This is the original image.

After a lot of help with the noise I came up with this fix. The first step was to remove the background. After that I applied a watercolor plugin and pasted it to the cloth background I downloaded from this site. The image at that point was very harsh, so I copied the background and pasted it over the image, did a screen blend and put the opacity at 20%. Not a perfect fix, but for me a keepsake.

This is a photo of me and my granddaughter. One of the few I have of us together. I am usually behind the camera.

Lynda,

You've done a fantastic job here ... Wow, I'm impressed! And what a lovely photo it is too.

Did you do this in PhotoShop?

Sam

Thanks, Sam. I used Photoshop 6. I have to admit this was a tough one, but I am learning.

Lynda

Looks like it was taken in a studio. Beautiful.

You did a nice job. That really was a tough one.
I thought I'd try a technique that I like for this type of photo. It's quite different, but another alternative when you get a dark, noisy photo.

Hi Lg,

A very nice job of taking a dark so-so photo and making something truely beautiful from it.

Don't you just love it when you can do that? It really is gratifying and that's what makes you keep going in this work.

Again, nice nice job!

Wow, that's fantastic! Love the subtle wallpaper type background.
DJ

Lynda - you really created a beautiful portrait out of a snapshot. I love that background, and your subjects are lovely also. Your granddaughter will be so pleased when she grows up to share such a lovely memento!

I see you're in S. Korea. My brother served there for a number of years while in the U. S. Army, and loved it.

CJ,

Living in South Korea has been a wonderful experience. My husband is a civilian contractor working for the Air Force. We have been here almost 2 years. There have been a few culture shocks, but that is to expected in any foreign country. The Koreans are a very gracious people. We have truly enjoyed being here.

Iglogan,
You did a beautiful job with taking a casual snapshot and turning it into a portrait to cherish.
May I ask you what water color plug in you used? I'd like to try your technique with some photos I have.
Welcome -I have learned an awful lot on this site and the folks are great.
Paulette

Paulette, I used Fo2pix plug-in. Here is the link.

http://www.fo2pix.com

Try it. I think you will love it.

Smiles,
Lynda

Hi Lynda! :)
Wow, that was a great fix! I like Vikki's too...this type of fix is what I like best about photoshop.
Lovely picture.

Vikki,

I liked your fix. Would you mind posting the steps you took?

Thanks for all the great comments. I have really learned a lot in the short time I have been in this forum.

Smiles,
Lynda

Thanks Lynda and Jill.
I created a tutorial for this, (I like seeing the steps). It's at this address:

Sepia Option Tutorial (http://www.lifetimephoto.com/TIPS/sepia/so.html)

Lynda, if you'd rather I didn't use your photo, just say the word (although I think it's a really nice picture).

Vikki

Vikki,

You are more than welcome to use the photo. Thanks for the link. I have some old photos that I am retouching of my family and I think this will work well with them.

Smiles,
Lynda

Vikki,

I just checked out your website. AWESOME. I especially liked the Photos to Art section. I would love to learn how to do this. Do you have any suggestions for books, tutorials, or online classes?

Smiles,
Lynda

Thanks Lynda.

I don't know of very many sources, although I know a lot of people do like to do this. There is a group of folks over at a Commuity Zero site that are dabbling in things like this. Their address is:
PUG (http://www.communityzero.com/pug)

As for myself....I'm sort of self taught. I got some tips from Adobe's website, and then played around modifying the techniques. My goal is to replicate natural mediums, rather than create digital art work. For me, the trick is to use the filters in Photoshop as part of the process, rather than a one step measure. Mix em up, fade them, and blend them. That's how I do it.

I have yet to make a tutorial for one of these, maybe that's next. It's just that it's very involved and I'm not sure people are up to going through a long tutorial.

I think a grouping of photos done in a Sepia style would look wonderful. I'm thinking of doing it myself.

Thanks for the use of your photo.
Vikki

Vikki,

Thanks for the info. I am going to check it out now.

Smiles,
Lynda

Vikki,
Thanks for the great tutorial.There's just some very special appeal to the sepia tones images. Plan on trying it very soon.
Paulette

Vicki, that's a very interesting approach. I like the results. I'm always on the lookout for things like this. Thanks.

Originally posted by Vikki
Thanks Lynda and Jill.
I created a tutorial for this, (I like seeing the steps). It's at this address:

Sepia Option Tutorial (http://www.lifetimephoto.com/TIPS/sepia/so.html)

Lynda, if you'd rather I didn't use your photo, just say the word (although I think it's a really nice picture).

Vikki

I red through your tutorial, thanks.