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Photo Restoration Programs

If a picture is worth a 1,000 words, old and historic pictures speak to us from a time long since gone. They may be old family photos of aunts, uncles and grandparents that remind of us of where we came from. Or they could be photos of historic places or important moments in our history. Whatever these photos are, they are important and should be maintained and cared for so future generations and can learn and enjoy them. Digital photography and the ability to convert old pictures into digital files gives us the ability to repair or restore old photos. Whether it is a simple touch-up of color or contrast or a major restoration job, there are a number of free and pay-for software programs available to assist with the job.

Retouch Pilot
- Retouch Pilot is a “photo retouching software designed for removing imperfections” from current and old photos. Whether you need to eliminate scratches from negatives, improve contrast and color or rebuild a photo that has been torn or partially lost, this software can assist you. As of July 2010, the program costs $39.95, and can be downloaded. There is technical support available via email and any upgrades are available at a 50 percent discount during the first year of owning the program.
AKVIS Retoucher
- AKVIS Retoucher is a program designed to be compatible with Adobe Photoshop, Corel PHOTO-PAINT, Jasc Paint Shop Pro and many other professional photo-editing software programs. The program offers solutions for instant removal of dust, scratches, unwanted text, dates or other objects within a picture. It is a click-and-apply type of interface, allowing most individuals with little or no training in editing software to use the program. As of July 2010, the program costs $87.00.
Photo Plus Image Editing
- Through its digital darkroom, Photo Plus Image Editing allows you to apply a number of different tools to enhance and/or add to your pictures. There are a number of filters and adjustments that can be added to bring back a photo’s original appearance. The software includes many “How To” guides and tutorials to walk you through the steps required to fix your photos. It is free software and can be downloaded from the Internet.

Photography