FondlyRestore antique photos from the 1800s
Tintypes, daguerreotypes and cabinet cards are the oldest faces in many families. Repair the cracks and tarnish and see your ancestors clearly.
Taking a picture of a print? Lay it flat by a window in daylight and turn off the flash, so there's no glare.
What a lovely photo. Choose what it needs:
✦ Deep repair is our most powerful restoration, included with credits and Pro. 50 photos for $9, no subscription. Unlock Deep repair →
Faces are brought back into focus automatically. Your photo stays private and is deleted within an hour. By restoring it you confirm you may use it and agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy, including how faces are handled.
This usually takes under a minute. Please keep this page open.
Welcome back
Drag the little circle to see the before and after.
Print sizes 4×6, 5×7 and 8×10, cut to shape for any photo lab
A lovely gift: print it and frame it for someone in the photo. Drugstore photo centers print 4×6 to 8×10 the same day. Or give a Fondly gift card →
How to restore antique photos from the 1800s
- Photograph or scan the photo without opening sealed cases or removing glass from daguerreotypes.
- Angle the light to avoid reflections: tintypes and daguerreotypes are mirror-like.
- Drop the image into the box above; scratch repair is on. For crackled or flaking surfaces, choose ✦ Deep repair.
- Compare with the slider and download.
Know your antique photo
- Daguerreotype (1840s–1850s): an image on polished silver, in a hinged case. Mirror-like; the image flips between positive and negative as you tilt it.
- Ambrotype (1850s–1860s): an image on glass, backed with black, also in a case.
- Tintype (1850s–1900s): an image on thin, dark iron; often scratched, bent or rusty at the edges.
- Carte de visite and cabinet card (1860s–1900s): paper prints mounted on card, often faded to yellow-brown.
Handle them gently
Never clean the surface of a daguerreotype or ambrotype, and do not take them out of their cases: the image can be wiped off with a touch. Scan or photograph them as they are. Restoration does the cleaning digitally, without any risk to the original.
What restoration can and cannot do
- Cracks, scratches, spots and tarnish around the edges: repaired well, especially with Deep repair.
- Soft, low-detail faces from long exposures: sharpened and rebuilt.
- Mirror glare captured in the scan: reshoot instead; restoration cannot see through reflections.
- Colorizing: works beautifully, but colors are a well-informed guess, not a historical record.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my tintype look like a negative in the scan?
Light reflecting off the metal can reverse the image. Tilt the photo or the light until the picture looks positive, then capture it. Using a dark card to block reflections helps.
Should I colorize an 1800s portrait?
Try it: seeing an ancestor in color is often very moving. Keep the restored original-tone version too, and label the colorized one as colorized.
Do you keep my photos?
No. Your photo is processed by our AI provider and deleted within an hour. We never store, view or train on your photos.