Ready to get started? Open the free Damaged Photo Maker App here.
What does the Damaged Photo Maker do?
The Damaged Photo Maker lets you turn a clean digital image into a photograph that looks worn, torn and well used. Instead of changing the colours or making the picture look old, this app recreates the appearance of a physical print that has been handled, stored away or damaged over time.
You can add torn edges, worn borders, missing corners, scratches and dirt to create anything from a lightly aged family photograph to a heavily damaged print. Everything happens in your browser, so you can see the results immediately as you adjust the controls.
How to use the app
Upload your photograph using the Upload Image button or drag it onto the preview area. The original image remains unchanged while you experiment with different effects.
Choose one of the built-in presets for a quick starting point, or adjust each control individually until you're happy with the result. The preview updates as you work, making it easy to compare different styles of damage.
When you've finished, download the completed image. PNG is ideal if you've created transparent torn edges or missing corners, while JPEG is suitable for standard photographs.
Available effects
The controls let you create many different types of physical damage. Depending on the settings you choose, you can add worn borders, irregular tears, missing corners, surface scratches, dirt and grime, paper ageing and darkened torn edges.
These effects can be combined to create anything from a lightly handled print to a photograph that appears to have spent years in a drawer, attic or old album.
When to use this app
The Damaged Photo Maker is useful for historical illustrations, family history projects, posters, artwork, social media graphics, presentations and creative photography. It can also be used to produce distressed prints for games, websites, videos and other design projects.
If you want to make a picture look as though it has survived years of handling, this app provides a quick way to create a convincing result without installing any software.
Tips for realistic results
Small amounts of damage often look more believable than using every effect at maximum strength. Start with a preset, then make small adjustments to the borders, scratches and dirt until the photograph has the appearance you're looking for.
If you also want the colours to look faded or the image itself to appear much older, try the Aged Photo app before using the Damaged Photo Maker. Combining the two can produce very realistic vintage photographs.