PHOTO RESTORATION Restore & Repair Photos

APPOINTMENTS Shop number is (01) 284 6106. We can scan and size the photo whilst you are in the shop. We do spend time with our customers and do not want to have you waiting (you are also very welcome to wait or Drop and Go).

EMAIL if in digital format please email.

DROP & GO Put your photo into an envelope along with your name and tel no and we will call you when we have your photo scanned in.

POSTAL ADDRESS If you post it to us, we will call you as soon as it arrives. We will then scan your photo and call you to discuss size etc.

Pictorium Photoshop
No 3 Monkstown Court
Monkstown Farm
Glenageary, Co. Dublin
A96 HK30

Tel +353 1 284 6106
Email: info@pictorium.ie

OLDER MEDIA_A Quick Guide

LITHOGRAPHS 1796-1950s

Surface: Paper and/or backed onto canvas
Lithography was invented around 1796 in Germany by an otherwise unknown Bavarian playwright, Alois Senefelder, who accidentally discovered that he could duplicate his scripts by writing them in greasy crayon on slabs of limestone and then printing them with rolled-on ink.

It was very popular with painters who would use black chalk or charcoal. It is an original piece of artwork with the signature, usually located on the back.

Lithographs v Print
By Look A lithograph will show signs of irregularities in the dot pattern with offset lithography leaving a dotted circular pattern in rows

By Touch You can also compare a lithograph vs. print by touch. Rub your hand lightly over an original lithograph, and the surface should feel slightly raised. Prints will always have a completely flat surface because they came from a printing press.

DAGUERREOTYPES 1839-1860s

Surface: Highly polished, mirror-like silver
Invented by Louis Daguerre and introduced worldwide in 1839 and was the first publicly available photographic process.

They are shiny to view and were made on highly polished mirror-like silver-coated copper plates and would come in protective cases or sleeves, often made of leather and lined with silk or velvet.

You have to tilt them at a 45 degree angle to view them. Depending on the angle at which you view them, they can look like a negative, a positive or a mirror.

They became less popular with the advent of the less expensive Ambrotype in 1860.

AMBROTYPE 1854-1880s

Surface: Glossy often behind glass
Patented in 1854s and superceded the more expensive Daguerreotypes in the 1860s.

Like the Daguerreotype they be found in hinged protective cases. They are typically housed in miniature hinged cases made of wood covered with leather, paper, cloth, or mother of pearl.

They are on glass. Backed with a dark substance (such as varnish or paper) they look positive, but when the backing starts to deteriorate, you can often see through the glass.

TINTYPE 1853-1930s

Surface: Iron, semi-glossy
Patented in 1856. They are actually printed on iron, not tin. Unlike a daguerreotype, tintypes are not reflective.

Most Tintypes are not found in a protective sleeve or case. Cased tintypes may be difficult to distinguish from cased ambrotypes.

Weight can help to differentiate, but a magnet may be used to conclusively identify the tintype’s iron support.

WHY

a) In Brief

A photograph sent via Social Media i.e. WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram or Text has been reduced in size, resulting in a lower quality image. 

Same goes with a screen grab, “photo” of a picture or a scan from your home printer / scanner.

This limits the size your photo can be printed to without becoming blurry/grainy.

b) In More Detail

We always recommend trying to find the original photo, as it provides way more options than working from a low quality copy, or any of the below:

• home scanner or printer / digital image – resolution is a lot lower so lack of detail
• photo scanning Apps on your mobile phone – lower quality loses definition and finer details and distortion.
• a photo that you have taken on your camera phone of a hard copy picture – – lower quality loses definition and finer details and distortion.
• a photo from Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat / Social Media – lower quality and lack of detail
• a photo that has been sent to you via Text / WhatsApp – lower quality and lack of detail
• copy of a photograph / screen grab from your mobile phone etc. – lower quality and lack of detail

WHY An original photo make look too light (faded) or too dark, but the detail is still there. When we scan we scan your photos at a very high resolution (detail) we can capture all those details. 

This enables us to lift up information that you cannot see in the hard copy print, for example a photos where their faces have faded or the photo is too dark. We can edit and enhance that information so you can see the details in their faces again!

As soon as a photo has been copied (or any of the above) unfortunately those details are no longer there.

We can of course, enhance and restore your copy photo but there will not be as much detail for us to lift up / restore.

An original passport size photo can be printed and framed for your wall!

1) SCAN Your Photos

 

This is where we scan (also known as digitising) and create a digital / soft copy of your photo.

Scanning in photos professionally is all about getting as much detail as possible from your image.

This is called resolution (measured in dpi – dots per inch of ink). The higher the resolution to more detail is captured.

We naturally scan at 3,200dpi for slides (6,400dpi upon request), negs etc. and up to 1,200dpi for hard copy photos.

This makes sure that we get every scintilla of detail from your photo no matter how small.  This optimises your photo allowing your photo to be enlarged without it losing detail or becoming blurry/grainy.

When a photo has been scanned in correctly… a passport sized photo can become a picture on your wall.  READ about our Scanning Service

2) FIX Faded / Dark or Discoloured Photographs

Unfortunately photos do tend to fade and get discoloured over time. There are varying reasons why this happens but the main one is when your photo is exposed to light (Photodegradation). 

Balancing the tones & colours, contrast etc., brightens your pictures up and gives them the impact they once had. 

There is no one button fix, all photos are different and so each of your photos need different levels of re-balancing. 

HOW The work we do is very image specific. We work with the exposure, brightness, contrast, tones, colour levels and hue/saturation and highlights, tones, shadows… to name but a few!

This will remove colour casts:

Colour photos that have that overall hue of yellow, blue or red;

Black & White photos that are now grey, brown or yellow.

This will rebalance your photos whether they be colour or black & white.

The results can be amazing:

• Colour photos look brighter, clearer and more vibrant, and
• Brown or discoloured photos are now a clearer natural black & white.

In some cases you may not need any further restoration. We can now print it for you!

3) RESTORING My Photo

Next Step Restore and Repair your Photo

Over the years we have restored 1,000s of photos for our customers. What truly sets Pictorium apart is our  genuine passion for our work and are meticulous when it comes to restoring your precious photos. 

Our attention to detail and level of expertise is second to none. This coupled with our photographic techniques, expertise and the state-of-the-art hardware and software (yes we use Photoshop!), results in the seamless restoration of your photographs.

From removing scratches, cracks & creases; retouching stains & smudges; repairing torn photos or photos stuck to the glass; through to restoring damaged and water damage photos; to name but a few.

Your once damaged photo has now been brought back to life, ready to be enjoyed again… for generations to come.

Now that you have your newly restored photo, we can then give it to you as a digital image and / or we can print it for you.

READ some of our Customer Reviews

4) PRINT My Restored Photograph

If you are printing your photo, it is so important to have it printed to the highest quality. This means that your photos will look more vibrant, with the colours lasting the test of time.

We have a wide range of choices – from family photographs beside your bed, to a feature piece enlarged on your wall or even for a gift.

PRINT  To your preferred size (enlarge/reduce) and type of paper.

Whether it be on our Professional Photographic Paper / Canvas or one of our Fine Art Papers (Giclée printing).

COLLAGES  We can design & print one of a kind personalised collage from your newly restored photos.

CANVAS  We print over 120 sizes in our shop.

FRAMES  We offer a wide range of ready made and bespoke frames.

Keep it simple with standard sized frames, or personalise it to your wishes with a bespoke frame.

STRUT MOUNTS  Giving a gift and not sure what type of frame to buy? A strut mount is a wonderful alternative to a frame.

We are here to help and would be delighted to offer expert advice on the best options for you.

READ about our Printing Services