Restoration guide · Updated September 29, 2026
How to remove yellowing from an old photo
Yellowing shifts the tone of the whole image, not just one patch. Digital restoration corrects the color of the copy; the paper follows the National Archives storage rules.
Short answer
Scan the photo and restore the copy: the restoration removes the yellow cast and rebalances whites and colors from what remains in the photo. A black-and-white or sepia photo comes back in color, with natural colors that fit the era, because the output is always in color. For the paper, the National Archives recommends storing it away from damp basements, garages and hot attics, and handling it with gloves.
Avoid
- Storing it in a hot attic, a garage or a damp basement
- Handling the photo without gloves (fingerprints can stain it permanently)
- Aged adhesive tape, ordinary glue, ordinary paper clips and PVC plastic
In this guide
What the restoration changes in the image
Yellowing is a color shift that covers the whole photo. The restoration corrects that tone in the digital copy and rebalances whites and colors from what remains in the photo.
It does not know the exact color of each object: it estimates from what is left in the photo. So check the preview carefully. Clothes and backgrounds may come out in colors different from the day the photo was taken.
On a yellowed black-and-white or sepia photo, the output is in color, with natural colors that fit the era.
And the paper? What the National Archives recommends
Keep it away from moisture and heat
The National Archives says to store photos away from damp basements, garages and hot attics, away from leaks from pipes, windows and roofs, and on a shelf so they cannot get wet. The guide's reference is a temperature below 75 °F (24 °C) and relative humidity below 65%.
Handle with gloves
The National Archives recommends handling photographs with gloves, because fingerprints can stain a photo permanently. And wash your hands before touching paper, without applying lotion.
Store in acid-free boxes and sleeves
Lignin-free, acid-free (or buffered) boxes and folders, and polyester, polypropylene or polyethylene sleeves. With L-shaped polyester sleeves, pick a size larger than the photo.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Does the restoration change the colors of the photo?
On a color photo, it corrects the yellow cast and rebalances the colors from what remains in the photo. On black and white or sepia, the output is in color, with natural colors that fit the era. These are estimated colors, not the colors of the day the photo was taken.
Does it work on a heavily yellowed photo?
The more color information remains in the photo, the better the estimate. Where the image has darkened too much, the result is interpretation. See the preview before you pay.
Do I need to treat the physical photo before scanning?
You don't need to treat the paper to restore the copy. When scanning, the National Archives asks that the whole photo fit on the scanner glass and that you handle it with gloves.
How do I store the yellowed photo?
Away from damp basements, garages and hot attics, in an acid-free box or folder and a polyester, polypropylene or polyethylene sleeve. Avoid ordinary glue, aged adhesive tape, ordinary paper clips and PVC.
How much does it cost to restore the image?
The first preview is free, with a watermark. To download without it, the entry pack costs US$2.99. Processing time varies.
References
The facts cited in this guide come from the pages below. Pages read directly on Sep 29, 2026. The institution gives Fahrenheit; the Celsius figure is our conversion (75 °F ≈ 24 °C).
- National Archives: Storing family papers and photographs (opens in a new tab) · page last reviewed by the institution on Sep 18, 2025
- National Archives: Handling family papers and photographs (opens in a new tab) · page last reviewed by the institution on Sep 20, 2019
- National Archives: Digitizing family papers and photographs (opens in a new tab) · page last reviewed by the institution on May 26, 2021
Have a yellowed photo to recover?
Scan it once, upload the copy and see the preview before you pay.
Restore this photoFree trial, no card needed. Pay only if you like it, from US$2.99.