I need help with the windows?? anyone??

[jesterjeni]

I have been working on this picture for awhile now, I just cannot get it to come out right...the windows dont have any clarity and the arm and face dont want to cooperate.. this is an opr photo and I could really use some help!!

[4personnen]

hi!
Do you actually have to keep the window?

1/ if no, it's quite easy to replace it by a curtain style background or whatever, the image is not so easy to cut out but given some time and patience, that'll do.

2/ If you have to keep it, then I suggest that you select and cut some of the left side leaves, copy the right side of the window than flip it on the left side, paste some leaves on their original place. As it's just straight lines, it won't be too tricky.

For the rest then, cloning, cloning and at the end, cloning...

Check your blue channel and play with calculations to get rid of the blue stains...The cut out would be OK using the red channel. Check right there:http://retouchpro.com/tutorials/?m=show&id=120. HTH.

[lurch]

jj, the windows in the original are featureless. Leave them that way. For the arm and face you can use the blue channel, which shows much less of the damage, as a guide.

[mistermonday]

Unless that glassed background has some particular significance, you should consider extracting the young lady and replcing the bg, even if it is with another glass bg. You can fix it by cutting out and cleaning up the best pane, then using Photoshops Vanishing Point filter to paste it in perspective on top of the other panes. However, that is a lot of work for which I see no real value.
The girl herself should be readily extractable from the current bg.
Regards, Murray

[lurch]

Murray, the mission of OPR is to restore the photos as they were before disaster hit, not to change them. Replacing the background to 'make it pretty' is not an option.

[mistermonday]

Hi Lurch, yes I know that, especially as it applies to the human subjects - no substituting clothing or body parts etc. Sometimes the backgrounds are very significant and integral to the photo's memory and context. However, in other photos it has no significance and its only the people that count. If it is possible it is always best to let the photo owner make the choice.
Regards, Murray

[Flora]

A lot of work but it can be done ...

I concentrated on the skin ... meaning face and arms. (difficult to say if the lovely girl in the picture is wearing braces or if the discoloration in the teeth is due to heavy pixelation ... so I didn't touch them... )

Mostly I used frequency separation to correct damages and discolorations.

Originally Posted by lurch

Murray, the mission of OPR is to restore the photos as they were before disaster hit, not to change them. Replacing the background to 'make it pretty' is not an option.

I couldn't agree more ... I am a firm believer of changing only what absolutely necessary and even if the background might not seem significant to the restorer that is no reason for changing it unless required by the owner of the picture.

Attachment 1 my partial restoration

[jesterjeni]

wow, you pulled the face out so much better than I did... I was having a hard time with that ear, you nailed it!!
I am trying to figure the window to try to keep it original as possible..I have not been able to locate a window like the one in the picture...I have photo-shop-ed some of it but it lacks a natural appearance
I want to thank you guys for understanding, and for helping me ...it looked easier than it is!!

[mistermonday]

Flora, awesome job, as usual!
Regards, Murray

[Flora]

jesterjeni, Murray,

Thank you so much for your kind feedback!!

jesterjeni,

you could try this:

as Murray suggested, copy drag and paste the good panes from the right side to the left.

Adjust them (transform, move or warp tool)

google for 'leaves images'

copy drag and paste the good leaves over the damaged ones

[jesterjeni]

wow! you eliminated that big ugly line to the left...I was trying to re-construct it...I like yours so much better!! it is beautiful...I love the match you found for the leaves, I looked at that and went Duh...a branch why didnt I think of that..its beautiful!!

[Flora]

Thanks for your feedback Jen!

Originally Posted by jesterjeni

...I love the match you found for the leaves, I looked at that and went Duh...a branch why didnt I think of that..its beautiful!!

... It happens a lot when you concentrate on the same picture ... or, better said, on the same problem of a picture for a very long time ....