Photo Restoration - - Any document re-touchers please?

Britsdad · #1 03-06-2007, 10:00 AM

Hi all, it's been a while, and I have a question.
This is the birth cert of my mother's mother from 1900, as you can see it's a bit of a mess! I have scanned it as a colour photo at 600 dpi with an Epson Perfection 1250 with unsharp mask active, and this is the result.
Is there a better way to scan it?
I have done photos with tape stains but this is a different matter. Any pointers would be welcome.
I have been "playing" with it useing about 20 colour range selections and levels layers on each of them and I think I've got as far as I can, is there anyone who knows of a different and better way of attacking this image?
I don't want to loose all the creases ect. but just make it more legible and loose the stains. Any suggestions are very welcome.
John

Britsdad · #2 03-06-2007, 12:13 PM

And this is what I've got with the back.
John

TomasD · #3 03-06-2007, 02:14 PM

Im impressed..

It was a complete mess to start out.. One thing I'm wondering, would it be possible to concentrate the efforts to the text, burning out the back ground, and then printing the text onto a parchment?

Britsdad · #4 03-06-2007, 03:28 PM

Thankyou TomasD,
Yea someone else did that on another forum, but it's not really what I wanted to do. Thanks again.
John

DCobb · #5 03-06-2007, 10:27 PM

Interesting task. I used your completed image to adjust some of the text and paper.
dc

Britsdad · #6 03-07-2007, 07:36 AM

dc, Very nice, how'd you get rid of the last little bit of the tape marks? I just can't seem to get them.
Thanks.....John

DCobb · #7 03-07-2007, 10:38 AM

Alien Skin has a plug-in called Image Doctor that has a Smart Fill. I had tried using the PS dust and scratches with the history brush and while it did take the elements out that I wanted to remove; nevertheless, I didn't like the texture. With Smart Fill you first select the area you want to address and then run the filter. I finished small areas using the cloning and healing tool.

dc

Kraellin · #8 03-07-2007, 02:09 PM

i found this rather interesting. you've got some bleed-through from the other side where the tape was. this may or may not help you sort out the proper lettering. regardless, i found it interesting.

nice job, dc.

do you plan to take this further than the stain removal, john? (and nice job to you too).

Britsdad · #9 03-08-2007, 07:53 AM

Thanks Craig,
Yea I've seen the bleed thru' and been cloning and patching it out. My main reason for posting these was to see if anyone could come up with a different approach than I did, and if the scans I did could have been better done.
thanks again to everyone.....John

BillFrey · #10 03-08-2007, 08:30 AM

Hi Britsdad,

If the 'bleed through' is caused by the scanner, you can use an old trick we used years ago in pre-press.... Place a matching colored (as the bleed color) piece of paper behind the document while scanning.

This isn't effective when the bleed through is physical.

Good luck,
Bill

Britsdad · #11 03-08-2007, 08:35 AM

Thanks Bill,
But the bleed is on the original, not caused by the scan. However your tip is a good one, and I'll remember it.
Thankyou....John

EJB · #12 03-09-2007, 05:47 AM

Hello,
I am very new to all the wonders here! However I would have tried, very carefully, to iron the document flat before proceeding.
Please tell me if that's a No No?

Britsdad · #13 03-09-2007, 08:02 AM

EJB,
Welcome to Retouchpro, I don't know if it's a no-no (I only do this for fun!) but I kinda liked the small folds an creases, and I felt it would be better to keep them.
Thanks for looking.....John

EJB · #14 03-09-2007, 09:11 AM

Thanks,
It would take some of the character away I suppose

DCobb · #15 03-09-2007, 11:19 AM

I do photograph documents for a public library. All documents are photographed in an as is condition for posting online at the library's website. I also will do a retouch of the documents in the event a library patron wants such a copy and simply make note when I do the data entry that a retouched copy is available should such be desired.

dc