:normal: This picture is too faded, I know, but any improvement, so that we can see the faces would be of help. Hope someone can come up with a solution. I have Elements 2 and am trying to learn photoshop CS, but no excperience as of yet. I am willing to try.
Olive

the image has a number of problems. first, there is a rip mark. i didnt try to repair this, but a clone/heal would do it.

second is the fading. this was an interesting fade because it seemed to be in two parts, upper and lower with the rip, and left to right from whatever. i first masked the lower section and darkened it with contrast/lightness. it didnt take much; just darkened it a bit. and then i masked the right section and ran contrast/lighten on that. with that area still selected i ran a high pass sharpen on it to try to bring out more of the detail on that more faded area.

from there i cropped the image to get rid of all that tarmac that had no value to the picture. i also then doubled the size adding more pixels to work with.

i then ran another high pass sharpen on the entire image followed by Stroker's 'Lum Frequecies'. this was to try to bring out some of the detail by altering the various relational contrasts of the luminosity ranges. this also got rid of some of the fading and gave more contrast to the picture.

and finally, i added another adjustment layer of contrast/lighten to even out the shades a bit more.

sadly, this is such a low detailed scan that you still cant really make out the faces very well. if you could re-scan the image at a higher resolution you might get more. you might also do a very high resolution scan off the negative if you have it. negatives can generally be scanned at much higher resolutions and therefore can get better results at times.

Craig

in looking at this after i've posted it here, i can see that maybe i shld have adjusted one or more of those lum frequency passes to get the eyes lighter.

Hi Olive,

Had a very quick go with your picture. As Craig says, there are a number of issues with it. The posted image was a little small, so you should be able to get better results with the full size image.

I did a levels adj layer first, and adjusted to darken the image till the rhs was as I wanted it, then applied a graduated mask so that the lhs was more masked than rhs, this evened out the tone.

Made a selection in the central blown out area, then copied and pasted to new layer. Applied levels adj to darken this layer.

Finally cloned out the crack a little. This was a rush job, just to show what can be done, with a bit of time you should be able to get a better result.

Here is my version. I didn't fix the crack either and i did it really fast.

1. Duplicate layer
2.add a levels adjustment layer (click ok)
3.Blend mode to Multiply
4.duplicate that layer
5.click on the new layers level and adjust it as you want.
6. to bring out the detail i used the JB Smart Sharpen action that i downloaded on this site. (last step i lowered it a bunch).

It probaly has too much detail but there you go. :clown:

Hi Gary:
I am trying to follow your post on working with this photo. I am getting better with levels now , but have a few questions. You mentioned first pass with levels to make rhs better , second pass to make lhs to your likeing. What do they refer to ?
Also it seems like you make another layer and make an adjustment, did not know you could do this and it would make a difference. Please keep in mind my being new to PS and I know some questions might seem like a DA...to some people but I am going to ask anyway! Thanks Neb

Hi again...What is a graduate mask? Neb

Hi Neb,

First of all no question is DA if you don't know the answer, and we all had to learn, so you're only asking questions that we've all asked at some time.

OK, firstly I always like to work on new layers, as I have more control that way.
Sometimes its an adjustment layer, sometimes its a normal layer that I run an adjustment on, depends on what I'm working on.

A graduated mask is a mask that goes gradually from Black (totally masked) to white (totally unmasked), and is usually created using the graduation tool situated under the paint bucket (Alt+click on the paint bucket) to select it. There are a number of different types of gradient you can make, I used the linear gradient (the symbols are on the toolbar at the top). Make sure your foreground and background colours on your colour selector are set to black and white.

Right, so first I used a levels adjustment layer to darken all of the picture. This meant that now the LHS of the image was too dark, but the RHS looked more or less as I wanted it to. So I clicked on the mask symbol that comes with an adjustment layer, then created a mask that went from Black on the LHS to White on the RHS. This masked the effect of the levels adjustment more on the LHS than on the RHS, therefore evening out the tone across the whole image.

Once I'd done this, I flattened the image. Some like to do this at the end, I often do it as I finish a particular stage of a retouch. The disadvantage is you can't come back to tweak things, the advantage is it keeps things simple in your mind, and reduces the size of your layer stack and file size. With a simple job like this I didn't think I'd have to tweak too much.

I then duplicated parts of the image and copied to a new layer, then applied levels. Again this could have been done by just applying a levels adj layer and masking, but I like to do it this way, because I can fine tune things by adjusting the opacity of the copied layer.

Lastly I cloned out any bits I didn't want. I always do this on a new layer, because any mistakes I may make will be easier to remedy.

Hope this clarifies what I did, if anything I've said isn't clear, just ask and I'll try to explain it better.

rhs = right hand side
lhs = left hand side

a graduated mask means to use a gradient on the layer mask. I'm sure you noticed in this example that the picture is not faded equally. Using a black to white gradient to mimic the fading will balance out the 2 sides.

Gary and Nancy:
Thank you both for the explaination. Both are helping me to learn the process. Now one more question to either, when making the selection to then do an adjustment level, which tool did you use make the selection, did you use the lasso, magnetic, or a marquee tool? Thanks as always Earline :grin:

So I clicked on the mask symbol that comes with an adjustment layer, then created a mask that went from Black on the LHS to White on the RHS. This masked the effect of the levels adjustment more on the LHS than on the RHS, therefore evening out the tone across the whole image.

Gary, I did the first adjustment layer, but do not see where a mask icon came with it showing on the layer palette ..am I missing something? Neb

ok..made the adjustment level, see the mask icon now what??
Need help with the mask part please...

Not good at this but i do try LOL!

Hi Neb,
If you look at my little diagram you can see that after you have done an initial levels adjustment you will need to bring up the darkness values on the right so you need a gradient mask. First select the gradient tool under the paint bucket. Next select the quick mask button at the bottom of the tools. Then drag a line from the top right area down toward the bottom left. You'll have to experiment a bit to get the correct area selected. Next, turn the mask off then depending on which side of the screen is selected; you can now adjust your levels in the faded area.

You could also just paint the mask over the areas that are faded and do the same selection process without the gradient mask.

I hope this makes sense.

Ants

I had a crack at this as well seeing I was half way there. I also added a gradient sky. If you find that after you adjust your levels, part of the picture is too dark, use your dodge tool with a reduced opacity to lighten the over dark area. I didn't bother with the crease, as that's basic clone stamping.

Here is my try but it is not right I know. see if you can see what I might have done wrong. Thanks Neb

Well, it doesn't look to bad, but the image is so small it's hard to see detail. How did you go with the gradient mask?

Hi Neb, sorry I'm a bit late coming back with this one.

OK, when you've opened a new adjustment layer, you get the usual dialogue, then make your adjustments, and click OK.

Now, click on your layers tab to display the layers palette (see attached screenshot). Click on the mask (to the right of the levels symbol), this activates the mask.

Now go to your tools palette and Alt+Click on the Paint Bucket to select the Graduation tool. Make sure you've selected the Linear Gradient from the symbols on the bar at the top. Make sure your Foreground/Background colours are Black/White.

The Graduation Tool will give you a cross cursor on screen. Click this on RHS of image, now hold down LH mouse button and draw across to the RHS of screen and release.

You will now have created a graduated mask (You won't see it on screen). You will notice that the tone has either evened out, or got more unbalanced from L to R. If the latter, the mask is the wrong way round, to cure this, click and drag from L to R instead of from R to L.

If you want to see the mask on screen, Alt+click on the Mask in your layers palette. To change back to seeing your image, do the same again.

Hope this is clear, anything you don't understand just ask.

Gary

not that good dead..not surprising though.
Gary, will give this a try later tonight , I have company coming for dinner so am busy, you both have been so kind to respond!! I will get this by golly!! Neb :rainbow:

Hi Gary and Deadants:
YES !! I got it. I just saw that there is a difference in an adjustment and then a layers adjustment. Let me see if I now understand this right ok?

When you do a new adjustment layer the mask comes with it..is this right?

Now, next thing. I am having a hard time getting the right levels adjustment. Either get rhs too dark , or still too light. Can you gove some input into the levels box. There are three I'll call them arrows pointing up, I see each changes one of the boxes by the Input Levels. can you direct me to a tutorial about what each one controls or can you just explain please? This has been one of the best learning experiences I have had here, Thanks Gary, Dead and Nancy :bow: Neb

Hi Neb,

When you open the Levels dialogue box, you get the histogram diagram.

By default, this consists of a graph showing the brightness levels of the combined R,G,B channel.

Underneath it is 3 arrows. The LH arrow adjusts the Black point, moving it to the R will darken the darker tones in your image. The RH arrow adjusts the White point, moving it to the left will lighten the highlights on your image. The centre arrow adjusts the mid tones on your image, move it to the left to lighten, to the right to darken.

Just to complicate things a little, underneath there is another bar with arrows. This is the output bar. Generally you don't need to use this, but it does have one use.

If you have an image with blown out whites, if you take the RH arrow, and move it to the centre, the blown out (Highlight) tones will darken.

To condense things a little.

To increase contrast, move the outer arrows on the histogram towards the centre. To decrease contrast, move the arrows on the output bar towards the centre.

The centre arrow sets the general tone of the image.

Hope that explains things a little.

Oh, just in case you feel comfortable with that, note that the RGB box has a drop down, that allows you to do adjustments on a channel by channel basis, ie for the Green, the Blue, or the Red channel. This allows you to do all sorts of things, but best not to throw all of that at you now. Just concentrate on getting the basics under your belt.

As usual, any questions just ask.

Gary

Thanks for the post.It is clear and I am going to read it over again soon. Now Was I correct in this assumpton listed below in the case of adjustment? ?

When you do a new adjustment layer the mask comes with it..is this right?

Neb

Wow, Thanks. I never dreamed I would receive so many replies. I've just gotten back to the posting. I didn't realize that I could post a larger picture. This was my first post. Thank you for all of your suggestions! I will re-scan it as suggested . I'm sure that I will have some questions after I get started. Wish I had seen this earlier today. I could have been working on it. I opened some of the work that you did. I'm really impressed. But because the picture is so small, I'm afraid that I can't recognize the faces. Once I'm done, I will re-post my efforts. No, I haven't the negative.
One thing for sure, I will learn a lot if I am able to follow your directions. The gradient, I wouldn't have thought to do that.
Smile

Hi Neb, yes adjustment layers always come with a layer mask.

To add a blank (all white) mask to an ordinary layer, just click on the mask symbol (dotted circle) at the bottom of your layer palette. If you want a "Hide All" mask (all black), just Alt+Click on the mask symbol.

Note also, if you create a selection first, then click on the mask symbol, the area you selected will automatically become a mask (ie blacked out).

Hope this helps.

Gary

Yes this has been fine help Gary. Thanks for the help on masks. Neb

You're very welcome.

Gary

Hi Olive ,thanks for the post of your picture! It gave me a good learning experience. That was thanks to Gary,Deadants,and Nancy telling me what rhs and lhs was!! I have appreciated all the help. Keep coming back, people here help all they can. I hope you learned a lot too. Neb :)