We often get asked this question and there is no real way to answer it accurately. Each photograph we restore is unique and requires its own approach. If you bring in the photograph or email us a digital image we can assess it and provide you with a firm quote. Often people find the cost is more affordable than they had imagined.

Duplicating originals of this nature requires special techniques. Often people come in with straight copies with poor results. Visit us with your original and we can advise you on what can be done.

Absolutely, we can work from any sized originals. Often times a photograph can be larger that is often practical for display.

All our restoration work is performed digitally and therefore the original remains safe and untouched. Only a trained conservator should ever attempt to treat an original and this type of work focuses on chemical stabilization rather than cosmetic enhancement.

Before digital imaging the normal duplication method was to use a camera to produce a copy print, The copy was then restored using inks, dyes and airbrushing before being re-photographed to produce a negative from which the final prints were made. All these steps resulted in a loss of quality at each stage. Digital imaging has provided a means to produce higher quality images and more scope for improvements. Producing a good reproductions requires care and poor quality results from "1 Hour Express" stores has given some bad first impressions of digital prints.

All our restoration work is performed digitally and therefore the original remains safe and untouched. Only a trained conservator should ever attempt to treat an original and this type of work focuses on chemical stabilization rather than cosmetic enhancement.

A question we are often asked, this is very straightforward. We can also convert colour images to a range of sepia and colour tones.

Black and White or sepia images can be "hand coloured" digitally. The resulting image has similar qualities to the oil coloured portraits popular in the 1940's.

Often photographs have been glued into albums using glue that over time becomes very strong. In this case it is advised you don’t attempt to remove the photograph, we can duplicate while still in the album. People often visit us with photographs that have been torn apart when removed from an album. A Photographic Conservator can chemically remove photographs that are very valuable.

Newspapers can be very tricky to reproduce and older papers tend to have degraded significantly. We can however work with them and have achieved some very good results. Tears, Stains and other damage can be restored when duplicating.

We can focus in on subjects in group photographs. Objects and people around can be removed, darkened or
blurred to produce a distraction free portrait. People who appear seperatley in a photographs or even in two different photograph can be merged together to provide a couple portrait.

We have completed a number of jobs of this nature. Depending on the original binding and condition of the document, the pages can be either scanned or photographed. In some instances the pages can be digitally enhanced to improve appearance and legibility. Finished duplicates can be printed in a variety of forms, from quality bound books to economical colour laser duplicates. The digital scans are supplied on CD in an image or PDF format.

We have duplicated a number of portrait paintings. We can work with paintings up to about 20x30". Finished duplicates can take the form of framed canvases imitating the look of the original painting or prints on fine art paper.

You have two options in this case. The first and most recommended is to have quality duplications made of your images for the purposes of display. You can then safely store your originals as discussed above. The second option is to have the originals framed to a conservation grade. This use of special mounting techniques and materials along with UV blocking glass will help to protect originals. However displaying permanently is never as safe as archival storage and prolonged exposure to light, even with UV glass can lead to fading and acceleration of other deterioration. Framed originals are also exposed to physical damage and if knocked off the wall could be damaged considerably.

This is hard to say and there are many factors to consider. Many customers have visited us with precious photographs that they believe are protected in the frame. On close inspection it is often the case that the frames are doing them more harm than good. Inferior materials and mounting are often hidden inside the frame and their effects not readily noticeable until it is too late. Older frames may also be of concern and may benefit from inspection and replacement of mount boards and glass.

There is a great deal of misconception about this. Almost any album or storage products available in 1-hour photo shops or department stores claim to be "photo-safe" or "acid free".

The truth is that there is no literal meaning to any of these terms. Acid Free can mean that there is no Acid present at manufacture, however over time unless made to strict standards, materials will breakdown turning a once " Acid Free " album into a highly acidic one unsafe for storage. One of the most common factors of breakdown is the presence of Lignin in paper products. Lignin is a naturally occurring in wood, nature’s way of breaking down dead wood. Unfortunately this also works to deteriorate and acidify paper over time. Acid Free products are merely buffered to temporarily neutralize the paper. Truly archival albums are made from either archival grade plastics, cotton fibers (naturally lignin free) or processed wood pulp with their lignin content removed.

Polypropylene is a plastic used widely throughout the world in every industry. Certain grades of Polypropylene have become popular as a desirable material for archival storage. Completely inert and archivally sound, available as either a solid plastic or clear film, polypropylene is versatile enough to be used to produce any archival box, enclosure or sleeve. Polypropylene has many advantages over paperboard produced archival products.

These include: Moisture and Splash Resistance, Inedible by rodents and insects, Price.

Visual Heritage stocks the Albox archival range, which is produced entirely from Polypropylene.

Mylar/Melinex is a clear Polyester plastic film made by DuPont, which is available in an archival grade suitable for the highest level of protection for photographs, documents and artworks on paper.

These archival properties and its superior strength and clarity have made Mylar popular among both the archiving community and professional photographers seeking the highest level of presentation. Visual Heritage sells Mylar enclosures to suit most photographic and paper sizes as well as A4 Binder Pages.

Traditionally plastics have considered negative for photographic storage and in some ways this was rightfully so, Many plastics, even those in use today can be very harmful to the longevity of photographs. Especially bad for photos is the inexpensive PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride), which breaks down very quickly releasing gases and chemicals that react with photographs. Cheap photographic albums and binder sleeves often contain PVC and should be avoided. If stored carelessly, trapped moisture can also be a problem with plastic enclosures.

This is a common misconception due to the poor performance of some of the printing technologies. A lot has changed and the professional pigment ink printing systems we use have as good or better longevity than traditional photographic prints.

This is because many fine art papers are made from 100% cotton. Historically cotton papers were produced by processing disused cotton "rags". People unfamiliar with this term are sometimes confused believing rag paper to be an inferior product when in fact this is the opposite case.

Our store is open weekdays from 9:30am until 5:30pm. Saturdays we are open from 9:30am until 3:30pm. We are Closed on Sundays & Public Holidays. If you are unable to visit us during these hours contact us for an afterhours appointment.

We do offer gift vouchers for any value above $20. You can order vouchers in store or we can arrange to have them posted.

For instore purchases we accept Cash, Eftpos, Visa, Mastercard and Amex.

For postal orders we accept Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Bank Deposit, Cheque & Moneyorder.