistakes to avoid that can permanently damage old photos. Learn what not to do before restoring photos at French Broad Imaging in Asheville, NC.
There’s something very human about wanting to fix things ourselves.
Especially when it comes to old photos.
But restoration is one of those situations where good intentions can accidentally cause permanent damage.
The Most Common Mistake: Tape
This one is painful to see. (We see this more than you know!)
Tape—even “archival” tape—stains over time. The adhesive seeps into the paper and cannot be removed without damaging the image.
Once that happens, restoration becomes much more difficult.
Scanning Isn’t Always Harmless
Home scanners can:
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flatten delicate prints
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exaggerate cracks
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create harsh contrast
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miss fine detail
And once a photo is scanned poorly, using that digital image limits how well it can be restored later. This is why we use a high-resolution scanner for every project, where our scans range from 400 to 12,800 dpi.
Editing Apps Can Do More Harm Than Good
Filters and AI tools often:
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blur important details
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over-smooth faces
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remove natural texture
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create unnatural results
Once those changes are baked into a file, they’re difficult to undo. (Please just don't!)
What To Do Instead
If a photo matters:
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Handle it as little as possible
- Wear COTTON GLOVES IF IT'S VERY DELICATE.
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Store it flat, away from light
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Avoid tape, glue, or lamination
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Let a professional scan and restore it
The safest restoration is always digital, not physical.
📍 French Broad Imaging specializes in careful scanning, restoration, and archival preparation—so your originals stay protected.
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