Photo Restoration & Upscaling for Book $100-200 fixed price

Expert Photo Restoration & AI Upscaling for Editorial Book — Selective Image Replacement 3-5 day completion

I am seeking an experienced photographic restoration specialist to resolve the image-resolution issues in a completed, image-rich editorial book, The MAE Method.

The book is approximately 213 pages with around 43 image placements. Its visual identity is central to the reading experience: soft, romantic, refined, cinematic and editorial. The existing imagery has been carefully selected, and preserving its distinctive character is a priority.

This is a restoration-first project. Images should be replaced only where faithful restoration cannot achieve a satisfactory print-quality result.

The current situation

The manuscript is typeset for Amazon KDP paperback and hardcover production at 6 × 9 inches, with a 6.125 × 9.25-inch full-bleed page size.

An independent audit identified that the embedded images are below 300 effective PPI at their actual placement sizes. Previous attempts to resolve the issue have not produced a satisfactory, verified print-ready result.

I can provide the manuscript, available source images and resolution audit. The best available original files should be assessed before restoration, as they may contain more detail than the images embedded in the PDF.

The typography, layout and overall design are already established. The objective is to resolve the image issue without unnecessarily changing the manuscript.

Scope of work

1. Assess and restore the existing images

Review the available source files, native pixel dimensions and effective PPI at final print size. Determine which images can realistically be restored and which require better source files or replacement.

Use appropriate professional techniques, including advanced photographic restoration, AI-assisted super-resolution and retouching. Particular care is required with faces, skin, hair, fine details and natural tonal transitions.

The result must preserve the original subject, composition, colours, lighting and editorial character. I do not want artificial-looking faces, invented details, excessive sharpening, plastic skin or a generic AI-generated appearance.

Simply changing DPI metadata or enlarging pixel dimensions without achieving acceptable visual quality is not sufficient. Where faithful restoration is not possible, please explain the limitation honestly.

2. Source and replace only where necessary

For images that cannot be restored satisfactorily, source high-resolution replacements that closely match the originals in subject, composition, era, styling, colour palette, lighting, setting and mood.

The existing images should be treated as specific visual references, not merely broad subject descriptions. Generic alternatives that compromise the book’s aesthetic are not suitable.

All proposed replacements must be approved by me before use. Please provide the source, commercial book-publication licensing terms and any licensing costs for approval before purchase. Licensing costs are separate from the project fee.

3. Prepare final assets and optional manuscript integration

Deliver the restored and approved replacement images in appropriate high-resolution formats, suitable for their intended print placement.

Ideally, the specialist will also integrate the images into the existing manuscript, preserving typography, layout, cropping, bleed and design, and deliver a print-ready KDP PDF. However, I welcome proposals from exceptional restoration specialists who provide image assets only. Please quote manuscript integration separately if offered.

The ideal candidate

The ideal candidate is a highly experienced photographic restoration specialist with a strong visual eye and experience in premium editorial, fashion, lifestyle, fine-art or book imagery. You understand how to preserve the character of an existing photograph while improving its technical quality.

You are skilled in advanced restoration, AI-assisted super-resolution and professional retouching, but do not rely on automated upscaling alone. You understand the limitations of low-resolution files and can distinguish between recoverable detail and detail that would need to be artificially reconstructed.

You have particular expertise in restoring faces, skin, hair and fine photographic details naturally, and can demonstrate this through relevant before-and-after examples.

You also understand print-production requirements, including native pixel dimensions, effective PPI at actual placement size, cropping and bleed. Experience with image-rich books or KDP production is highly desirable.

Most importantly, you have excellent aesthetic judgement. You can recognise what makes an image distinctive, know when restoration is preferable to replacement, and source closely matched alternatives when necessary. You are meticulous, communicative and able to explain technical limitations honestly.

Sample assessment

Before awarding the full project, I would like to provide one representative image for assessment. Please explain whether you believe it can be restored faithfully and, if appropriate, provide a small before-and-after sample.

Please include the resulting pixel dimensions, effective PPI at the intended print size and your professional assessment of whether the result is suitable for a high-quality printed book.

I value honest judgement and would prefer a recommendation to replace an image rather than an artificial or technically enlarged result.

Deliverables

* Image-by-image assessment and restoration/replacement recommendations
* Professionally restored images retaining the original aesthetic
* Closely matched, approved replacements where necessary
* Final high-resolution image assets
* Source and licensing records for replacement images
* Verification of effective PPI at intended print sizes
* Optional: manuscript integration, final print-ready KDP PDF and editable production files where available

The production target is 300 effective PPI at final print size, consistent with applicable KDP requirements. Any exceptions must be clearly identified and approved rather than represented as compliant.

Budget and timeline

Budget: AUD $100–$200 fixed price for the image restoration and selective replacement work.

I am seeking competitive proposals from experienced specialists. The final scope and price will be agreed after reviewing the source files and assessing the restoration requirements. Please quote separately for manuscript integration, if offered. Any licensing costs must be approved in advance.

I would ideally like the work completed within 3–5 days, subject to the initial assessment and the number of images requiring replacement. Please confirm whether this is realistic.

Please include in your proposal

Please provide your strongest relevant before-and-after restoration examples, particularly portraits or editorial photography, along with any image-rich book or print-production experience.

Explain your proposed workflow, restoration methods, how you determine when replacement is necessary, and how you verify effective print resolution. Please also confirm your timeframe, fixed-price quote and exactly what is included.

I am looking for genuine specialist expertise, careful visual judgement and a restoration-first approach that preserves the distinctive feel of the existing book.

Timeline: Completion is required within 3–5 days of project award. Please apply only if you have the availability and capacity to meet this timeframe. Confirm your proposed completion date and whether your quote includes all agreed image restoration, selective replacement and final deliverables.