How to Restore Old Photos Using AI in Adobe Photoshop 2025

Leading Digital Agency Since 2001.

If you’re like me, working with old photos is a special project. These pictures hold memories we want to keep safe for the future. But restoring photos that are damaged, faded, or cracked used to be hard and take a lot of time. Luckily, with AI in Photoshop, this task is much easier, faster, and anyone can do it. In this guide, I’ll show you how to restore old photos using AI in Photoshop. I’ve been working in photo editing for over 10 years, and as a Production Manager at Photo Clipping Retouching, I’ve seen how AI tools can change the way we restore photos. Whether you’re a photographer, a family historian, or a creator, these tools will help you restore old photos easily.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to use AI in Adobe Photoshop to fix old photos. I’ve been working in the photo editing world for over 10 years, and as a Production Manager at Photo Clipping Retouching, I’ve seen how AI tools can change the way we fix photos. Whether you’re a photographer, a family historian, or a content creator, these tools will help you restore your photos quickly and easily!

Why Photo Restoration Is Important

Before we talk about how Photoshop’s AI tools can fix old photos, let’s quickly look at why restoring old photos is important:

  • Keep Memories Safe: Old photos show family stories, special moments, and important events. By fixing them, you’re keeping history safe for future generations.
  • Sentimental Value: Old photos are special. Fixing them helps keep these precious memories, even if the paper copies are getting damaged.
  • Make Photos Look Better: Over time, photos can fade, tear, or lose their brightness. Using AI to fix them can bring back their colors, sharpness, and overall beauty.
  • Save Photos Digitally: Scanning and fixing old photos means they’re saved in a digital form, so they won’t get worn out as time passes.

This way, your memories stay fresh for years to come!

How AI Makes Photo Restoration Easier

AI has really changed how we edit photos. I’ve been working in photo retouching for many years, and I can say that AI tools in Photoshop make restoring old photos much quicker, easier, and more accurate.

With Restore Old Photos AI Photoshop tools, what used to take hours or even days can now be done in just minutes. AI looks at the photo and does the work for you, saving you lots of time.

  • Saves Time: What used to take hours or even days can now be done in just minutes. AI looks at the photo and does the work for you, saving you lots of time.
  • Easy to Use: Photoshop’s AI tools are simple to use, so even if you’re new to photo editing, you can restore photos without a lot of effort. You don’t need to be an expert to get great results with AI.
  • Very Accurate: Photoshop’s AI tools are smart and good at adding details back into the photo. They know how to handle textures and colors, and even fix missing parts.

Customizable: Even though the AI does most of the work, Photoshop lets you adjust the results to make sure the restoration looks just right.

Overview of Photoshop’s AI Tools for Photo Restoration

Adobe Photoshop comes with several AI-powered tools that are incredibly helpful for restoring old photos. Here are some key tools you’ll be using:

  • Neural Filters: These filters are AI-driven and can perform a variety of tasks, like colorizing black-and-white photos and fixing damaged portraits. The Colorize filter is especially handy when working with old black-and-white photos.
  • Content-Aware Fill: This is one of my favorite tools in Photoshop. It uses AI to intelligently fill in missing or damaged parts of a photo. Just select the area you want to repair, and Photoshop will automatically analyze the surrounding pixels and fill the space seamlessly.
  • Super Resolution: If you’re working with a low-resolution photo, this tool can double the image’s resolution, bringing back fine details without introducing noise or blurriness.
  • Sky Replacement: While not directly related to photo restoration, this tool uses AI to replace the sky in your photos. If the sky is damaged or doesn’t match the mood of the photo, you can quickly swap it out for a more fitting backdrop.

Each of these tools plays a crucial role in restoring old photos in Photoshop. We’ll explore how to use them in more detail below.

Step-by-Step Guide to Restoring Old Photos Using AI in Photoshop

Step one: Open the image

  1. Go to the file menu and then click on open.
  2. Select the image and open it.
Open the image

Step Two: Go to Photo Restoration

  1. Click on Filter
  2. Select Neural Filters
  3. Choose Photo Restoration (50,50,100)
Go to Photo Restoration

Step three: Auto Color Image

  1. Click on Filter
  2. Select Neural Filters
  3. Click on Colorize.
  4. Select Auto colour image

Step four: Go to Skin Smoothing

  1. Click on Filter
  2. Choose Neural Filters
  3. Select Skin Smoothing:50,50
Go to Skin Smoothing

Step Five: Output select New Layer

  1. Click on Filter
  2. Select Neural Filters
  3. Choose Output, select New Layer
  4. Press Ok

Step Six: Unsharp Mask 

  1. Click on Filter
  2. Go to Sharpen
  3. Click on Unsharp Mask ( Ajust It: 500,1.0,0)
Unsharp Mask

Step seven: Add a Levels layer

  1. Go to layer panel.
  2. At the bottom of the panel, click on Adjustment Layer.
  3. Select Levels Layer

Step Eight: Black Drop Tool

  1. After selecting the Levels layer, select the black drop tool
  2. Click on a black object in the photo
Black Drop Tool

Step Nine: Select the White Drop

  1. After selecting the black drop, select the lower drop tool.
  2. Click on a white object

Step Ten: Select Gray Brush Tool

  1. After selecting the White drop, select the middle drop tool.
  2. Click on a Gray object
Select Gray Brush Tool

Step Eleven: Change Blending Color

  1. Add a new Layer
  2. Go to blending mode 
  3. Change it to Colour mode
Change Blending Color

Step Twelve: Select the Brush tool

  1. Go to the toolbar
  2. Select the Brush tool (100,0)
  3. Select the same colour as the hand with the dropper tool
  4. Brush over areas that need color correction.
  5. Do the same for other areas that need to be colored

Step Thirteen: Select the Spot Healing Brush 

  1. Select Layer 1
  2. Choose the Spot Healing Brush (25,0,25)
  3. Brush over the areas that need to be fixed
Select the Spot Healing Brush

Step fourteen: Make Group

  1. Select the top layer
  2. Hold the Shift Key and Select the 3rd layer.
  3. Click the Group Folder icon.
  4. Shortcut: (Ctrl+G)

Step fifteen: Final Output

Click the eye off and on to compare the before and after

Step sixteen: Save the file

  1. Go to the menu bar and select File.
  2. Select Save
  3. Shortcut : (Ctrl+S)
Save the file

Tips for Achieving the Best Restoration Results

Here are some simple tips I’ve learned that can help you get the best results when fixing photos in Photoshop:

  • Use Layer Masks: Layer masks help you make changes to just part of the photo. This is really helpful if you want to fix small areas after using AI tools.
  • Check the Image Resolution: The better the quality of the original photo, the better the AI tools will work. If your photo is blurry or low quality, try using the Super Resolution tool first.
  • Don’t Overuse AI Effects: Photoshop’s AI tools are awesome, but they can sometimes make the photo look too perfect. I recommend making small changes so the photo still feels natural.
  • Fix with Manual Tools: AI tools can make big changes, but don’t forget about Photoshop’s tools like the Clone Stamp, Healing Brush, and Spot Healing Brush to clean up small details.

This is a great way for you to bring new life to old memories!

AI-Based Restoration for Different Users

AI-powered photo restoration in Photoshop is helpful for many people, each with different needs:

  • Photographers: If you’re working on old photos, Photoshop’s AI tools help you fix them quickly and make them look great for your clients.
  • Beginners: Even if you’re new to Photoshop, these AI tools make it easy to restore old photos without needing expert skills.
  • Family Historians: AI tools can help family historians fix old family photos so they can keep these memories safe for future generations.
  • Artists and Content Creators: If you’re an artist or content creator, Photoshop’s AI can help you restore old photos, adding something special to your artwork or projects.

This is a great way for you to bring new life to old memories!

Challenges in AI-Based Photo Restoration and How to Overcome Them

AI tools are really helpful, but sometimes they can be tricky. Based on my experience, here are a few key things to keep in mind:

  • Fixing Big Damage: If a photo is really damaged, AI might not fix it perfectly. You might need to help out by using tools like the Clone Stamp or Healing Brush to make it better.
  • Colors Not Quite Right: AI sometimes colors pictures in a way that doesn’t match the original. You can adjust the colors using Photoshop’s color tools to make it look more accurate.
  • Artifacts or Blurriness: Sometimes, AI might add unwanted marks or blur the image. To fix this, you can use the Sharpen Tool or Noise Reduction to clean it up.

By combining AI with a bit of manual work, you can get the best results! If you run into common AI restoration issues, this video will help:

 

Final Thoughts

Using AI in Photoshop to restore old photos is a simple and quick way to bring your memories back to life. With just a few clicks, you can fix old, faded pictures and make them bright and clear again. It’s easy to use, even if you are new to photo editing. The tools are fun and make your photos look beautiful.

If you want to Restore Old Photos AI Photoshop, start by picking your favorite old photo, opening Photoshop, and giving it a try! You’ll be surprised at how AI can make your old memories look amazing again. For more tips and resources, check out Qondle Technology.

Don’t forget to share your results and stay connected with me through my social media channels like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. Enjoy restoring your memories!