Workflow Guide

Choosing the Right Workflow

Nostalgia offers several AI tools. Using them in the right order — and knowing when to skip a step — makes a real difference in your results.

Start with the Photo Insight

Every photo uploaded to Nostalgia gets a free Photo Insight report. This tells you the photo's condition, what types of damage were detected, which tools are safe, optional, or blocked, and whether conservation guidance applies. Read this before applying anything — it often saves unnecessary steps.

Photo Insight is free — it does not use any credits. Use it on every photo to understand what you are working with before choosing tools.

Recommended Tool Order

For most photos, follow this sequence. Each step builds on the previous one.

  1. 1
    Deblur or Deglare (only if the capture is compromised)

    Use these first only when the Photo Insight shows a weak phone capture, glossy glare, or obvious shake. If you still have access to the original print, a cleaner rescan is usually better than repairing a poor capture with more AI.

  2. 2
    Restore

    Fixes structural damage — scratches, tears, fading, and age wear. This is the core step for almost every photo. Note: restore models do not work on daguerreotypes or plate-era photos — seek professional conservation for those.

  3. 3
    Colorize (only when it helps)

    Add color after repair when the restored monochrome photo still feels like it would benefit from color. Colors are plausible suggestions, not historical facts. Many photos are better left as restored black and white.

  4. 4
    Enhance or Face Enhance (if needed)

    Enhance belongs last, once the best version already exists. Use it when the repaired file is still limited by resolution or softness. Use face enhancement after Restore when a portrait or group shot still needs help around faces.

When to Skip Steps

Not every photo needs every tool. The Photo Insight report suggests which tools apply — trust it as a starting point, then adjust based on what you see.

B&W print in good conditionTry Restore only if there is visible damage. If the repaired monochrome photo already feels complete, stop there. Colorize only if it adds useful context or warmth.
Sharp color photo with one scratchRestore only — no need for Enhance or Colorize
Soft scan of a sharp printRescan first if you can. If not, Restore lightly if needed, then Enhance last
Portrait with good detailSkip Face Enhance — it helps most when faces are blurry or small

When NOT to Use AI

AI restoration is a best-effort approximation. For most family photo collections, it produces excellent results. But for archival-grade preservation of very important originals, a professional conservator may be more appropriate.

If a photo is very high-value or sentimental, consider rescanning at higher DPI before restoring. AI works better with more data, and you only get one original.

Always review results before considering them final — especially faces. The goal is faithful preservation, not a perfect AI rendering.

Deblur and Deglare: These tools help weak phone captures and glare-affected scans, but they are not substitutes for a stronger source. For glare, rescanning with indirect light or Google PhotoScan is often more reliable than AI correction.

Start your first restore

Now that you know how it works, try it yourself. Upload a photo and see the result in under a minute.

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Choosing the Right Workflow · Nostalgia Family Archive