Photo Restoration FAQ
Common questions about AI photo restoration, pricing, file handling, and how Stories Restored works. Don't see your answer here? Reach out to us and we'll get back to you within one business day.
Which Gemini model do you use?
We use Google's Gemini 2.5 Flash for fast cleanup, Gemini 3 Pro for full restorations of damaged or complex photos, and Imagen 4 for colorization. The DIY guide on our site uses the free Gemini chat with the Thinking model and the Create image tool — the same family of models, run through Google's consumer app.
Is my data used to train AI models?
No. Photos you upload to Stories Restored are sent to Google's Gemini API under terms that exclude them from model training. We store originals and restored copies for 30 days so you can re-download them, then delete both. We never sell, share, or use your photos for any purpose other than fulfilling your order.
How long does restoration take?
Small orders of one to five photos usually finish within 15 minutes. Larger batches up to 100 photos can take up to an hour. You receive an email with download links the moment processing is complete. If you need same-day turnaround on a large batch, email us before ordering and we can usually accommodate it.
What resolution do I get back? Are the files print-ready?
Restored photos come back at the same resolution as your upload, or upscaled to a minimum of 2048px on the long edge. That is enough for an 8x10 print at 250 DPI. If you need a larger print — a 16x20 or canvas — upload a 600 DPI scan and the output will hold up at that size.
What file formats and size limits do you accept?
We accept JPEG, PNG, HEIC, WEBP, and TIFF up to 50 MB per file. Scans at 300 DPI or higher produce the best results. If you are scanning yourself, save as TIFF or high-quality JPEG. If you are photographing prints with your phone, follow the prep guide — HEIC straight from the camera roll is fine.
Can I upload from my phone?
Yes. The upload flow works on iOS and Android browsers. You can pick photos directly from your camera roll or your iCloud / Google Photos library. Heavy batches of 50+ photos are easier on a laptop because of upload time, but we have seen plenty of mobile-only bulk orders go through without trouble.
How do I download my restored photos?
When your order finishes, you receive an email with a download link for each restored photo plus a single ZIP link for the whole batch. Click any link to save the full-resolution file to your device. Links stay active for 30 days. After that we delete the files and you would need to re-upload to restore them again.
Are my original photos stored permanently?
No. Both originals and restored versions are kept for 30 days after your order completes so you can re-download or request a fix. After 30 days we delete them. Download your favorites promptly. We do not offer long-term cloud storage as a service — your local copy is the master.
Can you restore heavily damaged or torn photos?
Send torn, water-damaged, or stained photos and Gemini reconstructs the missing sections from the surrounding context. Severely damaged images — large missing areas across a face, or photos faded to near-blank — vary in result quality. If a result is not usable, email us within seven days and we will re-process for free or refund the photo.
Do you offer colorization?
Colorization is on by default for every restoration. If you want the original black-and-white kept, note it in the order checkout or email us right after placing your order. We can also return both versions — colorized and B&W — for the same per-photo price.
Should I use the DIY guide or the bulk service?
Use the DIY guide if you have one to three photos and a few minutes per photo. It is free. Use the bulk service if you have a box of photos, want consistent results across the batch, or don't want to babysit each upload. We hand-tune the prompt per photo and ship the whole batch back in one ZIP.
How much does it cost?
Pricing starts at $0.15 per photo for cleanup and goes up to $0.80 per photo for full premium restoration with colorization. There is a one-time $8 platform fee per order. No subscription. You see the exact total before you pay. See the full pricing page for the per-tier breakdown.
Do you offer family or group discounts?
Bulk pricing already gives you a steep per-photo discount as the order grows. For orders above 200 photos — family reunion archives, estate cleanouts, genealogy society projects — email us for custom pricing. We can usually shave another 15-25% off the per-photo rate at that volume.
Is the DIY option really free?
Yes. The DIY guide walks you through restoring a photo yourself in Google Gemini's free tier. You need a Google account, which is also free. There is no upsell, no trial, no credit card. We publish the exact prompt we use so you can copy and paste it directly into Gemini.
What is your refund policy?
If a restoration does not meet your expectations, contact us within seven days and we will re-process the photo at no charge or refund that photo. We do not refund completed orders that you simply changed your mind on after delivery, but we will work with you on any quality issue. See the full refund policy for the details.
Do you watermark restored photos or claim any rights?
No watermark. No rights claim. The restored files belong to you. You can print, share, sell, or post them anywhere with no attribution to us required. We only ask that you don't share your private download links publicly, since they bypass our order system.