Does anyone have a method for cleaning up documents that have been copied too many times? I have a death certificate I'm trying to clean up but I'm not sure if I'm making it better or worse. The original copy I have is below and it's the best quality available...

http://home.comcast.net/~kookala/Scan0020.jpg

Thanks, Jon.

Have you tried increasing the contrast?

I tried a quick fix without using commercial noise filters and only PS.

1. In the Levels controls, move the white point (right side) arrow to the left until the paper goes white. Then move the middle arrow to the left to darken the text to taste.

2. Use Noise\Dust and scratches filter to taste to remove speckles.

and you end up with this:

I also did the level adjustment, but added a dodge and burn layer (using 50% gray fill and blend mode of soft light) to selectivly add contrast. I then merged down and did levels again.

I guess skull fracture was the primary cause of death. Looks like the guy took a bad fall.

Thanks for the help. I've had the best results with the dodge and burn tools too but I was hoping somebody would have a trick to get a better result. The guy on the certificate was killed in a train crash in 1939.

Thanks again, Jon.

Hi Jon,

I tried 'playing' with Layers' Blendings...

The attachments are very compressed for the 100KB limit ...

Attached you will see the work that I have done thus far. It is a slow process but it keeps the original and removes a great deal of the artifacts.

On the side I help two gentlemen with lawyers depostions. This means doing exactly what I did here - clean up of documentation so that it can be presented when it goes to trial.

My way is slower (if not experienced) but it is able to be presented well.

I have used many of the methods mentioned but have also free handed a good portion.

The result you want depends on what you desire to use the documentation for. This one is do-able. You should see some of the things we come across!

What is your workflow?

Jon.

It swings from a trickle to a flood gap. Since becoming certified as court videographers our work load is growing slowly and the cases are becoming larger. Our court work is only a portion of what we do.

Hope this answered your question Jon.