Could someone advise/help?

[smurfing]

Could someone advise/help?

I have an old photo whick my cousin has asked if I could improve for her
Everything I've tried fails
Any help would be gratefully recieved

http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/p...ppy/cous-s.jpg

Smurf

[0lBaldy]

If you want to post a larger resolution that is over 100K then you can host your image elsewhere and attach a link in the thread as you did here, but also please attach an under 100K version (so the thread remains useful in the future, regardless of external links).

You can post fairly large pictures which are under 100k using the 'save for web' function in Photoshop as described here: Size, Quality and/or Format your Attached Images.. (Click here)

If you or your cousin have the original I would have it Re-scanned in color with all automatic applications turned off (ice,dust/scratch removers, contrast, sharpness, color adjustments, etc)... turn it 180 degrees and scan again... combine both scans in Photoshop as described in this thread .. "Scanners, textures, scratches, cracks, silvering"

[smurfing]

Two scans 180degrees to each other

http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/p...Untitled-1.jpg
http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/p...Untitled-2.jpg


Smurf

Appologies for the error

[CJ Swartz]

The second scan didn't include the child's feet

[TommyO]

Smurfing,
(The link to photobucket seems to have expired... by the way.)
(I can see the childs feet, so I'm thinking it was just an ooops from CJ.)

The silvering isn't too bad, and I think you can remove it by following some of the previous threads here on RP regarding silvering. However, the main issue I see is that there is not much original detail in the image. Quite often, our family/friends have over-realistic expectations as to what can be done. You may want to have a discussion with your cousin and let him/her know that the image will look cleaner, but not necessarily sharper. While some of the detail could be "painted" in, it may not be their desire to have you do that anyway. Their expectation could be to simply clean it up. It would be nice to nail down what they expect first. Then the restore would be more enjoyable.

[CJ Swartz]

C'mon, Smurfing - tell Tommy that you re-did the scan. I know the bottom of her shoes were missing this morning!

Summary by OlBaldy on ways to deal with silvering on old photos - best way, he states is to photograph the originals per his instructions.

Link he mentions to Lurch's explanation on dealing with silvering from restoration book by CTein - this use of calculations works very well. I only worked on it a bit, and with time and effort you can isolate the silvering and then deal with it.

[0lBaldy]

I used the red channels of each picture ... changed the mode on the top one to Darken (not much difference!)... used the history brush set to Multiply to darken the edges and bright areas... some noise reduction using Imagenomic Noiseware.... used Polaroid dust and scratch twice... once using the light mode then using the dark mode... I think it gives a pretty good starting point for a nice repair

Maybe I should look into calculations a bit more.. might save a lot of clicking

[CJ Swartz]

Originally Posted by 0lBaldy

...

Maybe I should look into calculations a bit more.. might save a lot of clicking

Yours looks better - I'd say just keep on doing what you're doing!

[smurfing]

"Hands up" I admit it
I did a rescan

Also upladed new to PhotoBucket

Thx to you guys for all your help

Smurf