Keep a simple index of restored photos using a plain spreadsheet or text file that lists each restored photo’s filename, the date you restored it, and a short note on what was done — this is far easier to maintain than trying to remember or guess later which photos have already been worked on.
What you need
- A spreadsheet app (like Google Sheets or Excel) or even a plain text file
- Your restored photos, ideally already saved somewhere consistent
- A few minutes after each restoration session to update the index
Decide a naming approach first
Decide on a simple, consistent naming approach for your restored photos before you start the index, such as keeping the original filename but adding ‘-restored’ at the end, so the index and the actual files stay easy to match up. This is much easier to set up before you have restored dozens of photos than to retrofit afterwards.
How to build the index
- Create a new spreadsheet or text file called something like ‘Restoration Index’.
- Set up columns (or a consistent line format in a text file) for: original filename, restored filename, date restored, and a short note on what was fixed.
- Each time you restore a photo, add one line to the index with these details, right after you finish that photo.
- If you restore a photo more than once (trying a different tool, for example), add a new line each time, so you have a record of what you tried.
- Periodically check the index against your actual restored-photos folder to make sure nothing has been missed or duplicated.
- Keep the index file itself backed up along with your photos, since losing it means losing your record of what has already been done.
Check the index matches reality
Open the index and confirm it lists a reasonable number of entries matching your actual restored photos folder, with dates and notes that make sense when you read them back. Spot-check a few entries against the actual restored files to confirm the filenames match up correctly.
If you lose track partway through
If you have already restored a number of photos without keeping track, it’s fine to build the index retroactively — go through your restored-photos folder once, and add an entry for each one with your best guess at the date, noting it as ‘date approximate’ if you are not sure. Going forward, make updating the index part of your habit right after each restoration, rather than trying to catch up in bulk later.
Next step
With a restoration index in place, it becomes much easier to compare two AI restoration results before choosing one, since you can note in the index which tool or approach you used and how well it worked.
Sources and date checked
Researched from general published guidance on personal record-keeping and spreadsheet organisation, not a hands-on test performed for this article. Date checked: 22 September 2026.