Help - Extreme restoration challenge

[nebgranny]

Ok..do not know where to post this request for help. I have been asked by a friend at work to do something with the only picture she or her sisters have of their father. PROBLEM. He is very small in the background and can hardly see him and features are not clear. I thought something would be better than nothing so wondered if I post this photo if someone here could make it into a charcoal or pencil sketch. Anythng to try and give her a little something visual of her father. Thanks Neb

[Cassidy]

Hi Neb, long time no see, just playing a bit, but think, unfortunately you need a bit more detail for a sketch, expecially as most sketches rely on the contrast, someone prove me wrong please

[DannyRaphael]

I would bet someone (not me) with great manual or digital drawing skills would be able to use this image as a reference to create a decent looking sketch.

Otherwise it would take one highly skilled in restoration to create a reconstructed image, which could be used as the basis for an art manipulation.

[Kraellin]

lookinig at the image, i would say restore it first, then do the sketch.

[Littlecoo]

Hmmm, just an idea Neb, but can you get a pic of your friend and her siblings? If they have some resemblence to their father this may be useful as a reference.

[byRo]

Challenge?

Did somebody say the magic word?

My normal restoration workflow (for really bad images) already passes through Painter.
This one just stayed there a bit longer.

That was fun!

Rô

[nebgranny]

Thanks to everyone who gave replies and suggestions!!


Ro..That is just wonderful. That is 1000 times better than nothing. Thank you so much. I can not say enough how great it is!! I will show her tomorrow. She will be blessed I am sure!! Thanks millions everyone. Neb

[solitear]

Holy Smoke....... I don't know what you call this version..... part photo / part fuzz ........ ha!

Beth

[CJ Swartz]

Originally Posted by solitear

Holy Smoke....... I don't know what you call this version.....
Beth

Beth -- I'd call it wonderful!! I just this minute closed out my attempt to restore this image because I wasn't getting good results, and clicked on yours to see a real picture of a real man. Very impressive!

[solitear]

CJ..... what a wonderful comment and such a compliment coming from you.... thank you......

Beth

[Kraellin]

i did a restore first and then used filter forge, byRo's pencil sketch filter. had to compress fairly high, but it shld show up ok.

[klassylady25]

Good Gracious girl could you get one just a bit harder? lol

I just sent this one (corrected of course) home, but here it is to play with for anyone who wants to. I think I'll try yours.

Candice

[klassylady25]

I just had to try. I didn't go to deep as you will notice the eyes are not where I would, nor you, want them... that would be a think about kind of thing..... but there is a good start....

Hugs, C

[byRo]

candice, did your original have JPEG noise like this - or was that something you threw in just to make it a wee bit more difficult?

Here we go, in (pretty much) the same style as the above.

Rô

[Cupcake]

My try of the Father.

[klassylady25]

Originally Posted by byRo

candice, did your original have JPEG noise like this - or was that something you threw in just to make it a wee bit more difficult?

Here we go, in (pretty much) the same style as the above.

Rô

For you Ro, I threw it in extra!!
Actually the original was just like that! Now why didn't I think of that. Ahhh because it was a restoration! LOL

I should have sent it into the challenge area, huh!?

[klassylady25]

Originally Posted by solitear

Holy Smoke....... I don't know what you call this version..... part photo / part fuzz ........ ha!

Beth

I'd second the nomination for wonderful!!! OKay, what was the trick?

[solitear]

Hi Klassylady.......thank you..... it was an accident and started because I can't 'get' the dodge and burn method for doing skin retouching...... I took one look at this picture and figured it couldn't hurt to practice on it....

It was just zooming in and out with that *#!* dodge and burn..... I think I started with channel mixer and the mono thing selected, flattened and began working.

At the end I think I switched to Lab mode and chose the Lightness channel, changed to grayscale then finally back to RGB and changed the blend mode to Soft Light......

I don't think it helped my dodge and burn for up close skin though.... oh well..

Beth

[nebgranny]

Solitear: That is an awsome work. I can hardly believe it. I am so grateful and impressed with the work you and Ro and EVERYONE else did!! I have such admiration for you all and all you can achieve. A blessed talent for sure. I am going to post another photo ..I would like to ask help via directions . I would like to try it myself. But need help on what this picture might take to get it looking better. Now this is a scan of the original as can not scan it with lid down as it is a ah..convex photo. So this is the very best we can do. My friend understands this. So can someone help me learn the techniques to make this a better picture for printing. Thanks Neb
Using either photoshop CS2 or psp9

[solitear]

Awe..... thanks, Neb..... it really melted my heart when you'd said their father had passed away (my parents and only sibling are gone, too) and that was their only picture of him.... I have a large version of it if you'd like.... just PM me .....

I'm going to play around with your latest picture..... it should be fun, too!

oxoxo
Beth

[Kraellin]

neb,

any chance you could take a picture of the picture rather than with the scanner? might get you a better end result.

[philbach]

Well with this photo I first used a channel mixer adjustment layer to monochrome and selected about 60% red and 40% green and 0% blue since the blue channel was the worst one. I then used two levels adjustment layers on top of that. The first layer was for the center part of the picture and the second layer for the outer margins. On the second layer I painted the central part of the layer mask dark. After combining the layers I then used Neat Image to decrease the general noise of the photo.

If you want sepia, you can always add it back in at the end.

[nebgranny]

Thanks phil. It looks good. Craig I am going to try and capture a picture of it today. Any suggestions ..from you both or anyone else who has tried to to do this on how to get the best results will be appreciated. Neb

[philbach]

Well you should use a tripod. Nice lighting without reflections. Highest resolution possible on the camera. Several different exposure settings on the camera or use RAW if possible. Careful attention to depth of field. I.e. all areas of this curved photo need to be in focus. And if you are using a digital
camera blast away and use the best one.

[Kraellin]

neb,

i would say everything philbach said, plus have a look around the forums for similar threads. i know i remember seeing some about photographing photos instead of scanning. these might also have additional information useful here. and if Mike chimes in, i'm sure he has some excellent suggestions, being a pro photographer.

[nebgranny]

No Tripod Phil, and no intentions of getting one soon!! But willtry all th eother suggestions. All I am trying to do is get a good copy of this photo. Thanks

Craig..who is Mike?? Help Mike!! Neb!!

[Kraellin]

neb,

mike is 'Mike'. that's his user name here on RP.

[nebgranny]

OK..Thanks craig. Neb

[klassylady25]

School Days, School Days, Good Ole' golden rule days!!