How to Rank Sources Before Starting a Photo Restoration Batch
By ImgHeal · Updated
Compare completeness, real detail, capture defects, and provenance so each restoration starts from a useful source rather than simply the largest file.
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Compare meaningful properties
Inspect framing, focus, tonal detail, compression, and previous edits at equivalent scale. A greater pixel count or byte size does not guarantee more authentic information. Record why one candidate is preferred, especially if another has a wider crop or an important inscription. Source selection can involve preserving several useful files rather than declaring one universally best.
Identify recapture opportunities
Note glare, skew, clipped tones, and scanner artifacts that could be improved by a safer new capture. Separate these from physical damage in the print. Obtain a stronger scan before repeating restoration attempts when practical. A ranking should lead to a useful action rather than hide an obvious problem behind a numerical quality score.
Retain alternate evidence
Keep useful secondary sources and their provenance even when they are not processed. They may support captions or expose an unwanted generated change. Record the exact chosen input. If that choice changes later, update the derivative relationship so final exports remain tied to the file that actually produced them, preserving earlier decisions as part of the project history.
Check before finishing
- Sources are compared at equal scale.
- Recapture opportunities are identified.
- The input and useful alternatives remain traceable.
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