Photo restoration — as a service in the imagery world — is growing in terms of numbers (clients) and services given each year. According to research on Asia and Europe arts scenes, people are fascinated to see old images gaining life through restoration. It is also interesting to note that the niche is generating a lot of interest also in the academic world.
Why is photo restoration such an important niche? This piece explores some of the reasons why thousands of people are spending money on restoring the spark in old photos.
Storage is one of the most critical developments in our world today. Every company is investing in better storage systems. Individuals are also investing in better phones and computers — with better storage. The development in the world of storage paints a perfect picture of the importance of spaces and storing memories in our era. One of the things that people are keeping includes photographic memories. Photos — unlike most other mediums — capture and store memories better.
Restoring images — from the old and destroyed from gives people a chance to keep and preserve their memories. Most of the images are in prints form. Unlike other storage forms, prints are prone to weather destructions. However, storage is safer and more secure compared to storing memories in the way of photographs.
Thanks to developments in the world of technology, there are two ways of storing the restored images. First, you have the option of keeping the softcopies in physical storage — which are now affordable and highly accessible. In less than $70, you can get different varieties of storage.
Second, you have the option of storing the restored images in the “cloud.” Each tech giant has modified cloud-based storage, which is free to a specific limit. The “cloud-based” storages help in keeping the restored images away from storage loss or damages.
Regardless of the storage chosen, restoring the images to a better state is unmatched.
Black and white photos were magical — and they are still magical. However, color pictures are more beautiful, and it is possible to preserve them better. In a 2015 report by National Geographic, more than 80% of people prefer color photos to monochrome pictures.
It is better to capture emotions with colored pictures — compared to black and white. In most pictures — from the monochrome photography era — important photo details were not in pictures. However, restoring the pictures help us to feel the mood and more importantly, reconnect with the people in the image. If it is we, we would like to remember the color of the clothes we wore that day.
Second, color photos also help in reconstructing a mental picture of what was happening during that time. For example, holidays around the world are colorful, and most monochrome images fail to capture that feel and surroundings. However, adding color is the best way to reconnect a full experience and therefore bring a nostalgic experience.
The color restoration process is arguably the most technical in editing and more specifically in restoration processes. Depending on the experience of the professional restoring an image to a color form, it can take an hour to four hours.
The professional editor understands different colors’ reactions in black and white pictures. This knowledge is ideal in reconstructing a color image — from a destroyed monochrome image.
Removing damages, scratches, and fading is, without a doubt, the main reason why people seek professional services. A photo, for example, may get damaged, but as the owner, you still treasure the moments in the picture. Restoring it is the best decision to make.
The accuracy of the restoration process is 99% — thanks to color technology and better gadgets. As a client, you should understand the following realities. First, the time taken to restore a photo depends on the damages and more importantly, your instructions. Second, restoring a picture also depends on the company doing the restoration. Experience in the world of photo restoration is vital.
It is possible to restore an image that is over 70% damaged. With a 30% undamaged, a professional editing company has over 99% chances of restoring and recreating a photo. However, you should know some facts about the process. Although fading is in the same category as scratches, the restoration process for both procedures is different. Therefore, the charges may be different for both procedures.
Photos are not only a great form of storing memories but also one of the best ways of linking people genealogically. There is, however, one problem with pictures as a form of preserving family ties — photos are prone to changes in the environment.
Fortunately, photo restoration services are a game-changer in transforming destroyed images into a great source of genealogical projects. In less than a week, it is possible to reconstruct a family tree and have a clear family tree.
First, collect all the photos before consulting an editing firm. Ensuring that you have all the photos is one-step to a successful process. Second, create a good rapport with the editing firm and ask as many questions as possible. Finally, make a request — from the editing firm — that the final restored images should get back to you in proper labeling.
In conclusion, the advantages (of working with a professional image edditing company) supersede any amount of money one can ever spend in restoring an old picture. As a client, however, there are some pointers you should put into consideration. For example, you should maintain a good rapport with the professional company. It is also ideal for making your wishes clear before, during, and after the photo restoration process.
