Design Meaningful Keepsakes With Restored Old Photos
Restoring old photos is the first step in preserving your family’s history – the next is turning those memories into something tangible and meaningful. With BeFunky’s Graphic Designer, you can go beyond simple storage and transform your restored images into beautiful keepsakes that honor the people and stories behind them.
Whether you're creating a memorial tribute, a one-of-a-kind gift, or a digital scrapbook filled with moments from generations past, BeFunky gives you the tools to design with intention. And because everything works seamlessly with our Old Photo Restorer, it’s easy to start with a restored image and bring your vision to life.
From Restoration to Design
Once your photo has been repaired and enhanced using the Old Photo Restorer, it’s ready to be used for something more. Maybe you want to create a remembrance card that celebrates a loved one’s life, or a birthday collage that combines old family photos with modern flair. Maybe you’ve been collecting stories and snapshots for a digital scrapbook that future generations can look back on.
Whatever your project, the Graphic Designer makes it easy to pair restored photos with high-quality templates and thoughtful elements like text, textures, illustrations, and frames. Everything is drag-and-drop, so you can focus on the emotional impact – not the technical details.
How to Turn a Restored Photo into a Keepsake
Follow along to learn how you can create a custom design from a restored photo in just a few steps.
Step 1: Choose a Designer Template
Head to the Graphic Designer and choose a layout that fits your project – whether that be a blank canvas, flyer, or greeting card. If you’re starting from scratch, select a canvas size that fits how you want to print or share your final design.
Step 2: Add and Restore Your Photo
Use the Image Manager to upload your photo, then drag it into a placeholder or directly onto the canvas.
Once it’s in place, click the photo layer and select Edit Image to open it in the Photo Editor.
Next, apply the Old Photo Restorer to your image. This tool can can be found under the Detail Enhancements category of the Photo Editor. You can fine-tune the results using features like Recover Faces (especially recommended for portraits), Scratch Reduction, and Recolor B&W, then save any edits by clicking Apply and head back to to the Graphic Designer by clicking Done Editing Image.
Step 3: Add Creative Design Elements
It's time to add some finishing touches to really personalize the results. Use the Text tab to add names, dates, quotes, or personal notes. Browse the Graphics tab for customizable vector graphics to enhance your layout. For our card, we used regular star graphics and added a textured clipping mask with a drop shadow to produce a fun, 3D look.
Step 4: Save or Print Your Keepsake
Once your design feels complete, click Save to download your project or export it directly. You can create a digital file to share with family or print a high-res version for framing, mailing, or display. If you’re building a full collection, consider saving each piece as a page for a future printed book or digital album.
Keepsake Inspiration for Restored Photos
Looking for ideas on how to use your restored images? Here are a few creative ways to turn them into keepsakes:
Birthday & Holiday Gifts
Restored childhood photos make incredibly meaningful gifts. Use them to design custom greeting cards, framed prints, or even wall art that brings nostalgia to special occasions. Here, we applied the Old Photo Restorer and the Clone tool to fill in any gaps from the original image to produce a personal and funny birthday card.
Digital Scrapbooks
Preserve your personal history by creating a digital scrapbook filled with restored Polaroids, handwritten captions, and decorative touches. You can build it one page at a time using the Graphic Designer or create image-heavy pages in the Collage Maker.
Memorial Posters & Cards
Honor a loved one’s life with a thoughtfully designed remembrance poster or card. Pair a restored portrait with meaningful text and subtle graphics for a tribute that feels both respectful and personal.
Create a Design That Lasts
Restoring your old photos is just the beginning. With BeFunky’s Old Photo Restorer and Graphic Designer, you can turn those photos into something that will be cherished for years to come. Whether you’re honoring the past or celebrating the present, your designs have the power to make memories last.
