Yellowed or faded photo: bring back the contrast, and the colour if needed
Many prints from the 1950s to the 1980s have turned yellow, washed out or lost their punch. Souvenotte restores contrast by working on brightness, cleans the image while doubling its size and, when the photo has faded to almost a single tint, suggests colours. You see the full result on a free preview before paying anything.
Drop your photos
Up to 20 at once. A scan or a phone picture is enough, 25 MB max.
Free watermarked preview. Photos are deleted automatically after 7 days.
free preview, HD from €1.99
How to digitise a yellowed photo
- Daylight, no flash
A flash leaves a white glare on glossy paper and makes the yellow look worse. Work near a window, out of direct sun, rather than under a warm table lamp.
- Skip the filters
Upload the photo as it is. Phone filters and auto-enhance can flatten tones the restoration would otherwise recover.
- Include the edges
Frame slightly wider than the picture, yellowed borders included. You can crop later in the Studio if you order a print.
Steps for a yellowed photo
- 1. Digitise Scanner or phone, in natural light, with no flash or glare.
- 2. Keep the automatic colour setting A photo faded to almost one tint is colourised; one that still has real colours keeps them and simply regains contrast.
- 3. Compare Drag the before/after slider on the preview. Not keen on the colours? Redo it in black and white from the photo page, free of charge.
- 4. Keep it HD without watermark for €1.99, or a print with the look of your choice in the Studio.
Yellowed photos: what the tool does well, and what it misses
- Good at: contrast Depth is recovered gently on brightness only, without pushing the existing colours.
- Good at: badly faded prints A print reduced to one yellow or brown tint is treated as black and white, then colourised.
- Worth knowing: the cast is not removed on its own A photo that still has real colours is not recoloured, so a slight warm tint can remain. The black-and-white look in the Studio removes it on a print.
- Worth knowing: colours are imagined When the photo is colourised, the colours are plausible, not the original ones.
Frequently asked questions
My photo is yellow but still in colour. Will it be recoloured?
Only if almost no colour is left. Otherwise it keeps its colours and gains contrast and sharpness. You can force colourisation when you upload if you prefer.
How do I get rid of the yellow completely?
Either force colourisation, which lays new colours over the restored image, or choose the black-and-white or sepia look for a print. More on how AI colourisation works.
How do I stop my other prints yellowing?
Generally: keep them away from light, heat and damp, in suitable sleeves. See our tips on how to store old photos.
How much does it cost?
The preview is free. HD without watermark is €1.99, or €9.99 for 10 if a whole album has yellowed. No subscription.