Why do people want photographs restoring and colouring?

[chirp]

I can appreciate all the views made on this thread. I have had some old family photos cleaned up and have been very pleased with the results. A recent one of my great aunt and uncle strolling along a promenade on holiday revealed details of the lady's handbag and the fact she was also carrying an umbrella. I always retain the damaged originals though and keep them in acid-free boxes. As for colouring well yes I think it can add interest to the image but I am also very conscious that it is not true to the original and it bothers me that in the future, should the photos survive, other people will not know that they have been "tampered with".  Again though, the original is retained safely in my collection.  As for photoshopping and (perish the monstrous thought) adding people who weren't there, for me this is a definite no-no!

[Trishanne]

I always restore first before I colour. I find adding colour gives more definition to a photo as Chirp points out undiscovered details emerge.
If you look at a photo such as the one Chirp mentions, you don't look that close at all the details you just notice a man and a lady strolling a promenade., but when colouring the same photo you have to look close and that is when you notice the small items, like the handbag and umbrella, so you give them a different colour and that brings them to the attention of the viewer.