Image Help - - Help please...extremely faded photo!

wwcavs · #1 06-02-2008, 12:01 AM

Hi there,

I am very stuck with this photo. I've tried everything I know, but I can't fix it. It is a 70 year old picture of my Grandmother and Grandfather. My mom asked if I could restore it, but I can't even come close. If anyone can help me, it would be very much appreciated. I have uploaded the file so that I can print it as an 8x10. If anyone can help I would forever be indebted to them.

http://us.share.geocities.com/wwcavs/image1.jpg

chillin · #2 06-02-2008, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwcavs

Hi there,

I am very stuck with this photo. I've tried everything I know, but I can't fix it. It is a 70 year old picture of my Grandmother and Grandfather. My mom asked if I could restore it, but I can't even come close. If anyone can help me, it would be very much appreciated. I have uploaded the file so that I can print it as an 8x10. If anyone can help I would forever be indebted to them.

http://us.share.geocities.com/wwcavs/image1.jpg

"We're sorry, but this page is currently unavailable for viewing."

wwcavs · #3 06-02-2008, 01:26 PM

Sorry, I don't know what it does that.

This should work:

http://www.geocities.com/wwcavs/image1.jpg

lurch · #4 06-02-2008, 01:56 PM

Still can't view your photo.

wwcavs · #5 06-02-2008, 02:19 PM

Sorry, let me try this one more time.

http://img231.imagevenue.com/img.php..._122_249lo.jpg

crazyfly1 · #6 06-02-2008, 04:58 PM

Here is my try.
I found a ot of noise once I darkened so I tried to get aroun that.
I used an overlay mode layer with the high pass filter set to 20 and then masked out the bottem and right of the image, then I dup'd the layer 7 times. That brought back the dark edges of the mans face without the junk.
Then I used a screen layer to lighten the skin and dress with a mask and then multiply on another layer with the same mask inverted to darken the shadows. You could then clean up the background with some dodge and burn.

0lBaldy · #7 06-02-2008, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwcavs

Hi there,

I am very stuck with this photo. I've tried everything I know, but I can't fix it. It is a 70 year old picture of my Grandmother and Grandfather. My mom asked if I could restore it, but I can't even come close. If anyone can help me, it would be very much appreciated. I have uploaded the file so that I can print it as an 8x10. If anyone can help I would forever be indebted to them.

http://us.share.geocities.com/wwcavs/image1.jpg

The first link worked fine for me using IE

You might try another high resolution scan in COLOR with all automatic stuff turned OFF

All I have done is to try and find the image with a few levels adjustments with masks to sort of give you something to work with..

a little larger version (here)

wwcavs · #8 06-02-2008, 08:52 PM

Thanks everyone for your help.

crazyfly1, I can't seem to view your image, I keep getting a message saying "You are not logged in or you do not have permission to access this page", but I am logged in.

marliz · #9 06-03-2008, 11:07 AM

Levels
Levels copy (blend multiply)
levels copy (blend soft light)
Noiseware to remove some noise
A little burning and dodging
Straightened and cropped
Some cloning
Lots more to go and you will have a fair copy. The more time and patience, the better.

wwcavs · #10 06-05-2008, 03:26 PM

Thanks everyone for your help, I do appreciate it!

*dp* · #11 06-06-2008, 12:30 AM

Here's another one - went more conservative on the resto.. The softness still works, just cleaned up some cracks, spots, and duped the checkerboard background to cover some of the worse spots and to give the husband a bit more edge contrast against the backdrop.

FotoFixer · #12 06-06-2008, 02:14 AM

The quickest and easiest way to deal with any faded image, is to duplicate the layer and change the layer mode to multiply. You can do this several times, or flatten and do some more layers to multiply the effect. Conversely, a photo that is too dark may be lightened using duplicate layer(s) with layer mode changed to screen. On the last layer you set to multiply to darken (or screen to lighten), use the opacity slider to fine tune the effect.