First we should increase the photo's contrast, for example, using the Levels command (Image -> Adjust -> Levels or Auto Levels in Adobe Photoshop).

As a result contrast in the photo has increased and the edges of scratches have become more distinct which will make the restoration process easier.

• Step 2. Launch AKVIS Retoucher plugin: select in Photoshop menu Filter -> AKVIS -> Retoucher.

  We can classify the scratches on the photo as follows:

  • the first group are the scratches on the background which can be removed by the Clone Stamp and/or Chameleon Brush ;
  • the second group are the scratches that cross different objects, for example, the child's legs and the legs of the chair. Retoucher can be helpful when restoring this type of scratches automatically. It saves you time and can also restore the texture of the damaged area without blurring it.

  Below is the original photo after constrast was increased and background scratches were removed by stamp tools:

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• Step 3. Now we can proceed to the restoration of the second group of scratches.

  Select all the defects with the Selection Brush tool .

  

  Start the restoration process of all selected areas by pressing in the Control Panel (top menu).

  When the restoration process is over you will see the following photo:

  

   

AKVIS Retoucher helped us to restore the photo of a child. We can stop here, but there is a way to make the image more expressive by adding color to it.

You can colorize the photo using AKVIS Coloriage.

Learn how to add color to this photo using Coloriage.