Photo Restoration - - Moldy Polaroid - help! (Aunty Jack)

Caitlin · #1 06-01-2005, 06:43 AM

Hi Everyone,

No-one other than my fellow Aussies are likely to recognise the name in the title, or the image attached, but Aunty Jack was an extremely popular and controversial comedy icon in Australia in the 70's.

Today I was given this polaroid by the actor/comedian who played her - Graham Bond.

The image is of his first wardrobe test wearing the now famous Aunty Jack outfit, so I would like to attempt a restore.

In examining the original it looks like it has both mould damage and fading, but I don't think the mold can be physically removed.

For an idea of what Aunty Jack looked like see here: http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/tv/comedy/auntyjack.htm though Graham tells me he thinks he had actually shaved off his moustache that week, so was lacking the customary mo.

What suggestions do people have for recovering some of the lost detail?

A higher res version here: www.tv83.net/retouchpro/Aunty-Jack_004_1mb.jpg

Paris · #2 06-02-2005, 05:14 AM

Hi Caitlin,

I saw the title and was immediately drawn to the thread. I can hear the theme song running through my head as I type. Loved the show, especially when Graham and Rory did their park bench sketches and ants songs. Showing my age I guess

No help on the image, sorry. I just couldn't help responding.

Paris

Kraellin · #3 06-02-2005, 08:07 AM

caitlin,

i took a cursory look at this one. interesting pic. the damage extends across all the color channels and that makes it tougher. my guess is that you're going to have to do some reconstruction and a lot of manual editing, as opposed to automated filters. the face is going to be the critical area and i dont see any easy way to do it. you can sharpen and clarify and enhance and contrast to try and bring out a bit more detail, but in the end i think you're going to have to just roll up your sleeves and use small brushes and clones and 'hand' work to reconstruct, perhaps even borrowing from other similar images to reconstruct.

if the work wasnt as damaged as it is, i'd say just start fixing the easier areas, but in a case like this i'd start with the more difficult to see if it's worth doing at all and that pretty much means the face. i did go so far as to try combining some channels with the arithmetic tool to try and bring out some more detail, but it really didnt help much. sharpen does a little bit also, but 'clarify' had little effect.

you might also find deadant's thread about the two little girls in the tub. there are a number of helps in there on bringing out more detail. it shldnt be too far down in the threads here in this forum area. and maybe flora will ring in on this one. she's got some techniques that might help also.

K.

edit: here's the thread i was talking about: http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/photo-restoration/10423-ghostly-image.html

byRo · #4 06-02-2005, 09:34 AM

OK. I'm risking stirring up the whole restoration / reconstruction bag-o'-cats again. (don`t tell Duv)

A quick websurf reveals a number of images of this "colourful" character (I myself was brought up on a strict diet of Monty Python! ).

So this would be one of those cases were you have some auxiliary input, at least as to dresses and boxing gloves.

Have fun!
Rô

Flora · #5 06-03-2005, 01:21 AM

Well, I tried .... I did some 'cleaning up' but gave up soon realizing I'd never get the bits that count (his face) in any acceptable condition ....

P.S. Caitlin, I'd neverd heard of 'Aunty Jack' before, but I've always been a big fan of 'outrageous' Dame (possums) Edna ....

Flora · #6 06-03-2005, 01:32 AM

Roland,

Quote:

OK. I'm risking stirring up the whole restoration / reconstruction bag-o'-cats again. (don`t tell Duv)

....

... you do like to live dangerously!!!

For this time I won't tell .... but only because of Monty Python!!!

Caitlin · #7 06-03-2005, 01:41 AM

I've just started working on it myself - when I posted originally I was just hoping someone could give me some blinding inspiration - but it looks like this one will just be hard slog. I've only just started, but attached is where I'm up to so far. I used the blue channel (I think) but copied detail for the dressers dummy and gloved hand from one of the other channels as the mould damage wasn't so apparent. Still a long way to go though.....

When I scanned this I thought I was very careful to turn off all auto settings, but the levels seem to say otherwise unfortunately, and I refused to hold onto the original (I know how slack I can be at giving things back promptly)

The gloved hand and face are obviously going to be the hard bits....

Aunty Jack had a similar feel to Monty Python in fact, though Graham Bond was telling me that when he tried to launch the show in the UK, a TV executive suggested he should play it thinner and more sexy (a-la Dame Edna!) Not surprisingly he refused.

Flora, your attempt seems to be revealing a moustache. Do you think there is one there?

Flora · #8 06-03-2005, 01:55 AM

You are doing great! .... It's just going to be one of the 'labour of love' jobs!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caitlin

Flora, your attempt seems to be revealing a moustache. Do you think there is one there?

.... Not sure .... I got that trying to enhance the 'nose-mouth' area using a blank Layer set to Overlay and slowly painting on it with a very soft, low opacity, black brush ..... But, as I said before, I quitted very soon ....

philbach · #9 06-03-2005, 06:43 AM

Well I've been gone for a few days but on a lark I searched Google/Images for Aunty Jack and came up with a few faces. I thought I would post them for possible help on restoring "Aunty's Face"

Kraellin · #10 06-03-2005, 08:00 AM

caitlin,

yes, he's sporting a moustache. you can make it out in various channels and even the original, especially on his right side. i can make out his right eye fairly well and his mouth...mostly. it's his left side that is badly damaged. you might also take a look at splitting the cmyk channels out. the black is almost worthless, but you do get another look at some things in the cmy. you might even try some recombining of various channels with the arithmetic function. sometimes that will highlight damaged areas. the red and the green with arithmetic set to 'darkest' helps a bit, for instance. i'm using psp 7, but i believe photoshop has this also. we had some limited success doing this with the tub girls.

it's a difficult picture. take your time. look at it from lots of different ways and do remember to eat and sleep

philbach,

that's an excellent help! it shld make reconstruction of the face MUCH easier!

K.

deadants · #11 06-03-2005, 05:04 PM

I think Kraellin is correct. After doing a select colour range and lightening the mould, you can make out Graham’s moustache.

I hope you can bring this piece of Aussie cultural history back to life, or he’ll “Rip yer bloody arms off”

Gary Richardson · #12 06-04-2005, 12:05 AM

There's something I never thought I'd see, Aussie and culture in the same sentence.

Only kidding. Best of look with the restore Caitlin, looks like a really difficult one.

creeduk · #13 06-04-2005, 07:16 AM

Is there no physical restoration that can be made to the image? maybe some safe way to remove at least some of the mold from the image before it is scanned I would think in this case that would yield the best results if it is at all possible.

Caitlin · #14 06-04-2005, 07:46 AM

Thanks for the suggestion creeduk - I did have a quick look at the print, but to me it seemed like the mould damage had become more of a stain, than anything that could be easily removed.

I also didn't want to risk damaging a photo like this, when it isn't mine, and does have a certain historical - and yes - cultural - value. In fact I insisted he kept it, and suggested he give it to the National Film & Sound Archive here in Australia. Though we have a major photographic collection where I work, restoration is not one of our 'things' so I am looking at this purely in my 'hobby' mode.

I have toyed with the idea of substituting parts as Ro suggested, but as this image represents a particular event I think it is important to keep it completely accurate. As it was a first costume test I think the makeup and look etc was not yet formulated fully either - hence not going to match the various other photos on the web. I think I'll be happy if I can just get it cleaned up to the point it is recognisable, and without the obvious stains.

Kraellin · #15 06-04-2005, 10:44 AM

i spent some time with this yesterday and no matter what i do, i can find very little automated help on this one. oddly, i did get some results on splitting the cmyk channels out and then taking the black and doing a reverse image on it. by using sharpen, clarify and fade reduction, i could get a tiny bit more detail.

and then today, i tried this same thing with the cyan channel. first, convert it back to 16 million color. then, do a negative image on it. this brings it back to a positive image. after that, use one light sharpen, several full strength clarifys and a fade reduction. and last, anything else you might want to try. the cyan did seem to result in some better detail. i've posted it below.

K.