?? Where to Start ??

[dustyshop]

Just when I thought I was getting better at this I recieved this picture.
I have tried levels and curves with no luck.
I am at a loss as where to begin.
I am using CS3

[TommyO]

Absolutely, white uniform and cap on a light background... very hard to reveal the proper contrast.
I usually try the following:
Examining the color channels for the best, then use either
- channel mixer to pull in more of the good channel, or...
- Apply Image to basically move data from good channels to bad.
Sometimes, it takes multiple layers to get enough good data to start seeing the results. On badly faded images I've often built 3 to 4 Apply Image layers before I can start masking and changing opacity of the final layer.

I've also been quite impressed with those using Smudge lately... although I have not jumped in and started using it in restorations. While not exactly recovering data, it certainly builds good data that exceeds expectations.

[xxxmen]

TommyO,

Would you have a link on how to use Channel Mixer and Apply Image tools?
These are areas I need to understand better.

Channel Mixer/Calculations/Apply Image. Photoshop's HELP area is more difficult to understand then the way it is usually explained in these forums for retouch purposes.
Any help would be appreciated.

[TommyO]

I'm sorry. But, I don't have a link. Everything is in book form. I don't wish to plagiarize, so I will have to refer you to some books or write something up.
The Apply Image technique is very useful and I suspect a short tutorial could be beneficial. I'll see what I can do over the next few days.
If anyone else has some links to tutorials on these issues, feel free to post them... I certainly won't mind

[Dutch Rich]

it's a B&W. Good luck finding that good channel.

[swarbees]

Tommy,

I would really appreciate info on using apply image tools as well--I've been using CS3 for about 5 months so there are some (probably simple) methods that I am still pretty lost when I read about them.
Thank you thank you,
Sandi

[philbach]

Well the major difficulty for me with this photo was separating the subject from the background. In Photoshop I used a curves adjustment layer to increase the contrast between the background and the subject. Then I selected the subject and copied him to a new layer and replaced the background with a darker background

[CJ Swartz]

Originally Posted by xxxmen

TommyO,

Would you have a link on how to use Channel Mixer and Apply Image tools?
These are areas I need to understand better.

Channel Mixer/Calculations/Apply Image. Photoshop's HELP area is more difficult to understand then the way it is usually explained in these forums for retouch purposes.
Any help would be appreciated.

Originally Posted by swarbees

Tommy,

I would really appreciate info on using apply image tools as well--I've been using CS3 for about 5 months so there are some (probably simple) methods that I am still pretty lost when I read about them.
Thank you thank you,
Sandi

You have plenty of company -- Photoshop has a lot of functions and it takes time to get acquainted with all of them, let alone become proficient. There are threads here in RetouchPro that give some info on these tools and some links to other sites with info. I've found one that might get you started -- be sure and ask questions (start a new thread if you're not working on this image).

http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/pho...culations.html

This link is included in the above thread, but I put it here because it contains instructions on how to use Apply Image as given by Graphics23, a member here. His explanation is related to a tutorial done by another member; that tutorial is linked from the first post at the top of the page, and Graphics23 gives specific info on using the Apply Image command to fulfill the purpose of the tutorial.

http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/rp-...tml#post171015

[TommyO]

Dusty,
What Richard mentions has some merit. Although this image has been converted to RGB, it does not have significant differences in the channels. So, I would assume it was not scanned in color mode. Otherwise, there would have been much more difference in the channels.

If you can obtain another copy that has been scanned in color mode it would help. Even if the image appears black & white, scan in color anyway.

[dustyshop]

Thanks all for your help.

I have been reading the info on apply image (still don't understand just how to apply it properly.

Sorry about the B&W file I thought that I sent the Color scan.
I looked at the channels and do not see much difference but again I am just learning.

Dusty

[Flora]

Hi Dusty,

Is this the original scanning or something has been done already to the version posted?

[dustyshop]

Hi Flora
This is the orginal scan. I did crop it to 5 x 7.
Dusty