Source: https://restorebunny.com/guides/choose-source-copy-before-paid-restoration/ # Choose Between Two Source Copies Before Paid Restoration Choose between two real source copies using visible detail, provenance and a bounded paired trial before expanding the paid restoration scope. Family photo projects4 min readUpdated 11 October 2026 ## Try it on your own photo Repair a copy of your photo, then compare faces and details with the original. [Restore my photo]()1 credit per successful photo · Account required[See credit packs]() Quick answer ## The short version Choose the source that preserves the relevant detail, complete composition and reliable provenance. Compare dimensions and actual face regions before a paid trial. If the choice remains uncertain, use a bounded paired test and count both successful attempts; a larger file alone does not prove it contains better information. ## Define this purchase decision You may hold a small chat copy and a larger scan, or two scans from different physical prints. Getting original files is the first step, covered in the linked guide. This page handles the remaining purchase decision when two real candidates are available and neither is obviously best for the wanted restoration. A large candidate can include blur, clipped tones or already generated detail. A smaller candidate can preserve a more complete crop or a visible inscription. Choose based on the protected regions that matter to this job, then consider dimensions for the destination separately. Keep both source IDs if their context differs. ## Worked decision example Worked example: Source A is 3000×2000 with a clipped highlight over an eye; Source B is 1800×1200 with the eye visible but a mild scratch on the jacket. For a portrait task whose expression matters, B may be the better trial despite its smaller file. The visible information is more useful than A's nominal pixel count. If both sources are genuinely ambiguous, a paired trial uses two successful restoration attempts. Compare the downloads at matching displayed size, then inspect the same eyes, smile and lettering. Record accepted source, repair result and dimensions. Do not generate ten alternatives from each candidate; a bounded test can end with neither accepted. These are illustrative inputs, not measured product tests. ## Complete the decision worksheet - Candidate field: source ID, owner, capture history, actual dimensions and any known edits. Do not let the filename original stand in for provenance. - Detail field: visible identity anchors, text, complete edges and capture defects. Mark unknown or obscured regions instead of treating them as recovered detail. - Trial field: same supported settings and output intent for both candidates. Document unavoidable differences rather than claiming a perfectly controlled benchmark. - Decision field: chosen source, reason, accepted output and any destination limitation. Save rejected trial versions as experiments and retain both masters when context matters. ## Resolve the buyer objections Should I combine the best parts myself first? A controlled manual composite can be appropriate, but it creates a new derivative and needs careful alignment and labelling. The restoration workflow does not automatically know that two files show the same person or combine their evidence faithfully. What if the larger file prints better but changes the face? Identity remains a non-negotiable requirement for this task. A smaller faithful viewing copy may be preferable, followed by separately reviewed enlargement if necessary. More pixels cannot offset a generated expression that the family rejects. ## Keep a useful decision record For a paired source test, include the full composition review before enlarging face crops. A technically clearer candidate may have lost an edge, object or caption that matters to the family. Mark those differences beside the face-detail comparison. Record whether either candidate was already enhanced, because a prior generated region can become falsely persuasive in a second restoration. If you cannot establish the edit history, keep that uncertainty in the source choice. The paired trial should answer a specific processing question for these files, not prove that larger scans, chat copies or one provider always perform better. Accept one source-linked output or retain the alternatives as unresolved evidence. ## Choose the next action Use the free resolution checker for dimensions and inspect the actual candidates before starting a paid trial. Choose one source when the evidence clearly supports it. Use two trial credits only when that comparison can materially settle the purchasing decision and the processing terms fit both sources. After the comparison, buy for the chosen remaining files or versions. Keep the source-selection reason with the saved accepted result and check print geometry separately. If neither candidate passes, seek a better capture or a selective manual approach instead of scaling the same uncertain inputs into an album purchase. ## FAQs Is the largest file always the best source? No. Compare real detail, clipping, crop, provenance and prior edits as well as dimensions. Does a paired trial use two credits? Two successful restoration attempts use two credits. Technical failure treatment is separate; confirm the displayed charge and balance. Can I claim the paired example proves a product ranking? No. The example is a source-selection worksheet, not a measured comparison or benchmark. ## Sources Preservation and technical guidance reviewed for this article. - RestoreBunny: [Current credit-pack pricing]() - RestoreBunny: [Credits, outputs and privacy FAQ]() - RestoreBunny: [Credit purchase and technical issue policy]() - RestoreBunny: [Image processing and retention policy]() ## Related - [Get the Original Photo File Before Trying AI Restoration]() - [How to Compare Duplicate Family Photos Before Deleting Anything]() - [Review supported photo restoration]() - [Start an eligible restoration trial]() - [Check current credit-pack terms]() - [Check actual photo dimensions for free]() ## Ready to restore your photos? Upload an image, choose your settings, and preview results with a before/after slider. 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