View both restored versions side by side at the same zoom level, check them against the original for accuracy rather than just polish, and pick the one that keeps the person recognisable.
What you need
- Two different restored versions of the same photo (from two tools, or two settings of the same tool)
- The original, unrestored photo
- A large enough screen to view images side by side — a phone works, but a laptop or tablet makes this easier
- 10 to 15 minutes
Why the glossier one isn’t always right
The most polished-looking restoration is not always the most accurate one. A version that looks glossier can sometimes have invented detail that was not really there — this comparison is about accuracy as much as appearance.
How to compare the two versions
- Open both restored versions and the original in an app that lets you view images side by side — a file browser’s preview pane, or opening them in separate windows works.
- Zoom all three to the same level, ideally 100%, so you are comparing like with like rather than one image just looking sharper because it is bigger on screen.
- Look at the face first. Check that eyes, nose and mouth are still in proportion and recognisably the same person in both versions.
- Check any area that had visible damage in the original — a crease, tear or stain. See how each tool handled it: did it fill the gap with something plausible, or does it look smudged or obviously wrong?
- Check the background and edges of the photo too, not just the main subject — some tools handle backgrounds much better or worse than faces.
- Pick the version that looks most like a real, undamaged version of the original photo, rather than the version that simply looks the most dramatic or artistic.
Check you can explain your choice
You should be able to point to specific reasons for your choice — for example, this one kept a relative’s nose the right shape — rather than just a general impression. If you are unsure, ask a family member who remembers the person to compare the two versions with you.
If neither version feels right
If both versions look overly smoothed, see Soften heavy AI restoration so a face still looks right for how to dial either one back. If neither version feels trustworthy, it is fine to keep the plain scanned original as the safe copy and treat both restorations as experiments.
Next step
Batch-edit a set of scanned photos the same way is useful once you have settled on a restoration approach you trust and want to apply it more widely.
Sources and date checked
General good practice drawn from Topaz Photo AI, Luminar Neo and Photoshop Elements documentation on restoration features. Checked 22 September 2026. Researched guidance, not a hands-on side-by-side test performed for this article.