Hi, I had posted this image in another website and was referred to this one. I have been using CS2 for approx. 6 months, I know a little about cloning, layers, saturation levels, etc. I guess the basics, but not much more. I was given this picture by a dear friend, she wants to have it cleaned up, and most importantly, she wants to be able to see his eyes. When I attempt this I end up making the problems worse than the original, I have been primarily cloning (doing what I know).
What I would like is:
1: How to clean up the image
2. Restore the colors (or improve)
3. How do I eliminate the orange / dark spots?
4. How can I bring the eyes out?
The image I have is a 2 x 3, my friend wants to print several 8 x 10's or 5 x 7's to give as gifts.
Last but not least, instructions on how to accomplish this, please keep in mind that my CS2 powers are almost non existent so, walking me through this by holding my hand would be most appreciated!
Thanks in advance!

:wavey: G'day Madelene and welcome to RetouchPRO, this is definitly an excelent place to learn and develop skills. With regards to your request, it would be helpful if you could post your image here (or even just part of it) as a reference so the community here have an idea of what you're dealing with and how best to help you out. Look HERE (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7933) and HERE (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?p=75171#post75171) for info on how to manage photo attachments in the forums if you are not sure of this, then you'll be in business! :bigthmb:
Cheers for now

It was too early in the morning

Hi Madelene,

Had a quick play with your image (haven't cropped it, though I think this would improve the framing).

First did a quick color correct using levels.

Using red channel, I roughly cloned out the red stained areas, being careful of the areas on the man's face.

Back to RGB channel.

New layer set to color mode and painted out some of the smaller red areas that were left using colors sampled from surrounding areas.

Now made a rough selection round dark area of eyes using quick mask. Copied and pasted to a new layer, then lightened using levels.

Flattened image, then created new layer and cloned out any remaining blemishes.

Bit of a crude job, but with a bit more time and care (which I don't have at the moment) I'm sure a much better result can be obtained.

Good luck with your restore.

Hi Madelene

I pretty well used Gary's techniques but lightened the picture a bit more. This produced a lot of noise in the dark areas of the eyes. I used some of Flora's techniques in using lighten and darken layers to even out some color and noise. I need lots of practice with this...lol

Butch

Hi,

Madelene,

welcome to RetouchPRO!! :pleased:

on my way out right now... but if you are interested I'll post the details later ...

flora strikes again. very nicely done, dear :)

craig

Hi Madelene
Welcome to Retouch Pro.

I adjusted levels of each channel and found the red channel contained the most detail (especially in the eyes). Unfortunately the red channel also contains all the damage

I repaired the red channel using the green channel and used this as the luminocity.
Curves to adjust the colour
Added a layer set to colour
Added catchlights to the eyes
Neat Image on the background
Sharpened the eyes
Whitened the teeth.

I agree with Gary that a crop would improve this picture.


Hope this helps.

Ken.

Cameraken / Ken:

This looks great! I am trying to duplicate what you've done, but don't really know a whole lot about channels, I made a copy of red channel and cloned the areas that needed repair as suggested by Gary but do not see the results when I go back to RGB mode. I then tried to clone on the original red channel and was not able to do so, what I am doing wrong? :confused:

Hi Madelene

There are many ways, as usual, to accomplish the task in channels.

I used the red channel to select the areas I wanted to change with a good feather then changed to the green channel and copied to the clipboard. Then i returned to the red channel and pasted. I used a levels adjustment to match the tone. Then a little touch up from there.

Flora and ken...good work as usual, I did not think of adding eyes to the picture... I did not find them in the original. But it really makes the difference.

Butch

Hi Madelene

Gary and I did this slightly differently.
Gary repaired the red channel (in the channels) and then has gone back to working on the picture in the layers.

I copied the red channel out to a layer. I repaired it using a lightened green copy (but cloning would work as well)
Once the red layer was repaired I set the blending mode to luminocity
From there I think our methods are similar.

There are several ways to copy the red channel out to a layer. Here is one way.
1) Duplicate the background
2) Add a channel mixer adjustment layer
3) Slide the red slider to 100
4) Check the monochrome box
5) Click OK
6) Select all > Copy merged > Paste

That’s it the red channel is now in the layers palette.

Sorry if my method is not described very well and I can’t find a tutorial. Hopefully someone may be able to point you to a tutorial or explain the method better than I did.


Ken.

Hi Madelene,

Just to clarify a point, I did not work on a copy of the red channel. As Ken rightly said, I worked directly on the red channel.

This would not normally be the way I'd do it, but time was short so I cut a few corners. Sorry if this has caused any confusion.

Just like to commend everyone's efforts on this one, some really nice work, just what I'd expect from you guys.

I guess I really need to lighten up the face on mine, but I'll let it stand as a reminder not to rush a job. :sad:

Thanks for all of the input, I reread and I think I understand the steps although I have not tried out yet (I'm still at work). So I'll give it a go when I get home tonight.

This is a great website, was not aware that it was here, I've learned more in one day than the whole 6 months I've had CS2!

Anyway, thanks again, I'll let everyone know how I did and post my "after", I hope it meets with everyone's approval!

Hi Madelene

I found a tutorial here
http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4769

The one called
“BEST BET (usually): Photoshop's Channel Mixer Adjustment Layer”

There is another method described called
“Pick a Color Channel, Any Color Channel”

It describes another way to get the channel out to a layer


Ken.

Well I thought I knew what to do, I have done the following:
Made color correction (removed color cast)
Created channel mixer as suggested by Ken and that's where I'm stuck, I have a b/w picture now but when I try to clone and check my work, the colors are wrong (end up with blue wherever I touch up). Ken says he repaired the red channel with lightened green channel, what does he mean by this? Are you going back to channel and working in green?

I'm lost, I know how frustrating this is to everyone, but I need more help...

Madelene - I have the same difficulty with replacing/reparing/mixing channels. Have tried several tut's can't seen to grasp what's going on.

I used levels and Hue/Sat/Lightness to repair your photo. Careful cloning for most defects except camera left side of face and ear. I copied a section from the opposite side and blended over the ear/face defects.

Cameraken - Thanks for the links. I'll try the tut's you referenced this week end. Maybe it will sink in.

Madelene, Ken may be (but don't quote me on this) refering to the drop down layer blending mode 'lighten' at the top of your layers palette. A few things you could check: hide your channel mixer layer, make sure that your main working image layer is active when you go to paste your repaired channels from your layers palette back to the channels palette and that all your channels are visible. I often forget the little things like this...so hope I am on the right track, I went quickly through the steps with channel repairs and took a screen shot.

Hi,

Graig,

thank you so much for your kindness!! :pleased:

Butch,

Flora and ken...... I did not think of adding eyes to the picture... I did not find them in the original..... .... I did not 'add' eyes to the picture ... I simply uncovered and enhanced what was already there ... :)

Zooming in on the original, you can already 'make out' the eyes covered by the shadow (Attachment 1)

Still in deep shadow, the eyes are much more visible after my first overall brightening up and colour correcting layer ... (Attachment 2)

After selectively 'lifting' the shadow around the eyes, you can clearly see the 'wrinkles', the eyewhites, and a hint of the 'original' catchlights ... (Attachment 3)

Final result after bringing out and enhancing the eyes... (Attachment 4)

Mind you, in my full restoration, after the final boost to contrast and sharpness, and after compressing the image for posting, the eyes look a bit too 'strong' compared to the rest of the image, so they might seem 'added' ... I'd noticed that after posting, but was in a hurry and didn't correct .... :grin:

Great EYE for detail Flora... I could have looked at that for a year and never seen the detail. It is truly amazing what you manage to bring out of seemingly nothing. Sure enough when you showed me what to look for... there it was.. :hat:

Butch

Duwayne:

Glad to know that I am not alone in my confusion...

You mentioned you copied and pasted areas of the ear, are you flipping the ear? If so how is this accomplished? This reminded me of a conversation I had with a fellow co-worker, we think there is a way to flip an image LR / RL but we murked around for awhile looking at the different options in cs2 and never figured it out....

Littlecoo:

In your screen shot I see the channel mixer then separate layers for red and greeen, isn't that what the channer mixer is for? How did you get the red and green channel over to layers? Or rather why would you do this? And how you would get them back to channel?

Flora:

If I can ever get past the channel mixer I will try your techniques...

My apologies, I think once I get this, you will be able to see the light from all over, it will be a beacon!

Madelene -
I use CS1 but should be the same as CS2. Select a section of the good ear and paste to a new layer. Then EDIT -> TRAMSFORM -> FLIP_HORIZONTAL. I then reduced the opacity of the new layer to about 50% so I could "see through" it. Then EDIT-> FREE_TRANSFORM to position over the bad ear and reshape as required. Cursor outside the corners allows rotation of selection. Used a soft eraser to remove excess selection.

I had part is matching the color and tone since the light is coming from the opposite side. I used HUE/SATURATION/LIGHTNESS to do this.

Hi Madelene

I repaired it using a lightened green copy

What I did was copy the red And the green channels out to layers
I added a hide all black mask to the green channel and then painted back the damaged areas. As the green channel is darker than the red channel I clipped a levels adjustment to the green channel to lighten it. In the attachment you will see I did this twice.

As you can see there are many ways to achieve the same thing. It is just a case of finding a method you prefer.
Flora’s method is also excellent, with an excellent result and gives a little more detail, especially in the jacket.


Channels and Layers.

I understand how difficult all this can be.

Another good tutorial is Russell Browns digital stain remover. A pdf file available here.
www.vanwijk.com/.../Adobe%20Photoshop%20Advanced%20Training/Digital%20Stain%20Remover/rbstains.pdf


Hope this helps.


Ken.

The channel mixer affects the channels in your channel palette directly and I used it to isolate and copy each seperate channel to it's own layer in the layers palette as Ken described:
There are several ways to copy the red channel out to a layer. Here is one way.
1) Duplicate the background
2) Add a channel mixer adjustment layer
3) Slide the red slider to 100
4) Check the monochrome box
5) Click OK
6) Select all > Copy merged > Paste

That’s it the red channel is now in the layers palette.

So now you have a monochrome copy of the channel/s in your layers palette to work on more easily whilst leaving your originals untouched.

Hi everybody ...

I'll probably be sent to the dog-house for this ... but I simply can't help it ...
Madelene, a new RetouchPRO member, starts a Thread with the word "newbie" ... explains clearly how 'newbie' she is ... makes clear points of what she wishes to achieve, posts a good size picture, finally, asks very politely that we walk her through holding her hand...

...I have been using CS2 for approx. 6 months, I know a little about cloning, layers, saturation levels, etc. I guess the basics, but not much more. ..... most importantly, she wants to be able to see his eyes. When I attempt this I end up making the problems worse than the original, I have been primarily cloning (doing what I know).
What I would like is:
1: How to clean up the image
2. Restore the colors (or improve)
3. How do I eliminate the orange / dark spots?
4. How can I bring the eyes out?
Last but not least, instructions on how to accomplish this, please keep in mind that my CS2 powers are almost non existent so, walking me through this by holding my hand would be most appreciated!... Well here is a quick reminder of how we all did exactly that, after flashing several times the result she's aiming to under her nose: (in her place, I would have probably started sobbing quietly .... to finish like this :bawling: :bawling: )
*******************
......Using red channel, I roughly cloned out the red stained areas, being careful of the areas on the man's face.
Back to RGB channel.....

....Just to clarify a point, I did not work on a copy of the red channel. As Ken rightly said, I worked directly on the red channel.I pretty well used Gary's techniques but lightened the picture a bit more. This produced a lot of noise in the dark areas of the eyes. I used some of Flora's techniques in using lighten and darken layers to even out some color and noise.....


......I used the red channel to select the areas I wanted to change with a good feather then changed to the green channel and copied to the clipboard. Then i returned to the red channel and pasted. I used a levels adjustment to match the tone. Then a little touch up from there.on my way out right now... but if you are interested I'll post the details later ...

....After selectively 'lifting' the shadow around the eyes.........I repaired the red channel using the green channel and used this as the luminocity.....I used levels and Hue/Sat/Lightness to repair your photo. Careful cloning for most defects except camera left side of face and ear. I copied a section from the opposite side and blended over the ear/face defects.The channel mixer affects the channels in your channel palette directly and I used it to isolate and copy each seperate channel to it's own layer in the layers palette as Ken described:......

.........So now you have a monochrome copy of the channel/s in your layers palette to work on more easily whilst leaving your originals untouched.*******************

We are all willing to help ... but did we really?
Glad to know that I am not alone in my confusion...

If I can ever get past the channel mixer I will try your techniques...:confused: :confused: :confused: ....
...just like giving a Ferrari to someone who has just passed a driving test .... ( :D couldn't resist that!!! :D )

Madelene,

... here comes one of if not the very first step I've learned when balancing shadows and highlights and trying to adjust colours (minimize a colour cast) ... I'm still using it today as one of the easiest step of immediate, magic effects .. I only use more complex procedures if this doesn't give me satisfying results ...... Believe it or not, I think this is exactly how most of us started .... :D :) :D


Open your image, click on the 'Create a new fill or Adjustment Layer' button at the bottom of your Layers' Palette and in the cascading Menu click on Levels. (Attachment1)


The Levels dialog box will open and a new Layer will be automatically added on top of your Background. (Attachment2)


Working on the 'composite' RGB, to lift the shadow and therefore starting seeing if and what details may be hidden in them, I simply moved the middle slider to the Left ... (Attachment3)

Amazing isn't it? ... You start seeing details of the previously much too dark jacket, but, most important, you start seeing his eyes!!! But don't click OK yet ... Just one more thing to do with your Levels :wink: ...


Now, click on the middle one (Set Grey Point) of the Three Color Pickers just above the word 'Preview' and place it on a spot of your image you know should be grey and simply click on that spot ... (I chose a shadowy part of his 'surely' white shirt) (Attachment4)


...Wow, look at that! ... Attachment5 is the immediate result of this single Adjustment Layer ... Exposure and colour corrections in one go! .... Of course there is still a lot to do, but, after this start, you can actually see what you are doing ....

I've reached the maximum of 5 attachments per post, but, for for removing the remaining reddish spots close to the gentleman's right ear, before you start cloning, copying, pasting and flipping ... wich could lead to other kind of problems... try the following:


Click on the 'Create a New Layer' button at the bottom of your Layers' Palette. (a new blank Layer will be added on top of your Levels Layer)


working on this new layer, click on the down arrow on the right of the word 'Normal' and, in the cascading Menu, click on 'Color'



choose a fuzzy brush (decrease the Brush's Opacity to 60%),

place the brush over a spot of 'good' colour close to the reddish spot you want to eliminate,

Keeping the ALT key pressed, (the brush will turn into a Color Picker') click on the good colour to sample it ...

Release the Alt Key (the Color Picker will turn back into a Brush (reminds me of Ciderella .... :happy: )

start painting over the discolorations ... (if necessary, release the mouse button and press it again to give another hand of 'paint/colour') ... sampling surrounding skin tones, do the same on the ear and the discolored, lighter part of his right eye ...

('Blank Layer set to ...' technique described in this Tutorial (http://retouchpro.com/tutorials/?m=show&id=206))


..Now, if necessary, you can start cloning to simply finish your restoration .... :pleased:

...P.S. ... Took me ages to write it down ... not even 5 minutes for the whole procedure in Photoshop ... :knockedou

...just like giving a Ferrari to someone who has just passed a driving test ....

You make a good point Flora, and my apologies to Madelene for not reading her post closely enough, and giving instructions which were beyond her comfort zone.

In my defence, I was a bit pushed for time when I worked on her picture, and didn't have the leisure to write a close detailed tutorial for her to follow.

Perhaps in this case I shouldn't have responded, but I at least wanted to show her that her picture was recoverable.

:blush: Thanks for the reality check Flora :thumbsup:
LOL...I've got this mental image now that in our eager rush to help out we've unintentionally trampled poor Madelene underfoot!
Madelene, my sincerest apologies *big hug* I hope you are not completely overwhelmed and are making some good progress with your image :wink: This is your thread, so as long as you need help keep a-postin'!
Cheers for now :wavey:

Well Said, Flora and Littlecoo. :bigthmb:

I was Very aware of that as well :blush:

But

I have also seen posts where there have been posted excellent detailed methods and the original poster has not come back.

For that reason I see nothing wrong with posting a ‘quick’ explanation first and then answering more questions later.

My teaching skills are not perfect and that is why I try to link to other tutorials.
Here is one on levels adjustment.
http://retouchpro.com/tutorials/?m=show&id=50

Great explanation Flora. Its very easy to forget how hard these steps can be to a newcomer. Thanks for reminding us. (But if you have a spare Ferrari :nod: )

Madelene.
I hope we have not scared you away. Just ask if you don’t understand anything.

Ken.

Thanks Flora, Ken, Littlecoo and Gary (and anybody I forgot), I was imtimidated to say the least when, I sat at my desk Sat. morning determined to make this "work or else". About 2 hours later I must admit CS2 got the best of me and my patience and I simply gave up. I nursed my Photoshop wounds by getting in my car and going to the mall. I was not able to check this post yesterday as I have satellite internet and we had pretty bad storms throughout the day.
Today is a new day and I am energized and hopeful that I can conquer this picture. So I will have another go and let everyone know how far I got.

You have all been great and quite patient with me, I have taken a class in Photoshop and I think I'm at the novice level right now, channel mixers, curves, and such, I'm familiar with the terms but tend to get overwelmed pretty easily, I'm thankful that I found this resource and I can ask people who are extremely knowledgable in this stuff.....thanks!

Well, let me open up Photoshop and start plugging away....wish me luck!

Good luck Madelene. :wavey:

madelene,

when it all looks hopeless and futile, just remember us poor paint shop pro users who have to interpret all these photoshop explanations into Paint Shop Pro :) those are the days i just open up microsoft paint and do stick figures while banging my head on the desk ;)

craig