Help with photo. Using PSP ...

[nebgranny]

Hi All:
Here is a photo I would like to work on this afternoon.

I have tried a few things but just not working. As you can see the jacket is missing. I would like HELP...and have suggestions on how to restore this picture. I sure do not mind anyone having a try at it. I would like to see what you can do. But most of all I would like you to help me learn which functions would be best to restore this so I can try to use what you suggest and then do it myself. I want to learn from all of your expertise !!

Thanks Nebgranny.

PS: I use Paintshop Pro, so any help from someone who uses it would be so welcome. I am going to get Photoshop but it will be a few weeks before I do that. So do not hesitate to post those suggestions as well!!

[Gary Richardson]

In a case like this where there is no detail that you can take from elsewhere in the image, your best bet is to get another picture with a similar jacket, and copy details from that to paste to your image. This can be difficult, as you need one with similar lighting to the image you are trying to restore, and preferably in a similar pose.

[barry_uk]

Hi neb i did really what Gary mentioned just took a coat from another image,
The scratch marks was simple it self just using smudge tool alittle at a time.
time it took me was 15 mns in all. I am now sure you can complete and build the image your self. Easy one this I simple copy and paste and using the deformation tool with the mudge tool set to Step 1 hardness zero.
hope this helps you neb

Regards Barry.

[Juliana Ross]

Holy Wierd Foreshortening Batman!

Poor guy looks like he is perched on the edge of something, the foreshortining makes ones sense of perspective go a bit off.

Since I only have paint at work on my workstation, i crudely (and i mean crude ) drew in lines where I think some of your edges are.

The sleeve of the jacket at his wrist, lays behind his thigh
The fall of the jacket comes down to a little above the thigh and sweeps in a gentle curve.

Some tone matching with the eyedropper tool, and some airbrushing may work well (especially for faking some of the shadows that are gone)
The selectivley use the noise filter (if there is one in PSP) on the areas that look a little flat

[nebgranny]

Thank you Barry for a try at a very difficult photo. I appreciate your effort.
Juliana , I agree with the sketch. I feel the jacket falls behind him. He was just sitting on the chair arm as it looks to me. Very frustrating photo hu?

I thank you both!! Neb

[barry_uk]

Your welcome Neb I this time played around with dodge tool and smudge. No copy paste involved I did use blur tool as well, I am sure you will agree looks alittle better than my first attempt ! LOL Still requires some more work, A hour shouldn't be a problem to repair the whole image I did what you see in 15 mins, Also added some little flowers floating in mid air LOL . Been fun messing around..

Regards Barry