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 AI models do you use?
Paid restorations primarily use OpenAI image models. Google Gemini finds photos on scrapbook pages and can provide backup restoration. Premium orders may also receive an automated comparison with the original. The DIY guide uses Gemini's Create image tool with the default Flash model, through your own Google account.
Is my data used to train AI models?
Google processes photos uploaded to our paid service under the Gemini API paid-service terms, which exclude model training. OpenAI does not use API uploads to train its models by default. Both providers may temporarily retain content for safety. If you use the DIY guide, your photos go to Gemini through your own Google account and may be used to improve Google's AI depending on your settings; see Gemini Apps privacy information.
How long does restoration take?
Processing time depends on batch size, restoration level, provider demand, and retries. Processing begins after payment. We email you when downloadable results are ready. If you have a deadline, contact us before ordering to ask whether we can meet it.
What resolution do I get back? Are the files print-ready?
Output dimensions can differ from your upload, and we do not guarantee a minimum size or print resolution. Check the downloaded image's dimensions and quality before making a large print.
What file formats and size limits do you accept?
We accept JPEG, PNG, HEIC, WebP, and TIFF up to 20 MB per image, with up to 100 images in an ordinary order. Scanned PDFs are converted to images in your browser before upload. For scrapbook orders, see the page and photo limits below. Follow the prep guide for scanning and photographing tips.
Can I upload from my phone?
Yes. Choose photos using your phone's browser file or photo picker. Cloud photos may need to be downloaded or made available to that picker first.
How do I download my restored photos?
When processing finishes with at least one restored photo, we email you one private link to your order page, where you can download the successfully restored photos together as a ZIP. The link expires after 30 days, so save your photos promptly.
Are my original photos stored permanently?
We do not offer permanent photo storage. Keep your own copies of your original scans and download restored photos promptly. The private link in your completion email expires after 30 days. Our privacy policy describes our photo-retention policy.
Can you restore heavily damaged or torn photos?
Restoration may improve tears, stains, and fading, but missing details and faces cannot be reliably recovered, and AI may alter details. Compare each result with the original. For quality issues, contact us within 7 days of delivery.
Do you offer colorization?
Enhance preserves black-and-white photos without adding color. Full Restore and Premium include colorization for black-and-white and sepia photos, but inferred colors are not a guarantee of historical accuracy. We return one restored image per photo, not both color and black-and-white versions.
Should I use the DIY guide or the bulk service?
Use the DIY guide if you want to restore photos one at a time with your own Google account. Use our paid photo restoration service to send a batch with one restoration level; we process it automatically and return the successfully restored photos together in a ZIP.
Can you separate the individual photos from my scrapbook or album pages?
Yes. That is what Album & Scrapbook Pages does. Scan your album pages and upload them here. Before payment, we check the pages and show a photo-count summary and your order total. There is no image preview or option to adjust the crops. After payment, we crop the detected photos and restore them separately. Detection can miss photos or get their edges wrong. If no separate photos are found on a page, we restore the whole page at the same page price.
How much does separating a scrapbook page cost, and what if a page only holds one photo?
Pages are priced flat: $3.00 a page on Enhance, $5.00 on Full Restore, and $8.00 on Premium, with no other fees. That includes separation and restoration of up to 10 detected photos per page. A page with a single photo costs the same as a full one. You see your total after selecting your files and restoration level, before uploading. Each order is limited to 20 pages and 100 images to restore in total. If your pages exceed that image limit, you must split them into smaller orders before paying.
My scanner only makes PDFs. Is that a problem?
No. Most flatbed scanners save to PDF, so album scans often arrive that way, and we accept them. Each page of your PDF becomes its own page scan in your browser before anything is uploaded, so a ten page album PDF counts as ten pages. A PDF is capped at 20 pages, and we tell you plainly if any were left out.
What about the handwritten captions and the certificates in my album?
Scrapbook separation is designed to find photographs, not handwritten caption cards, certificates, or newspaper clippings. Those items are not restored as separate files and may be left out of the returned photo crops. Keep your original page scans if you want to preserve that context. To restore a document, upload it separately with the scrapbook option turned off. Restoration aims to straighten the photo and trim away corner mounts, album page, and borders, but the AI may trim more or less than expected.
How much does it cost?
Restoration costs $1.00 a photo for Enhance, $2.00 for Full Restore, and $3.00 for Premium, with no other fees. Bigger orders cost less per photo: 10% off at 5+ photos, 20% at 10+, 30% at 20+ and 40% at 50+. Scrapbook pages have their own flat per-page prices. You see the exact total before payment. There is no subscription. The DIY guide is free to use. See the pricing page for photo rates or the scrapbook page for per-page rates.
Do you offer family or group discounts?
Yes. Every photo costs less as your order grows: 10% off at 5+ photos, 20% at 10+, 30% at 20+ and 40% at 50+. At 50 or more, a photo is $0.60 on Enhance, $1.20 on Full Restore, and $1.80 on Premium. The discount is applied automatically. For a project over 100 photos, contact us before ordering to ask whether a custom quote is available.
Is the DIY option really free?
Yes. The DIY guide walks you through restoring a photo yourself in Gemini. We do not charge for the guide or its copyable prompt; you use your own Google account. Google offers free access subject to limits and availability, as well as optional paid plans.
What is your refund policy?
Within 7 days of delivery, send your order reference, the affected photos, and a description of the issue. We review requests under our refund policy, which explains available remedies and exclusions. Read the policy before ordering. To request a review, contact us.
Do you watermark restored photos or claim any rights?
We do not add a Stories Restored logo or visible watermark to paid outputs, though providers may include digital AI markers. Our Terms do not claim ownership of restored outputs after payment. You must have the rights needed to upload your original photos. Keep your private order link private.