This is a photo I've been working on. I'm happy with the results, but there's always room for improvement if anyone has any comments.

My specific question is regarding the orange-brown splotch-like stains especially noticable on the clothing (attached detail). I spent the time cloning and healing to address these, but was there another approach that might've been more efficient?

Gina

Quick application of Polaroid Dust and Scratches filter set to remove light dust (this took only a few seconds) gets rid of a lot of the marks.

When used on the full picture you'll have to apply a layer mask and mask areas where you don't want the filter to apply, as you'll find that fine detail can be lost in areas where you don't want it to be.

Obviously you're still left with work to do after applying the filter, but it is significantly reduced.

Thanks Gary. I j ust downloaded the Polaroid Dust & Scratches filter and will give it a try. Do you find this filter to be preferable to photoshop's own dust & scratches filter?

Yes, I think it has a deal more adjustability, and I use it much more than Photoshop's native D&S.

The programme download comes as a Stand Alone, and a Plug-In for Photoshop.

To install the plug-in for Photoshop, just look for the PolaDSR.8bf file in
the C:\Program Files\Polaroid \Polaroid Dust and Scratches folder, and copy it to your Filters folder in Photoshop.

Yes, I think it has a deal more adjustability, and I use it much more than Photoshop's native D&S.

The programme download comes as a Stand Alone, and a Plug-In for Photoshop.

To install the plug-in for Photoshop, just look for the PolaDSR.8bf file in
the C:\Program Files\Polaroid \Polaroid Dust and Scratches folder, and copy it to your Filters folder in Photoshop.

Actually, the install program handled all that for me. I'm on a Mac and it just gave me a list of possible plug-in folders and asked me to designate to which one I wanted the filter installed. Thanks again.

I have another photo I'm working on for which this filter could be possibly be useful. I'll post a sample of how it's going later; especially if I could use some input! The photo is covered with cracks over nearly the whole surface, but it's already blurred somewhat, so I'll have to be careful about finding that balance. Honestly, I'm not sure if it would be worth it unless I decide to forgo some quality (sharpness, such as it is) in the background and mask out the faces. Post photo soon.

Gina,

I've seen lots if this. I think its mold. Regardless, here is how to remove stains in Photoshop CS2.

1. Working on a copy, use Select>Color>yellow. You will get the marching ants. Close.
2. (Frquently, you get a message that "No Pixels Were 100% Selected So we cannot show the selection". Ignore it.) Create aN HSL layer. Set the layer type to Saturation. On the pop-up, slide the Saturation Slider all the way left.
3. Go to the Yellow window for the HSL layer and move its Saturation slider all the way left.
4. Create Group from Layers (your new HSL layer)
5. Cntrl-J to create additional copies of the HSL layer. Often, you'll need up to 25 layers to get it all.
5a. Close the Group and Select the Group.
6. Cntrl-Alt-Shift-E to create a roll-up of all the layers. The stains should be gone. If there's still some, repeat process.
7. Repeat as required for other colors.
8. I do this so much that I have created Actions that remove all red, blue and green stains while I'm doing other things.

I've learned to hard way that although you may have stacked up 25 or so of these selective desaturation layers, the stain may still be showing. Often though, the stain will competely disappear when you do the roll-up with cntrl-alt-shift-E.

This technique is from Photoshop Restoration and Retouching by Katrin Eismann - highly recommended.

I forgot to say: These stains can be quite large spots or even cover the whole photo. Even if you only have moderate sized spots, the D&S filter parameters have to be set so severely that the entire photo is needlessly degraded. Otherwise, the Polaroid D&S is awesome.

Gina,

I've seen lots if this. I think its mold. Regardless, here is how to remove stains in Photoshop CS2.
.

Thanks blue dog...this looks ideal for this type of problem. Definitely going to give it a try. Thanks for taking the time to post this alternative! I really do need to get that book; looks like a great resource.

Hi There

Not sure if this is any better but you may still want to try it. I used the offset layer procedure with the layer set to darken and a mask attached.. then a small amount of noise filter.

I forgot to add... an excellent job you did...great final outcome.

Butch

Gina, if you are looking to get rid of the large orange splotches or at least the discolorations, here is a 20 sec fix. Change the image mode from RGB to LAB. Apply a gaussian blur of between 5 and 10 first to the B channel and then if necessary to the A channel. (You may not need to do it to A depending on the version of the image you are working on). Then convert back to RGB.
Regards, Murray

Hi There

Not sure if this is any better but you may still want to try it. I used the offset layer procedure with the layer set to darken and a mask attached.. then a small amount of noise filter.

I forgot to add... an excellent job you did...great final outcome.

Butch
Thanks Butch, I think the family will be pleased as it's the only photo they have of these two relatives.

Ok, the offset layer procedure... could you elaborate or point me in the right direction to something to read? I did some searching, but I don't think what I found is the same thing. Thanks for your response!

Gina, if you are looking to get rid of the large orange splotches or at least the discolorations, here is a 20 sec fix. Change the image mode from RGB to LAB. Apply a gaussian blur of between 5 and 10 first to the B channel and then if necessary to the A channel. (You may not need to do it to A depending on the version of the image you are working on). Then convert back to RGB.
Regards, Murray
Hi Murray,

Well, LAB will be new territory for me, but I guess I'll wade in here at the shallow end with a relatively simple problem and see how it goes! Thanks for the advice.

Gina

It is easy just duplicate your background twice or stamp a visible layer and duplicate it.

You now have two layers, name one lighten the other darken.

Turn off the lighten layer.

Click on the darken layer, then the move tool and press the down arrow twice and the right arrow twice to offset the layers.

Now set the blendmode to darken and attach a filled mask.

Select a white brush and paint on your light spots. It will remove most and those that it does not remove finish with the clone or healing brush.

It you have dark spots do the same as above with the Lighten layer.

It is just a basic non-destructive way to hide spots. I only used it where I needed it, not on the bench for instance.

Butch

It is just a basic non-destructive way to hide spots. I only used it where I needed it, not on the bench for instance.
ButchGreat, another approach for future reference. :) Thanks Butch, for walking me through that... can see where that could come in handy for quite a few things actually!

Gina

after reading all the suggestions I moved out on my own though I did utilize a few of the suggestions... like you, I'm learning and that means study.

Thank you for the lessons shared.

Candice,
That looks great! In the end did you go with one approach in particular or did you combine techniques?

Gina

And thank you. I tried the lab mode... didn't like the results. I thought about cloning out things and did in some areas. Sometimes there is no 'quick' fix as I have found. But with time and practice the results do come a bit quicker. I worked with varied levels as one suggestion said, but didn't like the fix on that so I returned to square one.

If you've not tried Ro's tutorial on "quick degrunge", it's a great tool. It helped remove the discoloration. I used a blur tool, small brush, but did not use the brush on the Ratan. This blured the red just a bit more but on the Ratan I wanted to keep the clarity.

Next, a screen layer was used to help even out colors, but you'll have to dink around with the % used because as we both know what each person sees is subjective as an artist. The last tool I used was filter called optikVerve. You can find it on the net. I absolutley love it! It can give a picture an enhanced look. Sometimes I use it to view the picture's "oops" factor. There is something within it that picks up little details missed otherwise... btw, so does the "save to web" screen. I always veiw it before posting. What a wonderful thing it is to aid in varied looks.

Good thing about these things is that control "Z" can undo all those things.

I've worked on this off and on since yesterday. Today I was content to post.

Your work is very good. People say "practice makes perfect" not so... "perfect practice makes perfect". Simply put... don't give up. You'll read many things and as you do and work, you'll find your own technique. Slowly, that is what I am doing and you will too.

God Bless and have a great day

The last tool I used was filter called optikVerve. You can find it on the net. I absolutley love it! It can give a picture an enhanced look. Sometimes I use it to view the picture's "oops" factor. There is something within it that picks up little details missed otherwise... btw, so does the "save to web" screen. I always veiw it before posting. What a wonderful thing it is to aid in varied looks.

Your work is very good. People say "practice makes perfect" not so... "perfect practice makes perfect". Simply put... don't give up. You'll read many things and as you do and work, you'll find your own technique. Slowly, that is what I am doing and you will too.
Hello again Candice!
Thanks for the description of your trial and error process and what you finally found to work... I think you got good results for your efforts. I did look for the filter you mentioned. It appears that it's called VirtualPhotographer by OptikVerve Labs. Unfortunately, I can't take advantage of this one as it's PC only and I'm on a Mac.
Thanks for the encouragement and feedback on my work and I love that you used that quote ("perfect practice makes perfect"), I repeat that one often myself as I've found it to be true. You have a great attitude!

Take care,
Gina