How to restore faded ink on Antique Marriage Certificate?

honestly the best result will be a manual one, brushing each letter pixel depth. You would need a good scan of the document to start too.

(Click on image to enlarge)

To maintain the character of the type, consider using a specially created K of the CMYK set and using that as Layer in the RGB file, as follows.

1. Duplicate the file. In the Duplicate:

2. Choose Edit > Color Settings > CMYK > Custom (at the top)

3. In the drop-down panel Black Generation change Medium to Maximum (note the effect in the ramp. )

4. In Channels add an alpha channel of the black, then Select All of this channel and Edit > Copy

Move to the RGB file and Paste this special K as a layer above the Background layer.

1.  Use Curves to create a white surround and crisp dense black. (Paint away the leaves.)

2. Change the Blending Mode to Multiply. (Not shown: If desired, add a second Multiply layer of low opacity to add density. Dona't overdo it. We don't want to plug the drop shadows.)

Last: Return your CMYK Color Settings to their original settings.

(Building the handwritten elements is a separate challenge.)

For starters, try making a duplicate layer of it, and set the Blending Mode to Multiply.

Hi

it depends on the colours and the amount of fade. Are you able to post a small cropped section that won't identify the people but that we can see the issue to advise you (i.e no names but maybe just the occupation or similar)

Dave