Photo restoration
Photo Restoration Before and After: Show the Repair Honestly
A restored photograph is most impressive next to the damaged original. Because restoration works on a scan of the same image, the before and after can line up pixel for pixel — which makes restoration ideal for a slider, and lets you highlight exactly which areas were repaired.
By BeforeAfterly · Practical comparison guide · Published
The practical takeaway
Keep an untouched scan, restore a copy at the same size and crop, and compare the two directly. A difference map shows exactly where the repair work was done.
Start from a good, untouched scan
Scan the print at a resolution that captures its detail; small prints benefit from higher scanning resolutions than large ones. Scan in colour even for black-and-white prints, because the colour channels can help separate stains from the image. Save the scan as a lossless file and keep it unedited as your before image.
Do all restoration work on a copy. Keep the canvas size and crop identical, and do any final crop or straightening on both files in the same way. If the restored version is cropped differently, a slider will show the frame shifting rather than the repair.
Compare with a slider
Load the scan and the restored file into the comparison slider. Split lets you sweep across scratches, tears, and missing corners; Crossfade shows changes in contrast and fading. Pause on the most damaged area to show the depth of the work.
The homepage example uses a real restoration sample: a damaged detail from a 1920s portrait by Sébah & Joaillier, restored by Adam Cuerden. It is a matched pair, so the divider moves across the same pixels in both images.
Highlight exactly what was repaired
Because a restoration keeps the image in place, a pixel comparison can map the repair. Load both files into the image difference checker: changed pixels are highlighted, and the summary reports what share of the image changed. In the sample restoration, about 2% of pixels change at the default tolerance, and they trace the scratches and damaged patches the restorer repaired.
Raise the tolerance to ignore broad tonal adjustments and focus on spot repairs; lower it to include subtle cleanup. A difference map is a useful way to explain the work to a client or to check that a repair did not accidentally alter faces or important details.
Be clear about what is reconstruction
Restoration often involves rebuilding areas that were lost — a missing corner, a torn eye, or a faded background. Colourisation and AI enhancement can also add detail that was never recorded. Say what kind of work was done, so viewers do not mistake reconstruction or added colour for historical fact.
Credit the original photographer or archive where known, and check the rights before publishing. Old photographs may be in the public domain while a scan or restoration has its own terms, as with the sample used here.
Common questions
What is the best way to show a photo restoration?
An interactive slider over a matched pair, so the viewer sees the damaged and restored versions in the same frame. Add a still side-by-side image for social media.
Can I see exactly which parts of a photo were restored?
Yes, if the two files are aligned and the same size. The image difference checker highlights every pixel that changed beyond a chosen tolerance.
Should I mention that a photo was colourised?
Yes. Colourisation adds information that the original did not record. Label it so viewers understand that the colours are an interpretation.
Put it into practice.
Load your before and after images and try all three comparison modes. Free, with no sign-up.
Compare your images