DIGITAL PHOTO RESTORATION: ART & TECHNOLOGY

Before

After

WHY CHOOSE FOUNTAIN STUDIO?
My background is in fine art. I've been working as a professional watercolor and mixed-media artist since graduating from the University of Arizona, and have been doing digital painting and image editing for three decades. So you will not only get all the benefit of technology, but you'll also get an "artist's eye" every time I work on an image for you, whether it's a basic clean up and print job or something that requires an imaginative, creative approach. You'll see the difference!

WHAT I DO FOR YOU
I do not work on the original photograph. All work is done digitally, beginning with a high quality scan of your treasured image. I will not make global, indiscriminate corrections except to perhaps remove an entire unwanted background. Quality digital correction involves enlarging the image 200-300% and occasionally working on it pixel by pixel. The basic process involves scanning, digitally correcting the image, and finally printing the image and/or burning it to a CD, DVD or flash drive for archiving so that no further deterioration of the image will occur.

No work is farmed out. I will not take any more work than I can do myself, and those jobs are given the careful, meticulous attention you deserve.

If you need to have your original photo or document repaired, please contact:
The American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works at (202)452-9545
They will help you locate someone in your area that does this type of restoration work. 

THE PROCESS
When I receive an email or phone inquiry, the first thing I will ask you is what you intend to do with the restored image. Some people just want decades of old photos scanned to a digital format where they can look at them on their TV, smart phone, tablet or computer. Others want the images fully restored digitally and printed, perhaps even framed so they are ready to gift or display. You may want someone removed from a photo, or someone added. You may want a different or no background. If your photo is an odd size, but you want it to fit standard photo frame sizes, you may want me to create a "faux" mat around the image, do a special crop, or digitally extend the image so that it will fit a standard size frame. I will ask you what size you want the final image to be (which influences how I scan it).

I will quote you a price once I have seen the actual photo(s). If you want a "best guess" estimate, you can email me a low-resolution image to look at, but generally, the final cost quote cannot be made until I see the actual photo that needs work. I will also tell you if I don't think the image can be successfully restored.

Once I give you a price, you can decide whether or not to proceed. If you want to have me scan photos to digital format, or digitally restore your photos, they can either be hand-delivered, mailed, or in rare cases, emailed to me. I do not require a deposit. I will restore the image to the point I believe it to be ready to print. You will then get a low-resolution PROOF image to either approve for printing or make suggestions for further corrections. After the proof image is approved by you, I print your photos on archival paper in the finish of your choice— matte, semi-gloss, or gloss. I also create a CD, DVD or thumb (flash) drive with the original scan and the final, restored images on it for your use if you want to make more prints, or share the digital image with family and friends. Payment in full is due when the photos are picked up. You may pay in cash, with a personal check, a credit or debit card, or with your PayPal account if you have one.

YOUR SATISFACTION IS GUARANTEED
I want you to love your restored photos, and I will do everything possible to make that happen. And in the unlikely event that you're not happy (that hasn't happened yet), you don't have to accept or pay for the photos or my time.