Scan old photos so the restoration has more to work with
A restoration can only be as good as the scan it starts from. A few minutes of preparation at the scanner gives the bot sharper edges, truer tones and fewer dust specks to remove. Here is a short routine that works for most family prints.
- 2 credits per image
- Result in 1–2 minutes
- No sign-up
In short: Scan old prints the right way: resolution, clean glass, flat placement, file format and what to avoid. Then send the scan to the Telegram bot, 7 free images.
- Where: the VisuMate bot in Telegram, no app or sign-up.
- Cost: 2 credits per image, 7 images free, then packs from 129 Telegram Stars.
- Time: 1 to 2 minutes per image, rerun with a new instruction at the same price.
- Credits never expire, there is no subscription and no auto-renew. You pay once for a pack inside Telegram with Stars.
When you need this
- Scans come out with dust and fingerprints.
- Low resolution leaves faces too small to fix.
- Compressed files lose detail before restoration starts.
How to do it
- 1
Press the button to open @visumate_ai_bot in Telegram. No sign-up, and new users get 15 free credits, which is 7 images.
- 2
Scan the print as a TIFF or a high-quality JPEG and send it to the bot as a file. In the caption write what to fix, for example 'remove dust, restore contrast, keep the original tones'.
- 3
The restored copy arrives in 1-2 minutes for 2 credits. Compare it with your scan at full size, then store both files together.
Try it on your own photo: 7 images are free, no sign-up.
Make it in TelegramResolution and format
The Library of Congress suggests 300 dpi for common print sizes such as 5x7 and 8x10 inches, and notes that the right value depends on the original. Many families scan small or fragile prints at a higher setting, such as 600 dpi, so a face can be cropped and enlarged later. Save a master copy as TIFF, and make JPEG copies for sharing.
Handling the print
Place the print face down on clean glass and close the lid gently, without pressing. For brittle or curled prints, a phone photo in even daylight is safer than forcing it flat. Never scan a print stuck to glass or one with flaking emulsion on a flatbed. Scan the back as well, because notes, stamps and dates there help you identify people later.
Tips
- Wipe the scanner glass with a lint-free cloth.
- Handle prints by the edges with clean dry hands.
- Turn off automatic color fixes and sharpening.
- Name files with the year, place and people.
Questions and answers
Is a phone photo good enough?
For fragile prints, yes, if the light is even and the camera is straight above the print.
Should I fix the scan before sending it?
No. Send it untouched, so the bot works from all the original data.
What does it cost?
2 credits per image. New users get 15 free credits, so 7 images cost nothing. After that packs start at 129 Telegram Stars, about $2.6 and credits do not expire.
Does the bot work in English?
Yes. It picks up your Telegram language on first launch. You can switch it any time with /lang.
What the bot does not do
- Does not print photos and does not retouch passport or ID photos.
- Does not promise a fixed pixel size. Check the result at full size before printing.
- Heavily damaged faces are reconstructed by AI and may not look like the person. Compare with another photo.
- Does not make video or animate the photo.
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