Which tool do I use for low resolution?

Face Restoration first. If the low-resolution print also has fading, blur or small faces, chain Faded Photo Fixer, Unblur Old Photos or Face Restoration in the Studio on the result.

How much does fixing a low-resolution photo cost?

A new account has 4 free credits, enough for one Standard run on a low-resolution print. Pro and Max use more credits and recover more texture under the low resolution; the pricing page has the current numbers.

Can I colorize a photo after repairing the low resolution?

Yes, and the order matters: repair the low-resolution print first, then colorize the clean result so the inferred colors are not confused by blocky pixels, mushy skin and faces the size of a fingernail that fall apart when enlarged.

Damage

Fix low-resolution photos

Q: What causes low resolution on old photos?

Usually a tiny contact print, a wallet photo, a heavy crop or a scan made at 72 dpi years ago. Once you see blocky pixels, mushy skin and faces the size of a fingernail that fall apart when enlarged, move the print somewhere cool, dry and dark and scan it before it gets worse.

Low-resolution photographs almost always trace back to a tiny contact print, a wallet photo, a heavy crop or a scan made at 72 dpi years ago. The low resolution shows up as blocky pixels, mushy skin and faces the size of a fingernail that fall apart when enlarged, and it worsens the longer the print stays where it was damaged.

Repairing low resolution is a matter of separating the damage layer from the image layer, and Face Restoration is written to do that on a low-resolution scan. The result arrives in seconds and leaves everything the low resolution did not touch alone.

Standard handles most low-resolution prints headed for a screen; Pro and Max recover more texture where the low resolution was heavy and the print will be reprinted. Every result keeps the shape of the low-resolution upload, so nothing is cropped away.

Open with these settings Face Restoration

Fix low-resolution photos, the original print

OriginalRestored

Original on the left, restored on the right; hover to see more of the repair. Made in the Studio from a scan of the print.

What matters for these photos

Blocky pixels, mushy skin and faces the size of a fingernail that fall apart when enlarged
Low resolution caused by a tiny contact print, a wallet photo, a heavy crop or a scan made at 72 dpi years ago
Faces and clothing under the low resolution that need rebuilding from what survives
Low-resolution prints that are the only copy in the family

Suggested order of passes

01
Remove the low resolution
Face Restoration is written for blocky pixels, mushy skin and faces the size of a fingernail that fall apart when enlarged and rebuilds the area beneath from the surrounding image.
Face Restoration
02
Run a full restoration on the low-resolution print
Picks up the fading, scratches and softness that usually travel with low resolution.
Photo Restoration
03
Restore the faces
Recovers eye and skin detail where the low resolution had softened it; use strong only for tiny faces.
Face Restoration
04
Upscale for reprinting
Adds the pixels a reprint of the low-resolution photo needs, with the shape of the upload unchanged.
Image Upscaler