Tom Trevelyan
Junior Member
Registered: May 2002
Location: North Wales, UK.
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I took the challenge to be to reconstruct the picture without destroying the texture. I thought the original was probably on a stippled kind of photographic paper, - I’ve got some ancient photographs of myself on that. So I decided that dust and scratch was out.
So to the Patch Tool. Without making any prior adjustments I dived into working on the original to gradually eliminate all the corrugations and wrinkles. Did dad scrunch this photo up or something? I find it is important to think three dimensions, especially on the left face, where the paper is stretched and ripped.
Some little tips. The patch tool is the Lasso Tool attached to the patching function. So if you use the Alt key you can draw straight lines. When you have made a selection you can nudge it by using the Arrow keys whereas dragging it with the Mouse activates the patching function. Once you are moving the selection with the Mouse pressing the Shift Key constrain you to vertical, horizontal or 45 degree movements. If you are using the tool to reconstruct rather than just patch over blemishes, you can use Destination Mode and then activate the Free Transform Tool by pressing Ctrl T immediately. You can also use the Fade command, of course. Finally, although you cannot patch on a blank top layer, like you can with the Clone Stamp tool or in CS the History Brush, I found that it is incredibly useful to press Ctrl J and then Shift Alt G or K to work on a Copied Layer in Lighten or Darken Mode, merging the layers frequently.
On the other hand it is a labour of love and just as well that I do not have a day job. My wife cannot understand why I am going to bed at seven o clock in the morning.
Once I had a satisfactory image I used Kodak’s new Digital Gem Airbrush Pro Filter which makes Dust and Scratches look decidedly Naff.
The left ear, left eye and right arm were modelled from the other side by copying to a new layer and using Free Transform.
The Background was cleaned up using a mask to protect the figure, the Clone Stamp Tool and Hue, Saturation.
Finally Levels to Adjust Contrast. I did not mess around with the colour at all.
I made copies of the buttons, cap badge and 118 badges on the collar and tried subtle layer effects, adding minuscule drop shadows and bevel and emboss. Hardly visible to the naked eye, I hope. But I did it – because he’s worth it.
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