Source: https://restorebunny.com/guides/write-family-photo-display-labels/ # Write Photo Display Labels with Dates and Uncertainty Create short exhibit labels that distinguish identification, interpretation and source information. Printing & presentation2 min readUpdated 16 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 ยท Account required[See credit packs]() Quick answer ## The short version A display label should help a visitor understand the photograph without turning an uncertain story into a fact. Start with the subject and occasion, add a date or date range with its confidence, and identify the source when appropriate. Keep private research notes separate from a public caption. ## Define the job before editing A display label should help a visitor understand the photograph without turning an uncertain story into a fact. Start with the subject and occasion, add a date or date range with its confidence, and identify the source when appropriate. Keep private research notes separate from a public caption. ## Write a factual layer before interpretation Use a short title, a descriptive sentence and a source line. Say approximately, possibly or identification supplied by when the evidence needs that qualifier. If an image has been colorized or turned into artwork, label the transformation so visitors do not mistake the new appearance for historical evidence. ## Make the decision from evidence Make text readable against the display background and avoid putting long paragraphs inside a small image. Keep a separate caption file keyed to the image ID. Ask living people or the responsible family contact about sensitive descriptions before printing a public display. ## A worked planning example Example: The label reads: Family picnic, probably late 1950s. Location suggested by Rosa; not independently confirmed. Digital restoration from a family-owned print. That is clearer than an exact date invented to make the display look complete. ## A practical checklist 1. Write a brief descriptive title. 2. State date confidence. 3. Record source and transformations. 4. Check readability and audience appropriateness. ## Keep a traceable result Keep the source file, the working copy and the delivery copy as separate items. Record the input and the changes you actually made so another person can understand the result later. These workflow examples are planning examples, not documented customer outcomes or proof of a successful restoration. ## FAQs Should I label AI colorization or painting effects? Yes. A visitor should be able to distinguish a source photograph from an interpreted derivative. Should I replace my original with the edited copy? Keep the source unchanged and save a separate working or sharing copy. An export, edit or AI interpretation can omit information that remains useful in the source. ## Sources Preservation and technical guidance reviewed for this article. - MDN Web Docs: [Pixel manipulation with Canvas]() ## Related - [Open the related free tool]() - [Check Frame Orientation Before Cropping a Photo]() - [Browse photo guides]() - [Free image tools]() ## Ready to restore your photos? Upload an image, choose your settings, and preview results with a before/after slider. [Restore my photo]()[View Pricing]() RestoreBunny Source-backed photo workflows Guides follow our [editorial policy]() for sourcing, product claims, AI limitations, updates, and corrections.