KIM LYNCH

Photo restoration

Kim has used Photoshop tools to retouch, restore, edit and create images for 20 years.

There are two steps involved in restoring a photo: Scanning and Retouching.

Restoration and photo-illustration are best done by an experienced artist or illustrator.

Restoration & Retouching

Kim has been been using a digital stylus for over twenty years, was trained in fine art and worked as a traditional illustrator for twenty years before the digital age kicked in.

This means he can restore old photos in the style of the period, add or remove the dog - or turn it into a dinosaur..

Your artwork comes in any resolution you need. For instance if you need something for a brochure or magazine you will get a print-resolution image at no extra cost. (Unless there is serious scaling-up involved).

If you need a picture for a website as well, the image will be re-scaled to the exact size and type that works best for the internet at no extra cost.

Your finished images will be provided on disk, uploaded to Dropbox, copied to a USB stick or provided as prints.

Pricing

Pricing is tricky these days because there are hundreds of different digital camera types, each with its own colour quirks. There is no set fix that can apply to all types.

Estimates are based on anticipating the time it would take - under one hour, under two hours or much more.

$35 Clean-up from scan, (straightening, colour-correction, contrast adjust, etc,).

$50 Faded photos with minor blemishes, spots and scratches.

$50 per hour Photo retouch and restore degraded photo or subject (remove/add people or objects, cracks, tears, blotches, etc,).

It would be less for bulk batches.

Scanning is free for batches of four or more. For single photos there is a scanning charge of $10.

You get an A5 size print (6"x4") on photo gloss or matt paper free with every restoration.

Your finished photos will be supplied as digital files in two sizes, one ready to print at A4 size and the other suitable for web pages. High resolution sizes up to A2 are no problem.

Printing

I can not compete with photo print prices at shops like Officeworks who have either big machines, or who outsource to China for 24 hour turnaround. I will consider making high-end Museum standard prints starting at $20. Museum is good for 200 years if protected from UV light. The printer is an Epson Stylus Photo that uses nine inks of archival quality.

Scanning

I can scan photos that fit on an A4 sheet of paper. If your photos are already digitised, our job is easier. Photographs need to be scanned, and there are all types of scanners from cheap home printer/copier/scanner models to professional grade machines.

If you need high resolution scans for product shots or fine art you should really consider having them done by a specialist scanning service.

Scanning companies will often offer retouching and restoration services.
Prices and quality vary a lot.

You can ask to have your photos archived onto disk by one of these companies and then take your time to shortlist the pictures you would like us to restore. You will be able to view them on your home computer. Hi-res images should be in TIFF or RAW formats. Ask them to provide scans at 600dpi minimum for print sizes larger than A4. 300dpi is sufficient for A4 prints. Do not accept JPG scans.