Short answer: to get copies of an old photo, you don’t need the negative — you make a high-resolution digital copy of the print (by scanning or carefully photographing it), then order reprints from any lab or print online. For the best result, restore the scan with AI first so your copies come out sharper and cleaner than the original.
Step 1 — Make a digital copy of the print
This is the part most people get wrong, and it determines everything downstream. You have two options:
- Flatbed scanner (best): scan at 600 DPI for standard prints, 1200 DPI for small or wallet-sized photos. Scan in colour mode even for black-and-white photos, and turn off any auto-enhance, sharpening or dust-removal toggles.
- Phone camera (good enough): lay the print on a flat, dark surface in soft, even side-light near a window. Hold the phone parallel to the print, fill the frame, avoid your own shadow and any flash, then crop to the photo.
Step 2 — Where to order the reprints
With a good digital file, you can get copies made almost anywhere:
- Online print services — cheapest per print, delivered to your door, good for bulk reprints.
- Local photo labs — fast, and you can check colour and paper in person.
- Retail photo counters — convenient kiosks for quick standard sizes.
The reprints are only ever as good as the file you give them — which is why the next step matters.
Step 3 — Make the copy better than the original
An old print has usually faded, yellowed, and picked up scratches and dust. If you copy it as-is, your reprints inherit all of that. Running the scan through AI restoration first fixes the damage and recovers detail, so the copies look better than the worn original. You can also upscale the image so it prints cleanly at larger sizes, and even add colour to a black-and-white photo.
A note on copyright
Old family photographs you own are generally fine to copy for personal use. Professional studio portraits can still be under copyright, and some labs ask for permission before reprinting anything that looks professionally made. For your own family snaps, you’re almost always clear.
The fastest path
Scan the photo, run it through Photo Repair Lab (new accounts get 20 free credits), download the high-resolution restored file, and order as many reprints as you want from your favourite lab. One good scan, unlimited clean copies. For the scanning details, see our full guide to digitising old photos at home.