Glass negative restore: Baby steps

[raynapolsky]

Hello! This is my first post. I've been poring over RP for about a week and it's exponentially increased my Photoshop skills. Thank you!

So. The other day at the flea market I was "taking a stroll down garbage alley" (aka looking for trash after the vendors had left) and I found two 5 x 7 glass negatives - both broken.

I work as a librarian at a newspaper and write a lot about local history. I'm also a computer geek. So first thing Monday I scanned the plate (in two pieces; it wouldn't fit all at once) and got to work.

I did pretty well, thanks to this site and its tutorials. There's a couple problems, however, I'm not sure how to approach.

If you look at the old fellow, there's a long white scuff down his side. That's one problem. The other is that as a result of patching the two scans together, the sitting woman has a seam running horizontally across her skirt.

I tried the patch tool and the healing brush, but it's still obviously 'shopped.

I'm so close! Any advice?

P.S.: The image I'm actually working on is ultra-high res - about 30M. I know this one looks sort of jaggy.

[0lBaldy]

Originally Posted by raynapolsky

Hello! This is my first post. I've been poring over RP for about a week and it's exponentially increased my Photoshop skills. Thank you!

So. The other day at the flea market I was "taking a stroll down garbage alley" (aka looking for trash after the vendors had left) and I found two 5 x 7 glass negatives - both broken.

I work as a librarian at a newspaper and write a lot about local history. I'm also a computer geek. So first thing Monday I scanned the plate (in two pieces; it wouldn't fit all at once) and got to work.

I did pretty well, thanks to this site and its tutorials. There's a couple problems, however, I'm not sure how to approach.

If you look at the old fellow, there's a long white scuff down his side. That's one problem. The other is that as a result of patching the two scans together, the sitting woman has a seam running horizontally across her skirt.

I tried the patch tool and the healing brush, but it's still obviously 'shopped.

I'm so close! Any advice?

P.S.: The image I'm actually working on is ultra-high res - about 30M. I know this one looks sort of jaggy.

WOW! Excellent First Post!!

Welcome to RetouchPRO Hope you enjoy your stay here and make lots of friends. Poke around, ask questions, take part in some of the discussions, challenges, etc., offer help, have fun!

You have a great start on this WIP (work in progress)

Personally I would just use a soft brush using the clone tool... sampling different areas next to or close to the areas needing repair

[mistermonday]

Ray, welcome to RetouchPro. There are a number of ways to address those problems. For this image I would just add a set of dodge and burn layers and you should be able to even out the luminosity and make those afected areas blend right in. There are a great many tutorials on D&B on this site.
Regards, Murray

[raynapolsky]

Thanks, guys! The dodge and burn is working pretty well ... considering when I found the image it was just a broken piece of glass in the dirt at the flea market.

Any more tips?

[CJ Swartz]

Originally Posted by raynapolsky

... considering when I found the image it was just a broken piece of glass in the dirt at the flea market.

It's sure a lot more than that now! Congrats on saving a piece of someone's history.

[mistermonday]

Congratulations, You did a great job!
Regards, Murray

[raynapolsky]

Aww, hooray!

[Flora]

Hi raynapolsky,

welcome to RetouchPRO from me too!!!

I agree with everybody else ... you did a great job!!!

The one thing I would add is balancing Shadows/Highlights by lifting the heavy shadows in the lower part of the image.

I used a Shadow/Highlight adjustment layer.

[raynapolsky]

Ooo, amazing! Thank you Flora!

[Flora]

You are welcome raynapolsky!

Thank You for your kind feedback ... and look forward to seeing more of your work!