Historic image retouch assistance

[anovelli]

Hey folks,

I came across this site while trying to find techniques for this particularly frustrating problem with cracking and emulsion discoloration. To my non-cal monitor, the wavy lines appear to be an almost blue tint, though nothing I've tried selection-wise seems to be able to isolate them from the broad dynamic range behind. Of course, I would not like to sacrifice facial detail. I've masked the couple in the foreground and applied a minor surface blur in CS3, intending to rubber stamp/healing brush the details. The original is just under 2" square scanned RGB at 600 dpi.

Any suggestions?
many thanks,
tony

sm2-copy.jpg

[Alison]

Hi Tony,

Welcome to RetouchPro.

I've started on this image and I'll go back and finish it later - these are the results so far and what I used.

I changed the crop to landscape. Depending on what is important in the image you can save yourself a lot of time and energy by invisaging the end result. If the buildings are equally important, then you would have to leave it as a portrait.

Levels adjustment layer - individual channels - bring sliders into the majority of the information.

B&W adjustment layer - Used Green filter preset.

Used a plugin called 'Neat Image', you can download this for free (just google it), the free version is limited to images 1024 x 1024 - to smooth out the image.

Used Gaussian Blur filter set to about 1.5, added layer mask (brush to black) and painted back over the people.

I shall continue with it later.

[Alison]

Back again.

I did a little bit of healing, cos the rest is your job you can see the outcome of that on the woman's coat.

Decided that the people needed lifting a little bit so I used the central point in a curves adjustment layer to brighten slightly. Used inverted mask to paint back in the people, avoiding the woman and child's face because I thought they were bright enough.

Used the High Pass filter to sharpen the people a little bit, with layer set to overlay I inverted the mask and painted back the people - lowered the opacity of this as well to about 50%. High Pass only set to about 1.

That was it really. The second image has been given a slight sepia tone in a hue/sat adjustment layer.

EDIT-I haven't done any work on the cars, buildings etc., in the image you may find that you want to touch up the few offending pieces that are there.

[anovelli]

Wow... thanks! I downloaded that demo plugin and will be purchasing it. Per usual, it seems it always comes down to the quality of the selection. I'm wondering if a gradual mask from foreground to background before applying the dust and scratch filter might soften some of the shallowness to the depth of field. Looks cool, but a little unreal. I messed with what you did to try and gradually sharpen to the foreground, but at this resolution it's hardly satisfying.

Wow. Again. thanks for your help!
Tony

sm2-copy3.jpg

[Alison]

Hi Tony,

You could always use a gradient on the layer that you do the gaussian blur on to bring the foreground more into focus.

I didn't use the dust and scratches filter, too much trouble trying to get it all just right LOL