Photo Restoration - - blotchy family portrait - how to start?

rodmurrow · #1 11-20-2005, 08:18 AM

Is there any hope for a decent restoration on this portrait? This is my great-grandparents and their family, circa 1915. My grandmother is the women on the far left of the photo.

I use PS Elements 3.0 - and have tried many times to start on this project, but end up closing it w/o changes. I'm an amateur/beginner, have experience with the healing brush and the clone stamp for cracks and blemishes...but this photo is beyond my abilities.

[Oops...should have posted to "Challenges" or other section; sorry]

Cameraken · #2 11-20-2005, 07:16 PM

Hi Rod

Yep! It’s Blotchy.

I tried quite a lot of different methods to repair this. So I can understand why you are having problems.

I really don’t like to darken these pictures but in this case (after trying everything) I had to.

If you like my picture and want some steps then please let me know if you have these tools in Elements3

Shadow/Highlight?
Convert to CMYK?
Can you run Neat Image?

If you don’t like it then, that’s OK. Someone else may be able to help.

Ken

twinkissed · #3 11-20-2005, 08:13 PM

That's pretty much the problem I ran into.... Turned to CMYK, adjusted curves and then went greyscale but I deleted the black channel. Probably not the best method but limited time here... then I quickly highlighted sections and used the poloroid dust and scratch filter (yeah I know I use that a lot LOL) Sorry I only did bits and pieces.

Duv · #4 11-20-2005, 08:38 PM

Perhaps in conjunction with Polaroid filter, eliminating some of the background through Multiply.

Dave

bart_hickman · #5 11-20-2005, 11:58 PM

That's a tough one. I tried my usual combination of noise reduction and masking, but there are still some splothes and some of the detail got smoothed.

As with all old photos, scan scan it at the best quality possible--so at least you can effectively halt any further degradation. Then make your best stab at it and enjoy it. Over time, restoration technology will improve and each year you'll probably be able to try again and get progressively better results.

Bart

Cassidy · #6 11-21-2005, 06:58 AM

Something I was playing around with was:

1. Duplicate original
2. Filter Highpass and then invert
3. Paint back in 50% grey faces hands and details
4. Change blending mode to colour burn
5. Adjust Saturation
6. Adjust Levels
7. Copy Merged to new layer
8. Gaussian Blur and erase details and edges
9. Small gradient on bottom to darken slightly

yuccaview · #7 11-21-2005, 07:56 PM

I would ask if the bloches are silvering or oxidation and if it is someone with a copy camera with cross polarization will help this a bunch.
Don

Panpan · #8 11-22-2005, 02:54 PM

I used the high pass filter, Neat Image and the dodge and burn tools. I even added noise before Neat Image to equalize the noise.

Pierre

Kraellin · #9 11-22-2005, 10:58 PM

hi rodmurrow, and welcome to RP!

i duped the background layer.
ran psp's digi camera noise removal at 20/15/10_50/40 .
duped that layer
ran psp digi noise removal again at 30/20/10_50/0 (no sharpening this time)
blend mode of multiply on top layer.
copy merge to new layer. all other layers off.
polaroid d&s on white
dupe layer.
mask all faces.
polaroid d&s on black.
copy merged to new layer. all other layers off.
dupe layer
Fast Fix plugin to lower sat and increase contrast a tiny bit.

done for now.

this image shld now have clone tools applied...liberally!

Craig

bart_hickman · #10 11-22-2005, 11:30 PM

Hi Craig,

What's the Polaroid D&S filter? Is that a plugin? Where can I get it?

Thanks,
Bart

Kraellin · #11 11-22-2005, 11:57 PM

bart,

the polaroid d&s is polaroid's dust and scratch removal software. you can find it on the polaroid web site. dont have the current address, but a google will get you there.

it's free and can be used as a stand-alone or a plugin. the stand-alone has more features but with a decent paint program you dont need them and the plugin is faster and has a better preview system.

Craig

Cameraken · #12 11-24-2005, 04:03 PM

I have bee trying to calibrate my monitor. I have always had trouble because getting the black point right meant that the whites were hurting my eyes.
I have now adjusted the curves on my graphics card settings and now I can see all the steps in the Retouch Pro logo. The trouble is now that everything on the screen looks a bit flat. (Low Contrast)

A lot of my posts here now look a bit overexposed. My first post in this thread looks very patchy.

I did this picture another way and used Panpan’s idea to add noise. Which I think helps to make it look sharper.

This picture now looks as dark as the first one before I adjusted my monitor

Maybe someone who has a calibrated monitor could let me know which one looks best.

Ken

philbach · #13 11-24-2005, 05:13 PM

Well I do have a calibrated, very old monitor but its quite apparent to me that your second post is much better than your first one. You did a really nice job on a very difficult photo.

Cameraken · #14 11-24-2005, 07:02 PM

Thanks Phil.

I was afraid that would be the case. It looks like I’ve been posting Overexposed pictures for the past few months. My entry to the Nov Contest now looks way overexposed.

Ken

rodmurrow · #15 11-24-2005, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cameraken

I did this picture another way and used Panpan’s idea to add noise. Which I think helps to make it look sharper. Ken

Everyone - thanks so much for the overwhelming response to my problem with this photo. I'm only beginning to work seriously at photo restoration and the whole "layer" thing is confusing for a beginner to grasp. I hardly know how to respond intelligently to the various posts, except to say a hearty "Thank You" for all your efforts and suggestions...most of which are 'way beyond my ability to understand at this point.

Ken, of all the efforts, I really like this one the very best.

I will have to study everyone's comments and suggestions and try to figure out how to approach this project.

Rod Murrow