tattered pictures | priceless memories
Family photos are priceless treasures! They document our lives, bring back fond memories, connect us with generations past, and oft times they are the only reminders we have left of loved ones who are no longer with us. And what do so many of us do with these precious images? We keep them tucked away in old albums or at the bottom of a drawer, in the main because they are past their prime. It's sad to think that the only remaining photo of great grandma rarely sees the light of day - which is not necessarily as bad a situation as you might think... read on!
common types of damage
A photograph's greatest enemy is light. Over time, UV will discolour and fade photographic images: the brighter the room, the faster the deterioration. (So it seems that the dark interior of the old photo album wasn't such a bad place to keep them after all!) Other common types of damage include scratching, creasing, cracking, tears, pen marks (frequently by children with artistic ambitions!), foxing (brown staining caused by acidic framing materials), fingermarks, and damage caused by condensation inside a frame. The last scenario can potentially be the worst, as it can cause framed photos to actually stick to the glass inside the frame.
how we can help
Saoirse can lovingly restore your cherished family images. Depending on the quality of the original, we can also enlarge the image for you. Call in to us with your photos and take advantage of our free advisory service to find out what we can do to help bring them back to their former glory. To give you an idea of the possibitlies, here's a little chap that came in to us in a very sorry state...
The original photo showed signs of moisture damage. The yellow discolouration has been caused by the damaging acidic properties of the low-grade mount used in the original frame. Through the magic of digital technology, he now looks much better. We've even wiped his chin!
We can repair all manner of damage to old photographs: we can even fill in missing sections where part of the photograph has been torn away. To combat the effects of fading, we will print your restored photos on professional, high-resolution printers using light-fast pigment inks. If you wish to give your restored photos added protection, we can frame them using speciality glass with UV-filters. (More information soon!) If you wish, we can also provide copies of your restored images on CD.
We also offer a photo editing service, where we can add or remove items in your photos. Find out more here.
a great gift idea!
Restored photos make great gifts for your family. We can supply your restored photos framed, or mounted to fit into a popular frame size. Or why not treat your friends by sending them a Saoirse Gift Voucher! You will shortly be able to purchase vouchers online. In the meantime, just contact us to place your order. Vouchers are presented in an exclusive Gift Card featuring the distinctive Saoirse Logo (card left blank ready for your personal message). Available voucher denominations are 10, 20, 50, 100, in any combination.
a note about copyright
We are happy to restore and manipulate any family-owned photographs, but we regret that, due to legal restrictions, we cannot provide these services for professionally-shot photographs that are still in copyright. If you are not sure whether copyright applies to your professional photos, contact the original photographer to check, or pop in to An Stiϊideo with the pictures, and we'll advise you further.