A new viral trend is taking over social media, as users turn to AI tools like Google Gemini and ChatGPT to breathe life into old, damaged photos, and the results are stunning. From faded childhood snapshots to vintage wedding portraits, these AI-powered restorations look like they were taken with a modern DSLR. Platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram are flooded with dramatic before-and-after transformations, showing pixelated memories revived in lifelike detail. With the right prompt, anyone can achieve studio-quality restoration in seconds. AI is becoming an increasingly powerful tool for preserving memories.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can restore your old photos using Gemini or ChatGPT.
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1. Upload your image: Start by uploading your scanned or photographed print to ChatGPT’s image input or Google Gemini’s editing interface. Even slightly faded photos can produce remarkable results, so clarity matters more than condition.
2. Use a detailed prompt: Edit this photo into a professional portrait of very high quality and colour, comparable to Canon EOS R5 results. Create a recent photo, with great clarity and no noise. Full HD 32k.
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3. If you want authentic emotion and texture, tweak your prompt: Restore this old photo while keeping facial details, skin tone, and lighting authentic. Enhance sharpness, remove scratches, and balance colour without over-editing.
4. Once processed, preview your restored photo. Most platforms let you adjust lighting, contrast, or saturation before downloading the high-resolution version.
5. You can post these AI restorations on Reddit, X, and Instagram, alongside your original images, creating touching, viral before-and-after stories.
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Notably, avoid over-enhancement. AI tools can sometimes oversmooth features or slightly alter faces. Keep prompts focused on authentic restoration, not beautification.