Reprinting a damaged photograph
Stop before you try to fix it. Some of the hardest damage to undo is done by someone trying to help.
First aid for the original.
Sticky tape, glue, a damp cloth and a hopeful tug at a print stuck to its frame can each do more harm than the original damage. Leave the photograph as it is, keep it flat in a clean envelope or folder, and use the table below.
| Damage | What to do now | What usually happens next |
|---|---|---|
| Torn or in pieces | Keep every fragment together. Do not tape it | Pieces are captured and joined digitally |
| Creased or cracked | Keep it flat. Do not force it | Captured as it is, with retouching on the file |
| Faded or yellowed | Keep it out of the light | Tone and colour work on the file. Faint detail may return, lost detail will not |
| Stuck to glass | Leave it in the frame. Do not peel | Ask us first. A paper conservator may be the right call |
| Damp or mould | Do not seal it in plastic. Handle it with care, away from other photos | Take specialist advice before it travels, as mould can affect health |
How a new print gets made
- Capture. A flexible print in fair condition can be scanned. A brittle, curled or framed one is safer photographed, because nothing has to bend it.
- Assess. We look at the file and tell you honestly what can be done.
- Retouch. Repair work is priced by the job, because a small crease and a missing corner are very different tasks. Ask us about your photograph.
- Check. Look at the repaired image before anything is printed large.
- Print. Choose a size and paper. See our photo printing options.
Capture prices
| Original size | Drum scan | Digital photography |
|---|---|---|
| A6 | £15.00 | Ask us |
| A5 | £20.00 | Ask us |
| A4 | £25.00 | £20.00 |
| A3 | £30.00 | £40.00 |
Guide prices from our price list. They exclude VAT and delivery and assume print-ready artwork.
What is realistic
Retouching rebuilds what is missing from what surrounds it. Across a wall or a patch of sky, that can be invisible. A tear through an eye is different: the repair is a careful reconstruction, and someone who knew the person may spot it. If you have another picture of the same face, send that too, as a guide.
Size matters as well. Enlarging a small snapshot magnifies the repair along with everything else. Reprinting at the original size, or a modest step up, is usually the kindest choice.
Keep the original, and check the rights
A new print does not replace the old one, so store it safely afterwards. For anything of historic or family importance, speak to a conservator before any physical treatment. And if the picture came from a professional studio, the copyright may still belong to the photographer or their estate. Our page on scanning and reprinting has more on the wider service.
Photographs back on the wall.
Your questions.
Do you work from a phone photo of the damaged print?
A phone photo is handy for showing us the damage, but a proper scan or photograph gives far more to work with. Use it for the first conversation, then let us capture the original.
Can you make a black and white photo look like colour?
Ask us. It is a creative job and not a repair, so the result is an interpretation. We can tell you if it suits your image.
Will the process harm my original?
We choose the capture method to avoid stressing it, which is why fragile prints are photographed. Tell us about any weakness before you hand it over.