how could they do this?

[realaqu]

Hi,
I followed the Katrin's link to this site
http://www.archivesphotorestoration....examples.html#
just can't believe my eyes that they can fix a photo like this. I attached the photos they made. It is really amazing.

[Flora]

Hi realaqu,

I was really curious to see how this 'miracle' was performed .... I think that the 'secret' is in the 'preparation' and Tools/negatives etc. available ....

# Archivally Clean Original Print, Negative, Transparency
# Scan the Original at 4000 - 8000 dpi on professional grade film scanners.
# Restore the digitized image using Dual Processing Apple Computers with Adobe Photoshop and specialized extensions. This requires too many involved steps to list here.....

In my opinion, whatever was done to this picture, surely wasn't achieved using the posted size and resolution because, as you can see from my attachment, I don't think that, working on the picture posted, from the before version (no detail whatsoever in jacket, chair etc.), there is a way to bring out all the clear details shown in the after version ...

[tzec]

Flora's right -- they must have had a better original to work with.
I had a go at unblurring with the Unshake program (see http://www.hamangia.freeserve.co.uk/), which can to a limited extent recover "lost" detail, and then doing the usual color adjusting and so on. This is OK-ish but the results just don't have the smooth continuous tones of their retouched image, which I am sure must have come from a higher resoultion source (or they have an amazing artist who paints in all the details )

[Stroker]

Some look like Levels while eyeballing the histograms (Marylin).

For the colour cast one (guy on ladder), looks like Steve's technique:
Intro to Curves - Page Three.
Then other touches as needed.
If you are PC/Win, I recommend trying Colour 2 Colour a shot.

Hm...
Just tried C2C with the guy in the chair. After C2C, was able to get awlfully close the retouched example with a Lum tug.

edit:
LOL
Chopping!
Love it.

[Ken Fournelle]

Is it me or does the image of Cary Grant have more than the usual Cyan in it?

k

[sib]

Two minutes with the curves and a slight notch with Hue & Saturation and the Brightness/Contrast.

Like the Stroker said CHOPS
I added an adjustment curves layer to each Channel and it really made the difference.


sib

[Kraellin]

i was thinking the same thing, either too much cyan or green. and yes, the res is pretty low compared to what they were working with.

i did a little reading on that site. that's pretty impressive what they're doing and using, and working with HP directly to develop new technology for r & r. nice.

i also gave this one a shot. a simple sharpen more and contrast does a lot to help, but i went quite a bit further, using a lot of different filters and techniques (a lot of which i've learned on this site). i eventually would up with this:

K.

[Flora]

Ok, I had to try .....

I think I got good results, still avoiding haloes etc., with size and resolution available .... but, in my opinion, still a far cry from the clear full details they got with .... (repeating myself) ... a far higher resolution to work on ....

[Kraellin]

yup, ya did great, flora. i like your skin tones over my own. a bit too much red in mine, i think. i like tzec's also. gonna have to work on my skin tones.

if they were using 4000 - 8000 dpi, i can only wonder at their file sizes off a scan like that. and editing a file that large must be a bit interesting also. i can see why they need dual processing macs. you could use one of those wall-sized monitor arrays and still not get a 1 : 1 image showing

K.

[realaqu]

Wow, Flora
Wonderful work. you set the standard for me. I ll try it again tonight

realaqu