This is my second image restoration and I wanted to get opinions, contructive critisism, anything to help me find my weaknesses.

Thanks in advance!

Tammy

EDIT:

Here's what I did.

1.) Adjusted Levels, Shadow/Highlights.
2.) Selected various portions of the image that where washed out. Feathered the selection 10-20 px depending on selection size. Used Shadow/Highlights or Levels to adjust the lighting for that portion of the image to match the rest.
3.) Used Neat Image for noise.
4.) Used clone and Healing Brush to take out creases and damages.
5.) Used airbrush for some touch-up.
6.) Lightened the dress with dodge, then used blur.

now, you didnt think you could hide over here, did you? :)

you've done quite well.

you just need to finish it now. there are a number of smudged/dirty areas yet and the dress is a bit too white yet.

Ya know, the more I look at it, the more I don't like it :confused:

I think I should have stuck with the easier stuff for now and worked on this one after getting some practice. :rambo:

dont worry; we all go through that. let me also point out that for a 2nd attempt, it's marvelous. and this was a MUCH more difficult image than the first one. so, hang in there :)

you may want to back up on the dress and find where it got so white. there is a thing that can happen when you're working on something like this for a long period of time. your memory tends to hold onto previous images, previous stages and this gets a bit confused with what's actually there now. it's very common and i run into it all the time on myself. the thing to do is to step back or walk away or whatever, but just put it down for a while and come back later. it can surprise you what you'll see when you do. i've even been known to turn the image upside down and work on it that way for a while.

Thanks for the reminder. My profession is in the IT world, so I know all about walking away from things and coming back to them later. Sometimes I just forget. :ditsy:

So I am going to put this one off to the side for now. I want it to look like a photo and not a drawing, so I need some more practice. I have tons of photos, so I'm sure I can find another beginner level one to work on.

I think my next project will be the attached picture. It's of my maternal grandfather's sister. So it'll be back to the HELP ME! forum for me :happy: