Critique please... before and after

[omytfineo1]

Hello everyone,

I've been playing with photoshop for over ten years and am addicted to say the least to all things photoshop related.

What I have here is an old photograph of my grandmother as a child which is in poor condition. The size is about 1-1/4 x 2-1/4". I'm guessing the original is a tintype since the back and border itself is all black. Also the fact that the image seems very dark itself and is peeling with lots of cracks.

So I did the best I could to restore this picture using levels and lots of patching and healing. I had problems patching up the background, but used a technique I read about in Katrin Eisman's Restoration and Retouching book where I sampled a small part of the cleaned up background, created a pattern from it and used the healing brush tool to match the texture (using my new pattern as the source).

I still think it looks too grainy... but maybe it's just me?

[Swampy]

Excellent, Pam! You have much more patience than me. :-)

[omytfineo1]

Swampy,
Thank you very much. I've read many posts of yours and have to also say thanks for the great tips you offer too!

[zganie]

Your right it does look grainy but considering the photo I think its the way it is
Really great retouch one can see a bit of work went in to it

zganie

[omytfineo1]

thanks for comments everyone... this one's going into the restoration portfolio for sure