How to Separate Documentary and Creative Photo Edits
By ImgHeal · Updated
Keep a faithful restoration distinct from imaginative color, background changes, and reconstructed scenes.
Set the project's purpose
Define a documentary derivative that limits changes to visible damage, orientation, and restrained tone. Define creative versions separately when they add color, remove objects, extend backgrounds, or invent missing detail.
Make a documented plan
Use filenames, folders, and embedded notes that state the edit class. Start every version from the best source rather than from a previously altered social copy.
Review whether the result serves the goal
Review captions and exports so a creative version cannot be mistaken for the source. Keep the documentary copy and original scan available wherever historical claims are made.
Check before you finish
- Define edit classes before work.
- Label files and captions clearly.
- Keep source and documentary copies together.
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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