This is a photo sent to me by email from a cousin. It's my gr gr gr grandparents and the only photo anyone has. The cousin doesn't take it out from behind the glass so he took a photo of it.
Where do I start to bring things out a little better? I think I can get rid of the scratches but just not sure about the overall picture.
I'm using PSP 8 so I don't have the healing brush PS users have.
Thanks,
Nan
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o174/Nan18_photos/DMCowan-g.jpg

Nan,

I copied the background layer, adjusted levels fairly dark and set this new level to overlay. Then I copied the second level and changed it to screen. Then I set both to 50% opacity.

I think this helped bring out some details but it needs a little fine tuning on the levels. Hope this helps you get started.

nomi

Thanks Nomi,
I'll try that. You did bring the detail out more.
Nan

nan,

i first ran a brightness/contrast adjustment layer. then i copy merged and paste as new layer.

on that i ran a 'clarify' filter, fairly strong.

i also ran a 'shadows/midtones/highlights'

after that i simply changed the background with clone and airbrush to give some contrast to the background and the people. i also airbrushed the faces and hair a bit brighter.

this is NOT a complete restore. it was done rather quickly just to show how to bring the folks out more. there's a lot of detail still in this image so, you shld be able to bring it out nicely.

also, you could leave the frame in, take it out, paint it like i did or whatever. mostly you want the people fixed.

That's great Craig! It looks like it has a lot more possibilities now. I mostly wanted to be able bring out the features better and your method doesn't sound too complicated.
Thanks,
Nan

you're welcome, nan. just bear in mind that this could be a lot better. i was just sloppily throwing things around in a hurry :) so, i'm sure you can do better and would love to see your end result.

Reducing some noise might help too

I used only burn & dodge tools.
Texture canvas & frame make with dodge tool.

This was just a quickie in photoshop but I am sure it can be duplicated in psp. I duplicated the background set it to multiply and reduced the opacity a bit. I then cloned out some of the scratches.

Like I said it was a quickie but my main point here is it does not need to be complicated. :dizzy:

Hope that helps a little.

Alan

Great work you guys!!!!!!!!!

All of you got this finished faster than I did. They all look great too.
I'm not completely finished with this but will have to put it on hold for a couple of days now.
I used Craigs suggestion for brightness/contrast and claify. Then some airbrushing and cloning. I copy and pasted the left eye on the right but wasn't satisfied with it. It's hard to tell if it's the picture or if she really had something wrong with that eye.
Thanks for all the help.
Nan

nan,

lookin better :)

you might have removed just a bit too much texture on the faces, though. just a bit 'pasty faced' there. you dont have to back up, though. make a selection of the skin areas with a show all and use the 'add noise' set on 'monchrome' and you can add back some fake texture that shld work ok. do this on a separate layer and you can then gausian blur it to make it look more natural.