Photo Restoration for Genealogists
You have names, dates, and a family tree. Now put clear faces to them. Magic Memory uses GFPGAN AI to restore faces in old, faded, and degraded ancestor photos — turning blurry historical portraits into sharp, printable images in under 15 seconds.
Why Genealogists Need Photo Restoration
The photos that matter most to genealogy research are often the hardest to work with. Photos from the early 1900s and before were printed on fragile paper, stored in attics and basements, and scanned at low resolution decades ago. By the time they reach your family tree project, faces are often unrecognizable.
- → Faded prints — Decades of light exposure have washed out contrast and detail, especially in faces
- → Low-resolution scans — Early digitization at 72-150 DPI produced tiny files that cannot be enlarged without becoming pixelated
- → Film grain and noise — Early film stocks and small negatives produced grainy images, especially in indoor or low-light portraits
- → Physical damage — Scratches, creases, water stains, and mold from decades of improper storage
How Magic Memory Helps
Restore faces in ancestor portraits
GFPGAN reconstructs facial detail from blurry or faded inputs. Eyes, mouths, skin texture, and hair become sharp and clear, making it possible to see what your ancestors actually looked like.
Process group photos
Family reunion photos, wedding groups, and class pictures often contain multiple faces. GFPGAN detects and restores each face individually, improving every person in the photo.
Privacy-first processing
Family photos are personal. Magic Memory does not store your photos on its servers — images are processed in memory and deleted immediately after restoration. Your family history stays private.
No subscription required
Unlike MyHeritage (which requires a genealogy subscription) or Remini (which charges $9.99/week), Magic Memory offers 1 free restoration per day and credit packs from €9.99 for 30 restorations that never expire.
Genealogy Photo Restoration Workflow
- 1. Scan at high resolution — Use a flatbed scanner at 600 DPI or higher. Save as JPEG (90%+ quality) or PNG.
- 2. Upload to Magic Memory — Supports JPEG, PNG, and WebP up to 10MB. No app to install.
- 3. Download restored photo — Get the result in under 15 seconds. Compare before and after.
- 4. Add to your family tree — Use the restored photo in your genealogy software, family tree, or memorial display.
Magic Memory vs MyHeritage Photo Enhancer
| Magic Memory | MyHeritage | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €9.99 one-time (30 photos) | ~$13/month subscription |
| Free tier | 1/day, no card | Very limited |
| Photo storage | None (privacy-first) | Stored in account |
| Genealogy tools | Photo restoration only | Family trees, DNA, records |
| Credit expiry | Never expire | Monthly subscription |
Restore Your Ancestor Photos
Upload an old family photo and see the restoration in under 15 seconds. 1 free restoration per day, no credit card required. Credit packs from €9.99 for 30 restorations — enough for an entire family photo collection.
Restore a photo nowFrequently Asked Questions
Can AI restore very old photos from the 1800s?
Yes, GFPGAN can restore photos from any era as long as faces are somewhat visible. Photos from the 1800s-1900s often have fading, low contrast, and blur, all of which GFPGAN handles well. The model reconstructs facial detail that has been lost to time, producing clearer results than the original scan.
Does Magic Memory store my genealogy photos?
No. Magic Memory does not store your photos on its servers. Photos are processed in memory and deleted immediately after restoration. Your family photos remain private. You download the restored version and the original is never retained.
How do I get the best results from ancestor photos?
Scan your physical photos at 600 DPI or higher using a flatbed scanner. Save as JPEG at 90%+ quality or PNG for lossless. Make sure faces are visible and not cropped out. Even very small faces in group photos can be improved, but larger face areas produce the best results.
Can I restore multiple ancestor photos at once?
Magic Memory processes one photo at a time through the web interface. You get 1 free restoration per day. For larger genealogy projects, credit packs start at €9.99 for 30 restorations — enough for an entire family photo collection. Credits never expire.
Ready to restore your memories?
Start with your free daily restoration. No credit card required.