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Film-based photographs deteriorate over time due to the chemicals used in their development process as well as effects of light, moisture, and PH imbalance. Old Town Photo's digital restoration expertise can restore almost all types of damaged prints or films. Once the digital restoration process is complete, we reprint the photo on museum-grade archival media and then apply a UV protective coating to it. The final result becomes a long lasting image using materials and techniques unavailable when the original photograph was taken.
Using advanced tools both in hardware and software to get the job done right, we have worked on numerous valuable pieces of various types, including convex oval photos, tin-type, ambrotype, film negatives, and slides, each requiring special care and handling. As a result of 21 years of digital restoration experience, we have developed a propriety method that preserves the dynamic tonal range of the original image by correctly transferring that information into the restored version, as well as reducing the amount of time needed to do most corrections. We perform all work on site and your irreplaceable items never leave our lab.
If you are looking for ultimate care and a professional job performed on your cherished old photographs, feel free to send us an inquiry for a free evaluation and estimate. As always, we guarantee total satisfaction.
For an elegant display and proper protection of your new old photograph, we offer archival framing with conservation glazing both in standard and custom-made sizes.

Photo Before restoration

Photo After restoration
Some samples of our photo restoration work are shown via this link.
This example shows a 1910 overlay painted photograph in a very poor condition. Oval shaped photo restoration and in particular the convex oval portraits require special handling. Overlay painted photograph Before restoration and Overlay painted photograph After restoration
Partial list of restoration works we have performed include:
- Oval convex painting or photos in bubble glass frames;
- Tintype(ferrotype), daguerreotype, ambrotypes;
- Polaroid captured photos;
- Water damaged photos;
- Faded or decolorized photos;
- Photos stuck to glass;
- Photos with mildew damage
So, how much does it cost?
There are many factors that contribute to the cost of a restoration project, for example when enlarging or fade removal is involved, damages not visible to the eye now, will show after fade is restored or image enlarged. Then those imperfections would need to be corrected too. Once we examine the piece closely, we will be able to quote the cost, and we do not raise the estimate if we encounter more work needed to be done in order to accurately complete the project. There are shortcuts and quick ways to do the work but often they result in shockingly a different picture. In the past year, 18% of our clients came to us after having experienced another restoration service provider with inferior results.