Restoration Frequently Asked Questions
How does resoration work?
Digital restoration is the art of refreshing the color and condition of damaged or faded images. It is half digital manipulation and half sheer artistry; sometimes entire sections of an image must be hand drawn when there is too much damage. The results are an image that is often better than the original.
Do you hurt my original print?
Digital restoration is done to a copy of the image; your original will not be changed or harmed in any way during the normal restoration process. In the very rare case that the process of obtaining that digital copy may have a chance of harming your image, you will be fully informed every step of the way. These are your precious memories, and we treat them appropriately. Most restoration originals leave the studio with you on the day that you order; they don't even have to remain in the studio overnight.
What can be restored?
Actually, there are very few images that can't be restored. Digital manipulation has taken the world of photo restoration far beyond what we could have done ten years ago. As one of the first studios in the area to go digital, we've been working with these tools for a long time. We've seen pictures that have been torn in half, water damaged, and badly faded in the sun. It's amazing how beautiful these images can look. We can even colorize or enlarge images far past what one would think possible.
How long does restoration take?
That depends entirely on the image. But most of the time, we can have the restored image printed and in your hands in three to four weeks. Rush orders are possible as well; if you have a deadline, please let us know so we can get your images to you as soon as possible.
Do you own the rights to the image once I have you restore it?
We do own the rights to the restored image. The original is yours to do with what you like, but the restored image is copyright mystic images. Copying of the restored image is illegal.
Can I come back and order more copies?
Absolutely! We keep your digital files on our secured storage for at least seven years. Often it is much longer than that. With orders more than a few years old there may be a delay as we retrieve the files from our archives, but we will keep the files for years to come.
