Restoring old photographs using Qwen Edit 2511 running locally

Some time ago I experimented with restoring old photographs using the Flux Kontext model. Meanwhile, a new AI model called Qwen Edit 2511 was released, so I wanted to see how far things have progressed in real-world use.

Experimental workflow in ComfyUI

I built a simple automated workflow in ComfyUI based on the new Qwen model and several LoRAs. Everything runs completely locally and free of charge, and thanks to a lightning LoRA it generates in just four steps, making it very fast. Even with such a low number of steps, the results are surprisingly good.

Overall, this is more of a technical experiment than a major project, but it clearly shows how effective modern models can be in practical use.

Simple web interface

Because ComfyUI can be unnecessarily complex for many people, I also created a small web page connected to the model API running directly on my computer. Just upload a photo, click a button, and wait for the result.

Limitations and output quality

Of course, it is not perfect — for very low-resolution photos, slightly “plastic-looking” skin can sometimes appear. Even so, it clearly demonstrates how far these tools have advanced and how quickly they continue to improve.