Local Photo RestoreWhat size can you print a restored old photo?
Start with the saved file’s pixel dimensions, then divide by your chosen pixels per inch. At a planning target of 300 pixels per inch, 1800 × 1200 pixels covers a 6 × 4 inch print. Extra pixels from AI enlargement can make a larger file; they do not guarantee new, accurate detail. Check faces and order a small test print before an important enlargement.
Local Photo Restore improves clarity, resolution, yellow tint and faded existing color on iPhone and iPad. It costs $3.99 once in the U.S. App Store, with no subscription or in-app purchases. It prepares a digital copy; it does not order prints, repair scratches or tears, remove glare, or colorize black-and-white photos.
1. Check the exported file, not a screenshot
Save the restored photo as a new copy in Photos. Open that saved image and view its information: note the width and height in pixels. Check this final file rather than the editor preview, a screenshot of the comparison, or a small copy sent through a messaging app.
Use the original scan or camera capture as your starting point. If the print is blurred, reflected in glass, or photographed at an angle, first follow the old-print capture checklist. A larger file will not recover a face hidden by a bright reflection.
2. Compare pixels with the print size you want
Pixels per inch (PPI) describes how the image’s pixels are spread across a print. For planning, multiply the print width and height in inches by a target PPI. The table uses 300 PPI as an example; your print service may recommend a different resolution for its product and viewing distance.
| Print size | Pixels needed | Shape |
|---|---|---|
| 4 × 6 inches | 1200 × 1800 | 2:3 |
| 5 × 7 inches | 1500 × 2100 | 5:7 |
| 8 × 10 inches | 2400 × 3000 | 4:5 |
| 8 × 12 inches | 2400 × 3600 | 2:3 |
| 10 × 10 inches | 3000 × 3000 | Square |
These are arithmetic examples, not measured print-quality results or a promise that enhancement will produce those dimensions. A 2400 × 3000 image fits 8 × 10 inches at 300 PPI; at 240 PPI it fits 10 × 12.5 inches. Its appearance still depends on focus, compression, enhancement artifacts, paper and the printer.
Changing a file’s DPI or PPI label alone does not add image detail. “300 DPI” in a printer upload form is not proof that a small, soft image will make a clear enlargement.
3. Leave room for the print shop’s crop
An old square photo and a 4 × 6 print have different shapes. Filling the rectangle will crop the photo unless you choose borders or fit the whole image. Check that the shop’s preview keeps faces, hands and dates inside the printable area.
For example, a 3000 × 3000 square cropped to a 2:3 portrait becomes 2000 × 3000 pixels. At 300 PPI that is about 6.7 × 10 inches, even though the original square was 10 × 10 inches. Use the dimensions after your final crop when planning a print.
4. Understand the app’s enlargement limit
Local Photo Restore uses on-device AI enlargement up to 4×, with output capped near 17 megapixels. A larger input does not always become four times larger in each dimension; the processing limit can reduce that increase. Check your saved result rather than multiplying the source dimensions and assuming the answer.
The app is an enhancer, not a historical reconstruction tool. Predicted texture can look plausible while changing fine details. Keep the untouched capture alongside the restored copy and read what AI photo restoration cannot verify. Repeatedly enhancing the same result is not a substitute for a better scan.
5. Inspect the result and make a small test print
- Compare the saved result and original at a similar on-screen size, then inspect faces, eyes, handwriting, jewelry and patterned clothing.
- If the enhanced version changes a recognizable face or invents distracting texture, use the original or a gentler adjustment.
- Check the printer’s crop, color and resolution warnings. Review whether its automatic corrections will alter your carefully adjusted copy.
- Order a small test from the same print service and paper before ordering a large or irreplaceable presentation copy.
- Keep the physical photograph and untouched digital capture safe. A restored print is a new interpretation, not your archive master.
When a new scan is the better investment
If you want a large print but only have a tiny compressed copy, look for the original negative, slide, print or highest-resolution scan. A better capture may preserve detail that an AI model can only guess. Fragile or badly damaged originals may need a specialist scanner or restorer. Local Photo Restore does not repair physical damage; see options for scratched or torn photos.
Preparing pictures for a screen instead of paper? Follow the separate family slideshow workflow.
Product price, version and device requirements checked against the U.S. App Store listing on October 24, 2026. Print sizes above are calculations, not physical print tests.
Local Photo Restore costs $3.99 once in the U.S. App Store, with no subscription or in-app purchases. iPhone and iPad, iOS or iPadOS 18.2 or later.