This is a very old picture of my wife's family. I need to try to make it as close as possible to a mordern day photo. So far I haven't done so good. i hope you will be able to to show me an example of this picture, done up good. And ofcourse I would really like to know how you did it. By the way, the wife expects a 8+10 picture.
I will be standing by, with high expectations.
Thanks,
Vernon

Why don't you post what you've done so far, and we'll try to help you where you need it.

I will post my result. What I was hoping for was some experiments on the original. I didn't get many on my first post.

Vernon,

It's important to realize that an old photo like this is nearly impossible to turn into "a mordern day photo." There just isn't enough detail remaining to make it as sharp as a modern photo. For example, the white of the mother's blouse and baby's clothing blends into the sky and you'll have to guess on the separation. (You've mentioned this in previous photos, so I know you're aware of this.) It is possible to "paint" in shading, but it will always be an approximation.

I worked on this photo to bring it back to a decent (though not perfect) B&W. If I had more talent painting (like your wife seems to), I might try to paint in some shading on the mother's blouse and child's clothing - keeping it in B&W. Then I would start colorizing. The goal is to get a good base image in B&W, the apply the color.

To achieve what I've done so far:

1. Looked at the individual channels. The blue channel appeared to have significant damage, so I knew getting rid of that would help immensely. Thus, I chose to use a Channel Mixer adjustment layer and (checking the monochrome box) used 40% red and 60% green to get a fairly decent B&W.

2. The noise was still quite visible, so I flattened the image and saved it as TIFF - then ran it through Neat Image (http://www.neatimage.com) to get rid of some of the noise. Then opened the resulting file back in Photoshop.

3. The photo was still looking quite faded and I wanted to bring out as much of the highlight details as possible, so I copied the layer and set the blending mode to Multiply, opacity 35%.

4. The photo was looking a little flat, so I applied a levels adjustment to boost the contrast.

5. The previous step also made the remaining damage stand out more. So, I created a new layer on top, then Shift-Ctl-Alt-E to merge all of the layers into the new layer. Then used the clone tool and healing brush to fix the damage, i.e. the cracks and also the mother's face.

6. The mother's cheek still looked unnaturally dark and the girl's hair looked a little washed out, so I created a new layer and changed the blending mode to Overlay. Then used a soft brush at 3-4% opacity to paint black where I wanted to darken the photo and white where I wanted to lighten the photo. Some spots I went over multiple times. This has the effect of burning and dodging, respectively.

7. Things were looking pretty good, but the faces still looked flat compared to the rest of the photo. So, I made a very loose selection around the faces and copied them to a new layer, then set the blending mode to Soft Light. Then used a layer mask to "erase" those areas that I didn't want affected. This helped to give more "depth" to the facial features.

8. The areas of "white" sky were looking quite blotchy, so I made a loose selection of the sky and applied a Curves adjustment layer to lighten and reduce the contrast a bit so that the blotchiness was reduced.

9. Used the eyedropper to pick up the color tint of the original photo, created a new layer and filled it with that color. Changed the blending mode to Soft Light to give it a slight hint of sepia tone. I have learned that starting to colorize (esp. people) from a slight sepia tint is easier than starting from a straight B&W.

I'm sorry, but I'm really over-worked right now and don't have time to continue the colorization process. But both Vikki and I provided links over here (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7178) that will give you a good basis in colorizing technique.

Again, the important thing is to start with as decent a B&W image as you can get before starting to colorize.

HTH,
Jeanie

Hello Jeanie,
That looks like a step in the right direction. I have replaced the backround, with something with more color. The current backround wan't useful to my goal, no useful information. Thanks to you, I am developing my goal. The goal is to make a 8+10 or 10+8 which looks like it was taken yesterday and including useful information,which, would be people and clothes, etc.
Time is also important. Can you tell me how long it took for you to get to this point?
What does HTH mean?
Peace,
Vernon

Vernon,
You would probably get more help if you posted images that show your attemps/progress so far. It's nice for the people that offer help to see the results. I don't think it's written down anywhere, but that's the usual process here.
Vikki

Time is also important. Can you tell me how long it took for you to get to this point?

Not sure exactly, but definitely less than one hour.

What does HTH mean?

HTH = Hope that helps.

Jeanie

Here is my finished picture.

Hi Vernon,

I just gave your picture a try .... Probably not what you expected since I absolutely agree with Jeanie whe she says:
Originally posted by jeaniesa

...It's important to realize that an old photo like this is nearly impossible to turn into "a mordern day photo." There just isn't enough detail remaining to make it as sharp as a modern photo.

...but here is what I did:

1) Substituted the Blue Channel with the Green one and used the Curves on it to adjust the colour.

2) To give more consistency to the details, I created a 'luminosity mask'(Ctrl+Alt+~), slightly feathered it, copied it on its own Layer (Ctrl+J) and set the Blending to Multiply.

3) I duplicated the Luminosity Layer twice setting the Blending to Soft Light and adjusting the Opacity of the uppermost Layer to about 60%.

4) I used the 'Heal by Pattern' technique (Katrin Eisman's book -Second Edition) on the sky.

5) Used Channel mixer to turn the image into greyscale.

6) Run the image through 'Neat Image' to reduce the noise.

After that it was different new Layers, Blending set to: Lighten, Darken, Soft Light, Overlay on which, with a 'fuzzy' brush (Opacity 10-30%), I painted Black, White or any 'colour' sampled from a surrounding area.

Finally, I used the Custom Filter to sharpen the image a bit.

I didn't do any colorization but I slightly tinted the image using Gradient, Selective Color and Color Balance Adjustment Layers.

Just to get a response to the work that was done

HI Flora,
I will try to color your results. Let you know in a couple days.
Peace,
Vernon

Hello
I hope this picture will help show what I have been doing for the past 2 years. Since I couldn't show the layers I have, I merged a few, the rest would complete the picture. Next I will work with each layer, then merge and send to my wife. She will finish the color. Ill send another image soon.

Hello
I hope this picture will help show what I have been doing for the past 2 years. Since I couldn't show the layers I have, I merged a few, the rest would complete the picture. Next I will work with each layer, then merge and send to my wife. She will finish the color. Ill send another image soon.

Ill try again

Imhotep,

I think you did a very good job on this very difficult picture where the most important details were extremely faded (faces) or completely missing (clothing) .... well done! :)


Vernon,

....Looking forward to seeing your final result .....

try again

Flora, it's amazing how much detail you brought back to the baby's face! Nice job!
Vikki

I cant seem to upload my picture.

Vikki,

Thank you so much for your comment .... coming from someone as talented as you are, really means a lot to me... :)

Vernon,

...could it be that after attaching the image you click first on 'Preview Reply'? ....

If that's the case, for some mysterious reasons, your attachment gets deleted ... Try submitting your reply directly ....

lets see i think this is my 3rd try.

4th try, I think I found the problem.

Nope, it doesn't look like that worked either (unless you're uploading a giant pink image)

I should say that this picture has 7 layers of a total of 23.

I can send any part of the image you would like. Maybe the baby's clothes?

Vikki,
You may want to look at ths picture, until I get the wife to finish the other.
Peace
Vernon

Vikki ,
The size proportions are real. Every head hair,every piece of skin, evrey piece of harness, each white spot on each horse,etc was on a separate layer. I was looking for ccolor seperation, was I wrong?
Peace,
Vernon

Vernon,
You can use whatever method you like, but the results will vary.
It's only my opinion, but the method you've chosen is very labor intensive and the results are not realistic looking, in a "photographic" sense. However, if you are happy with the results, that's all that matters.
Question: What blend mode are you using for your layers? Usually when using seperations it should be set to "color".

Truthfully, I'm a bit confused by your postings. Although you've posted "help", and are asking for advice to make this (and others) more realistic looking, it appears you are happy with the results you originally achieved. Perhaps if you asked a specific question, we could be of more assistance.
Vikki

I don't know how to blend my layers. Wouldn't I have to have one layer on top of another? I have been merging. Would blending help the faces in this picture?

Now I'm really confused!!
If you have several layers, they must be on top of one another.
You should experiment with the different layer blends to see how they effect your image. A good place to start, is to set all your layers to "Color" (except the very bottom layer). See the image below which shows you where to change the blend modes.


For some excellent (and easy to follow) instructions and techniques, I recommend Katrin Eismann's book "Restoration & Retouching". Here's a link to her site. Take a look around.
Restoration & Retouching (http://www.digitalretouch.org)

Vikki,
I worked on your orignal, to get this. As you can see ,it does not look like it was taken yesterday, that is where i need the help.
When I make a layer, I use new layer by cut. So there is nothing else in the layer. There are layers under it but, they don't have information in the same place, so I am not sure how to blend them.
Stick with me ,Vikki, I know you can help, if I can express my problems better.
Peace,
Vernon

The "cut" is where the problem is. You need to leave the original layer intact. Add a new transparent layer, set it's blend mode to color, and paint your color on that layer. You can still add additional layers for all the different items, but you don't need to have the actual item on the layer.
If you color over an area by mistake, you can use the eraser tool to clean it up. If you make a big mistake you can erase the whole layer a make a new one.

Vikki,
I have no idea what you just said. Looks like I will have to do some reading in the links you have sent me. What did you think of my work on your picture?
Peace
Vernon

Vernon,
I think you'll find Katrin's book enlightening.

Sorry my last post didn't help you out. Perhaps once you have a look a the book it will make more sense. I can't think of another way to explain.

The coloring on you did on my picture looks much more realistic. Not sure what else you did, looks like some painterly type of filter effect.

Vikki,
I started with the orignal. used variations to gold tone it. I have forgotten to tell you that I use AutoEye to sharpen. Then I started cutting ( dont yell ). The hat, skin, eye balls, eye iris, eye pupils, dress. I think thats all. Used variations on everthing except the skin ( left that alone ). Forgot about the buttons, cut one out with a circle cutter, filled it in where needed and copied 2 more. Oh ya , I also cut the hair. And a couple times had to use hue/saturation; brightness/contrass.
Then merged the cuts and put backround in behind to hid the cut marks. This my normal way. Except it would go to my wife, if it need an artistic touch. But didn't do that. No painting and no filters.
This picture had alot of detail to work with, not so with some of the pictures I am doing of my wife's relatives. Let me know if you want a more detailed accound of what I do. Do you think your picture can be made to look like it was taken yesterday?
Peace
Vernon

While I admire ambition, I'm concerned your goal of "taken yesterday" might be unrealistic. Even if the photo were literally "taken yesterday" it wouldn't look like it by today's standards. You can't create resolution and tone where it doesn't exist.

Perhaps a more attainable goal might be "undamaged".

Vernon,
Again, you're putting too much work on yourself.
I used four layers and it took me about a half hour to color it. I didn't make any "cuts" or selections.
I'm not sure which one of your techniques did it, but it looks like the Photoshop filter "Paint Daubs" was used on the image. Maybe I'm biased, but I prefer my version.

You're killing me with this: "Do you think your picture can be made to look like it was taken yesterday?
Doug has a good point. Most of the time, all you can hope for is a good restoration.

Good morning Vikki,
No filters, don't know paint duabs, would I have to download it. I would like to do the work faster, but I am willing to spend any amount time to get the bast results. We are redoing pictures that we did 2 years ago, becuuse, we think we can do them better now.
Don't die Vikki, people have asked what am I trying to acomplish, now you are one of the lucky ones to know. Actually I have just made that goal up. But it is my goal, that is where I am TRYING to go. As apposed to maintening the basic picture.
Does what Doug said make since to you," if the picture was taken yesterday, it would not look like it by todays standards. I guess if that is true, I will accepy yesterdays standards. Now all I have to do is figure out how to get them.
Stick with me kid. I still have to read Kathrins book( I have it in my favorites). AutoEye is the only thing you might not be fimiliar with, I bought the program. It may have created the affect you are talking about.
Peace
Vernon

Maybe this tutorial will be of some help:
Layers (http://www.sketchpad.net/psdlayer1.htm)

Hi Vernon,

I've been reading this tract and I don't know what you're
trying to achieve.If you are trying to colorize a black and
white photo are you trying to turn it into a painting?From the
various pictures you have placed on here it seems that way.
f your trying to colorize to make the black and white seem
more natural then I would believe that you're going about it
in the wrong way.
I am brand new to this art and through some excellent
resources have managed to colorize many black and whites
to make them appear natural.You must use a subtle approach
to the color.colors that are to intense look like a painting
and are very plastic looking.I noticed on one of your posts
that you have cropped out different parts of a picture.Are you
cropping out each part and trying to place them back together
as a whole?I din't believe that would make a picture look
natural.
I am placing a link to a tutorial on colorizing.There is a video
on the link but you must have a quicktime player to view it.
It will definitely show you how colorizing is done with layers.
Of course there are many ways to colorize and each person
has their ownbag of tools that are used.
As Vicki stated,I would urge you to purchase Katrin Eisan's
Book.I am waiting for my copy in the mail.

Colorizing Tutorial -

Color Black and White (http://www.techtv.com/callforhelp/answerstips/photoshoptips/story/0,24330,3516680,00.html)

Joseph

Vikki,
I think I may have found some help on Katrin's site. Ill have to look into it further, maybe buy a book or 2. The page I looked at was designed to restore and colorize. Had good examples, one inparticular that took the guy a month to finish and many many many separate layers. If I learn anything youll be the first to know. Thanks for steering me there, Katrin definetly belives in restoring to mordern color levels.
Peace,
Vernon