Restore Family Photos with Topaz Labs' Photo Ai and Gigapixel Ai

Introduction

In this article, we'll explore how to effectively restore family photos using Topaz Labs' Photo AI and Gigapixel AI. These powerful tools can enhance, de-noise, and upscale images to breathe new life into precious photographs. Follow along as we guide you through the restoration process step-by-step.

Getting Started with Restoration

To begin the restoration process, let's import the image into Gigapixel AI. Typically, you'll start with a JPEG version of your photo, which can be quite small—like 314 by 480 pixels in this example. While the image might have JPEG compression and noise present, the aim here is to enhance and restore it.

Step 1: Remove JPEG Compression

Navigate to File > Automate and select Gigapixel AI.
The software will automatically process the image, removing the JPEG compression and noise.
Check the before and after comparison to see the improvements. The details are now clearer without distortion.

Step 2: Upscale the Image

Now that we've cleaned up the image, the next step is to increase its size. We can resize it to five times its original dimensions, changing it from 314x480 pixels to 1570x2400 pixels. This size gives us ample room for further detailing and adjustments.

Step 3: Save and Prepare for Further Editing

Once the resizing is complete, save the image back to Adobe Photoshop. After completion, a new layer will be created. Organize your layers by placing the Gigapixel AI layer into its own folder for easy management.

Enhancing Details with Topaz Labs' Photo AI

Next, we'll utilize Topaz Labs' Photo AI to sharpen the image further.

Navigate to Filter > Topaz Labs > Photo AI.
The automatic settings will apply sharpening effects, but it may be too aggressive, introducing some noise back into the image.
Adjust the sharpening strength down to around 35, then review how the overall image looks.

Step 4: Selectively Enhance Details

You can choose specific parts of the image to sharpen individually—such as a brooch on a collar in the photo.

Utilize the Paint Erase tool in Photo AI to refine which areas get sharpened.
For the brooch, erasing the effect from the surrounding areas allows you to enhance its detail without affecting the overall image.
Once satisfied, you can apply additional sharpening with different effects until achieving the desired result.

Step 5: Save and Finalize

After final adjustments, save this version back into Adobe Photoshop. Now, you can compare the before and after results. The improvements are striking, making the subject's features more defined, especially the enhanced brooch and collar.

Conclusion

Topaz Labs' Photo AI and Gigapixel AI are excellent tools for restoring and enhancing family photos. By following these steps, you can effectively breathe new life into cherished memories.

Keywords

Topaz Labs, Photo AI, Gigapixel AI, family photo restoration, JPEG compression, noise reduction, image enhancement, upscaling, sharpening, selective adjustments.

FAQ

1. What are Topaz Labs' Photo AI and Gigapixel AI?
These are software tools used for enhancing and restoring images, particularly useful for family photo restoration tasks.

2. How do I start restoring a family photo?
Start by importing the image into Gigapixel AI to remove JPEG compression and upscale the photo.

3. Can I selectively enhance parts of the image?
Yes, with Topaz Labs' Photo AI, you can selectively sharpen and enhance different areas of the image independently.

4. What size should I resize my images to?
It's common to increase the image size by 5 times its original resolution for better detailing.

5. How can I further improve my restored image?
Utilizing different sharpening effects and selective enhancements can significantly improve the overall quality of the restored image.