If you look at the blue channel, it is actually not that bad. Should I just scrap the R and G channels and work specifically with the B ?
Is there any way to quickly remove the nasty yellow overcast?
Link to an old photo (2.8M JPEG) (http://www.computerfix.org/Girl.jpg)
Auto levels sortha-kida works, but the resulting image still has some extra red in it, I just can not remove...
:-(
Help...

adlep, if you could include a small version of your photo as an attachment to your post it will encourage more people to have a look at it. It also means that the example is here for future forum readers to look at, long after your link may be dead.

Hi adlep,

I took the liberty of posting your original in acceptable "forum" size.

You're so right in wanting to throw out the R & G channel.

One way of doing this is to use the Channel Mixer adjustment layer. Check the Monochrome check box. This will convert the image to grayscale.
Adjust the Red and Green color sliders to 0 and the Blue color slider to +100%. (2nd attachment)

Then I added Levels adj. layer for tonality and contrast. (3rd attachment)

I hope this helps. Welcome to RP :)

Hi adlep,

I took the liberty of posting your original in acceptable "forum" size.

You're so right in wanting to throw out the R & G channel.

One way of doing this is to use the Channel Mixer adjustment layer. Check the Monochrome check box. This will convert the image to grayscale.
Adjust the Red and Green color sliders to 0 and the Blue color slider to +100%. (2nd attachment)

Then I added Levels adj. layer for tonality and contrast. (3rd attachment)

I hope this helps. Welcome to RP :)

This looks much better, I am going to apply your suggestions. One more thing I can try to do to that picture is to add another ajustment layer in the multiply mode to bring some of the additional details out...
Check out the pillow - multiplying this part couple of times exposes nice patterns on it...
Opinions?
Also, thanks for your feedback...
:D

Strange result if you multiply the image several times first the green channel becomes the only useable channel not the blue. I thought this was interesting.

Just a quick example and part of the pic done in CS2.

1/ delete red & green channels
2/ duplicate layer and set at 70% opacity
3/ adjusted contrast up a little
4/ flatten image and run through neat image
5/ used clone & spot repair tool to clean up some areas

Gives you a rough idea on what to do. :bigthmb: Bit more time would give better results :bigthmb:

Hi Adlep, had a play with your picture.

Desaturated image. Selected stained areas, and adjusted levels to match rest of image, cloned out joins. Cloned out numerous small blemishes.

Copied to new layer, applied Polaroid Dust and Scratches filter to take out dust marks. Applied cover all mask, the using soft white brush, painted out blemishes.

Copied layer, set blend mode to Multiply, adjusted layer opacity.

Adjusted levels to up contrast a little.

Ran through Neat Image to reduce noise.

Created sepia version by applying colour layer.

Hope this helps.

Just a quick example and part of the pic done in CS2.

1/ delete red & green channels
2/ duplicate layer and set at 70% opacity
3/ adjusted contrast up a little
4/ flatten image and run through neat image
5/ used clone & spot repair tool to clean up some areas

Gives you a rough idea on what to do. :bigthmb: Bit more time would give better results :bigthmb:

NICE...
Thanks for your feedback folks. I am going to play with it some mor eand then post my final work for critique...
:D
I love PS :D

Hi adlep,

Welcome to RP! :pleased:

What Caitlin said about posting the 100KB :o: version in addition to (whenever possible) a link to a larger size picture .....

I had a go at your picture ...
After increasing overall tone and contrast and using Neat Image to minimize the noise, I used Curves, Levels, Brightness&Contrast on selected parts of the picture to enhance specific features ... (the pillow's pattern for example) ....

I did only a very basic 'clean-up' using the Polaroid D&S Filter (like Gary did), didn't bother with the baby's dress (I hate those white dresses with no details at all .... :mad: :mad: ) and I kept my restoration on the 'darker' side just to show how many details you can actually see ....

I'm posting a greyscale version and a light sepia one (which I actually prefer) ....

Hi adlep,

Welcome to RP! :pleased:

What Caitlin said about posting the 100KB :o: version in addition to (whenever possible) a link to a larger size picture .....

I had a go at your picture ...
After increasing overall tone and contrast and using Neat Image to minimize the noise, I used Curves, Levels, Brightness&Contrast on selected parts of the picture to enhance specific features ... (the pillow's pattern for example) ....

I did only a very basic 'clean-up' using the Polaroid D&S Filter (like Gary did), didn't bother with the baby's dress (I hate those white dresses with no details at all .... :mad: :mad: ) and I kept my restoration on the 'darker' side just to show how many details you can actually see ....

I'm posting a greyscale version and a light sepia one (which I actually prefer) ....

What can I say?
I am absolutely stunned to see such a level of restoration possible.
This is some good stuff here Flora...
:D
I will aim to duplicate your level of restoration
:bow:

Sorry adlep - you've had heaps of excellent advice already, but I just LOVE photos like this - so I couldn't resist having a go.

I just wish I had old photos like this of my family to have a go with - seems like my family history only goes back to around the 1930's, and was far more 'working class'!!

Flora - you are so right about babies in white dresses - they should be banned! *lol* It's like the May contest all over again.....

(So do people think that mark at the bottom of the door is dirt or a tablecloth?)

I came back to this picture tonight, as I just think it is a lovely photo, and a challenge as well. I tried something a bit different with that dreaded baby's white dress and grabbed a christening gown from LOC and blurred some detail from it on, to try to give that white blob a bit of shape.

If you are still on the forum adlep, I hope you can have a look at this and let me know what you think - I'm quite interesting in including it in my portfolio which I'm trying to develop at the moment, as I don't have anything similar, but of course would want your permission first!