Damaged, scratched or torn photo: what the tool repairs, and what it doesn't

Souvenotte cleans up grain, dust and small marks, and rebuilds worn faces. It does not fill in tears, creases, large scratches or missing corners: for those, a human retoucher is still the right choice. The full preview is free, so you can judge on your own photo before deciding.

The Minibon team · Updated on 27 October 2026 · Translation to review

free preview, HD from €1.99

How to digitise a damaged photo

• Line the pieces up

  For a torn print, place the pieces edge to edge on a plain background, with a clean sheet of glass on top to hold them flat.

• No sticky tape on the original

  Tape yellows and damages paper over time. Keep the original as it is: a retoucher may need it later.

• Creases: light from the front

  Side lighting deepens the shadow of a crease. Use soft, even light from the front, or a flatbed scanner.

Steps for a damaged photo

1. 1. Digitise Pieces aligned, print flat, no glare.
2. 2. Upload Restoration takes a few seconds: grain, dust and faces are handled.
3. 3. Judge honestly On the preview, check whether the tear or scratch still bothers you. If it does, don't pay.
4. 4. Decide HD for €1.99 if it's good enough, crop an edge defect out in the Studio, or take the original to a retoucher.

Damaged photos: what the tool does well, and what it misses

• Good at: grain, dust, small marks They are smoothed away during cleaning and the ×2 enlargement.
• Good at: a worn face A face worn by handling is rebuilt, provided it is detected.
• Not yet: tears, creases, large scratches They remain visible. A retoucher fills them in by hand.
• Not yet: missing areas A torn-off corner or a stain over a face is not reconstructed.