Restoration Critique

[Mysterious_Em]

Hello!

I'm pretty much a beginner at this, and very new to all the terminology. I've had all of 28 days of experience with photoshop.

I'm finding that I have some difficulty getting a restoration "just right", though I'm sure I'm not alone. Since I feel like this is some of the best work I've done so far, I wanted to get some honest opinions.

Mostly, I'm just hoping to get some insight from people who are more experienced, to help me reach that "next level."

[cun030876]

Hello Mysterious_Em,
I like the original color better than the retouched one. The retouched looks too blue to me (or to my monitor).

[Flashtones]

I think you're off to a good start. I'd try to bring back the highlight from her hair and to diminish that area on the left side of her face between her "makeup" and hair. The edge of the hair on the bottom right could also be improved.

I know some of these are artifacts of the original but the contrast and saturation of yours heightens their effect.

[Mysterious_Em]

I agree with you about the highlights in the hair. I've been trying to figure out a way to bring out the highlights without making the hair seem like it has a gray film over it. :/

However, I'm not sure about the hair edges. The original is not strictly a photograph. I think it was hand-painted, and I was trying to preserve that hand-painted look. Some of the effect is lost on the small version, though.

I dunno. Maybe I'll experiment and see if I like the effect of removing it.

[Flashtones]

Yeah, try it and see. Could go either way.

How did you handle the hair? If you painted the darker color on it's own layer you can try changing the layer blend modes. This can allow you to retain the dept of color while letting some of the underlying highlights show through. Try: multiply, overlay, soft light, hard light, vivid light, linear light, and color. One, and then perhaps and opacity adjustment, might just do the trick.

[Snootch]

Ooooooh! I love these old portraits!

Awesome job for only using Photoshop for 28 days

My only advice to you would be to try and stick as close to the original colours as possible. I think the retouched version is too dark and to contrasty and really takes away from the vibrancy of the original.

Can I ask, what was/is your goal with this image?

You did a great job of removing all of the little imperfections, but I'm a little bit confused as to where you were headed with the colour.

[shamrock2008]

Great job and after 28 days? Well done !

[0lBaldy]

I totally agree with all the above... great start!

for a Restore you should remain as close to the original as possible.

Basically all this picture really needed was a good levels correction plus the repairs that you did very well..

I did the levels and made some of the major repairs also sharpened the eyes and necklace a bit and painted the hair on a separate layer as described above

~~ Original ~~ levels/sharpening