How to Digitize an Old Photo Button or Medallion
By ImgHeal · Updated
An old badge or medallion can hold a unique portrait behind a glossy covering. Its decorative design and small curved image need to be copied together before you decide what to restore.
Document the button's construction
Make a front image and, when it can be handled safely, a reverse image showing the pin, stand, or maker's mark. Early photo buttons can combine a photograph, printed mat, plastic cover, and metal support. Do not open the rim or remove the covering to reach the image. Keep any loose or damaged item supported and seek conservation advice before handling it repeatedly.
Photograph the complete front
Start with the entire button rather than a face crop. Floral, patriotic, or organizational decoration may explain the portrait's use. Position the camera so the central image is as square as practical, then inspect the curved edges. A phone held too close can exaggerate shape and leave only the center sharp. Try a supported camera position and compare the face at its actual recorded scale.
Control cover reflections
Use broad soft illumination and move the light or camera slightly to reduce reflections. Check whether a bright patch is a reflection on the cover or deterioration that stays in place across views. Do not wet, polish, or heat the covering. A crack in plastic may cross the portrait and cannot always be eliminated by capture alone; retain a condition image that makes the obstruction clear.
Keep a linked portrait derivative
Try ImgHeal on a duplicate of the best portrait copy if useful, then inspect the mouth, eye placement, and decorative border against the source. A separate editor may help with a deliberate crop or local correction. Save the complete button record and both sides with a shared identifier. Label any reconstructed portrait area so the cleaned digital image does not become mistaken for an unobstructed original photograph.
Before you save the viewing copy
- Keep the composite button assembled.
- Record maker marks and decoration.
- Link the portrait crop to complete object images.
Further reading
- AIC Photographic Materials Group: Photo buttonsA conservation study describes photo buttons as composite objects with photographs, mats, plastic coverings, and metal supports.
Continue with a related guide
Try a restoration on a copy of your photo
Keep the original scan. Upload a separate digital copy, review ImgHeal’s generated result, and decide whether it suits your needs.
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