FAQ's     Photo Retouching - Restoration & Repair - Artistic Photo Enhancement What will it cost? TIME is the determining factor in cost, not the detail being corrected. Skin smoothing or person removal could be 5 minutes or 1/2 hour depending on the nature or complexity of the photograph. So to be honest, I really do have to see the photo to understand it's needs.  So, UPLOADING your file is the most important factor in giving you an honest price.  Simple work such as removing a few  blemishes or correcting overall color can be $4. On the other hand, fixing 7 different features may only be $10. A single price for one kind of fix cannot be set because that same fix on two different photos could take very different lengths of time.  Also, the more photos you send the cheaper each piece becomes due to efficiency on our side. In general most photos we see run a simple $4 to $18 for detailed work. Very advanced work can be $24, but this is just to give you some idea. And, simple fixes on 50 photos may run you $2 per photo.  * In this type of work, we honestly need to see the photo to offer a fair quote in advance. Be careful if another company offers a flat rate without seeing your photo.  1.) What are the basic steps involved in having my photos processed? There is a detailed list of How-To Steps... However, to summarize, you simply detail what you need done on the UPLOAD photos page. I send a quote, you approve my completed work, I send a payment email accepting Credit Card or Paypal™, then you receive the final product.  What else can we do for your photos?  2.) What detailed techniques are available? See a list of capabilities.  3.) How can I obtain the best digital-scans of my photos if I prefer to send image files electronically? There is a Scan Resolution Calculator on the bottom of the scanning Tips page. If you need to understand more, here is an explanation of scanning resolution. 4.) What scanning resolution should I use if I am sending you prints? See the Scan Resolution Calculator.  Please save the resulting image in either TIFF or JPEG.  If it is JPG, please select the highest number for quality, otherwise it degrades the quality of the image. Email us if you are sending another file type. 5.) Can I send printed copies of my photo instead? Yes, just keep in mind that the better (or larger) the copy I have to work with, the better the quality of the outcome. This choice would depend on your final quality requirements. Call with any questions. Note that I am located in the United States.  6.) How should I package my photos if I prefer to MAIL them to you? See our Mailing Suggestions. Note that I am located in the United States.  7.) Is it safe if I send my original photos? Yes, I take great care with your photo and the original is never altered. All photo services are performed on digitally scanned copies only. Your original will remain unaltered, and will be shipped back to you insured and unharmed. See this for MAILING info. Note that we are located in the United States. 8.) I don't want to Mail my photos - and I don't have a scanner - what can I do? You can obtain a quality digital scan of your photos at most local photo or copy stores such as; OfficeMax™, Staples™, or Fed-x / Kinko's™.  Simply request that they be scanned at a high resolution such as 600 DPI or above, AND scanned at FULL COLOR (even if your images is Black & White). Check with me on the required scanning resolution if you are unsure, or to understand more, here is an explanation of scanning resolution. The store will give you a CD which you can then mail (MAILING info), or UPLOAD to us on this website. 9.) Can you fix mold, stains and tears on photos? Definitely... I can overcome moderate stains and even piece together torn up photos, patching them back together invisibly. I can even reconstruct missing parts of photos. 10.) Can you work with slides, negatives or transparencies?  - Yes. 11.) Do you have a list for your advanced artistic enhancement capabilities?  See examples of advanced Artistic Treatments that are available.   12.) Can you work with nude photography? Yes... However, clearly NOT children. Please READ the specifics in our Terms of Service and Conditions Agreement under paragraph 3 of the section "THE USE OF IMAGES ". 13.) Can you work with RAW camera files? yes! 14.) My photo is stuck to glass, or is stuck to broken glass. DO NOT attempt to separate it... this will most likely cause irreparable damage. Begin by carefully removing any loose, broken glass that isn't adhering to your photo. Any glass that is adhering should be left where it's at. When you send it, tape the glass and photo between two pieces of stiff cardboard and tape firmly so nothing moves. Pack it securely. Here are packaging & mailing tips. 15.) Can you make small photos larger? Yes, small photos may be enlarged up to a point where grain or speckles begin to appear. Depending on the original quality, I have a few tricks up my sleeve for making images bigger. If you are scanning the photo yourself, call so that I can suggest a resolution --or-- if you would rather not call, click here to see our Scan Resolution Calculator  or a table for resolution suggestions. Also, small photos can often have artistic treatments applied that naturally MASK low quality.  See the advanced Artistic Treatments that are available. And what else can we do for your photos?   16.) Do you offer custom work or artistic modifications? Yes, creative work makes my job more interesting! Just let me know what you need done. If I cannot do it, I won't take the job.  Here are some examples of artistic treatments. 17.) What is your GUARANTEE? Basically I offer a Full money back guarantee if I cannot meet your requirements. Isn't that the way it should be? I want you to be satisfied with the results of your order. Other specifics are spelled out in the Terms of Service and Conditions Agreement. 18.) What will I receive back after the work is complete? Digital versions of your photos are returned to you free within the Editing prices quoted for Basic, Intermediate and Advanced work. They may be emailed to you or may be download off this website. Optional Prints and file copies on a CD have Add-On fees. You will receive two digital files - one sized for making prints (300dpi), and one sized for viewing on a computer and/or website (72dpi), or whatever size you require. All original materials sent, such as photos, slides, negatives etc. - will be returned promptly via insured, registered postal mail with a small shipping fee. For most orders received, the final work product is a professionally crafted, fully processed, digital-image file. Your digital-image file(s) may also be returned via email, or downloaded from this website.  If you ordered any prints, CDs, or other hardcopy materials, they will be mailed.  19.) How do you retouch and/or restore photos? I manually make each adjustment, and in the proper sequence, in order to maintain the best quality possible. While automatic adjustments by simple software is certainly easier, these automated photo adjustments produce noticeably inferior results. I view each photo as unique, and apply a variety of professional editing tools and techniques to carefully bring out the best image quality possible. 20.) How do I review my finished photographs? Prior to completion, I provide a Watermarked Proof preview of your image for your final approval via email. In some cases, this process may involve more than one editing/preview cycle with you. Once you are satisfied with the results, I will send your finished product. You will always retain the final authority when deciding if you are satisfied with the results of the work. 21.) How and What payment methods do you accept? I accept Money Orders, Cashiers Checks, Checks, Credit Cards and payments through PayPal™. Do not send your credit card info, for your and our safety, I never actually see your credit card information, as it is routed through the trusted Paypal™ website. To complete online payments, I send you an email containing a payment link, offering payment via Credit Card or Paypal™. You may also send a Money Order, Cashiers Check, or Personal Check by US mail. (Allow 3-10 days for Personal Checks to clear before service can begin.) The mailing address is on the contact page. NOTE: Credit Card charges and invoices use the company name ZIPADEEDOODAH, as this is my other business since 1988. 22.) How long will it take? Based on my workload, most jobs take 1 to 3 working days to complete. If your photograph needs severe restoration or custom manipulation/retouching it may take longer. You will be given an estimate of the time required before your project begins.   23.) Can I get a Rush Order? Based on the complexity of your order, most rush jobs can be ready in less than 18 hours (from prepayment time) for an extra charge (see pricing), plus the cost of any express shipping method you may request. 24.) Do you offer Prints? With our disk you can go to any photo outlet, drug store or service where it is inexpensive. Need long lasting ARCHIVAL quality prints? If you require quality long lasting prints, our prints are professional archival grade on Epson's Ultra Premium Photo Luster paper stock using 80 year archival quality inks. However, with the finished 'digital' files I provide, you can have any Store or Photo Shop provide you with unlimited prints. Digital versions of your images are included free with the Editing work. However, mailing physical prints or CD's requires a charge. QTY discounts available. Shipping must be added and shipping on photos over 8x14 must be quoted, it's a bit extra.  NOTE: Shipping within the USA via regular mail/insured is usually $3 to $6. Outside the United States must be calculated, but is usually $14 sent USPS Priority Mail. 25.) What is the "fine print" regarding your services guarantee? See Terms of Service and Conditions Agreement. 26.) Natural Retouching  Photo retouching and photo restoration, also called digital picture editing, can include image restoration, photo manipulation, and photo repair. We use Photoshop to apply advanced natural retouching and repair techniques to affect photographic repair, photo enhancement, headshot retouching, beauty portrait or beauty pageant retouching and general glamour photo enhancements. Whether for personal or professional use, all edited images appear to have a natural touch, undetectable to the untrained viewer. From family photos to professional works, the number of solutions are surprising!