Some help for a Newbie?

[ohnoitslindsay]

Hello! I've been lurking around these forums picking up some tips and reading tutorials for the past few weeks. I decided that fixing up some old photos would make a great Christmas present for the parents, and since it has become somewhat of a new hobby. Everyone's posts have been very helpful so far, now I'm hoping for some personalized tips and fixes for the chosen photos themselves.

I've only been able to do the very basic adjustments so far, but if anyone could show and/or explain what they could do beyond that I would be so very grateful.

Thanks for your help!

Unfortunately uploading the images just doesn't seem to be working, here are links.

http://i36.tinypic.com/nohr8g.jpg
http://i33.tinypic.com/et7b6o.jpg
http://i33.tinypic.com/309klyw.jpg

Thanks again!

[0lBaldy]

Lindsay, welcome to RetouchPRO! Nice to have you aboard and hope you enjoy your time here. Try different things, learn, share, exchange ideas and opinions... Most of all we hope you feel at home here.

What retouching software do you have? This will help focus the tips to the programs you have available to work with.

Even though these photos need minimal work, a larger and much higher resolution sample would be helpful and appreciated.

The following links may help you post images!

Attaching Files or Images to Threads or Posts

Size and quality for Attached Images!

After you post your less than 100K version here, you could also post a link to the site that is hosting your larger version (as you did)...
Or use any of these other host options:
ImageVenue.com (3Meg max, free) or pixentral.com (2Meg max, free) or photobucket.com (1 Meg max free,... 5 Meg PRO)-- .

[ohnoitslindsay]

Sorry, forgot to mention I'm using Photoshop CS2.

Thanks for the help with attachments. I was attempting it correctly, but my connection kept wimping out on me.

Thanks anyone for your help!

[tom60634]

on the first one neutralizing the yellow cast and some noise removal seemed help a lot.

[ohnoitslindsay]

Thanks tom60634! I did some noise reduction but hadn't thought to neutralize the yellow. That helps a lot.

Does anyone have any tips for the second photo? The lighting is so bad I can't seem to find any color balances that I really like. But then again I am a complete novice so I could very well be overlooking something simple.

[tom60634]

for what it's worth, I tried help out the picture with the two children and adult.

Color balance wasn't the problem I noticed first, it was the excessive darkness in certain parts of the image. In particular the black eye, forehead and chin of the little girl.

I concentrated a bit of effort just on the area of the girl to see if i could salvage anything.

My best effort was in the LAB color space, where the sponge tool applied 5% at a time in the lightness channel seemed to help. I also colored in the blown out portion a bit.