[VCOOPER]

Requesting advice or assistance with the attached photo. It is the only photo of a family member who died in 1922. The photo is a scanned xerox image which seemed to be all available. I scanned it in at 16 bit grayscale and have tried manipulating through Photo Shop. The skin texture is blotchy. I used the curves layer, Neat Image, Gausian Blur. Any advice will be most welcome.

[Gary Richardson]

Hi V Cooper,

The problem with your picture seems to be caused by having too much contrast in your restored picture.

With a picture of this age and condition it's not really possible to get the sort of clean bright image we accept these days, and a more sympathetic treatment is necessary.

I've done a quick clean up of your picture, and have enhanced slightly some of the contrast by use of Dodge and Burn in areas of her face (mostly round eyes and nose) that draw most attention.

I haven't tried too much to "enhance" the picture, just to draw out what's there.

It might be possible to do a little noise reduction to get rid of some of the grain, but I' haven't attempted to do so.

Might also be worth re-framing the shot slightly, as she is offset to one side, but I haven't done this either, as I don't usually re-frame shots without asking first.

[DCobb]

I did a quick try.
-Smoothed background
-Degrunge (tutorial on this site)to smooth skin
-Selective sharpening on eyes
-Contrast adjustment

dc

[sunfly]

Hi all,

Could not resist a quick try on such a beautiful spirit. This lady has incredibly deep eyes... those of a gentle, wise old soul.

Coop... thank you, so very much, for posting this photo.

-noise reduction
-cloning and healing
-brightness and contrast correction
-selective brightening on hat ribbon
-grain added
-cropped

Cheers,
Sherry

[VCOOPER]

Thank you for such efforts, I am so amazed as I had worked so hard, and the response let me know that I was overworking the picture. I also note that you start from the unretouched not the one that I have "overworked". Should I post the one that I worked on at all.

[sunfly]

Yes! Keep posting your progress. For my two cents... just keep on working and working at it... honing your skills... doing the tutorials. Trial and error... see what works for you.

Post your work and the pros will let you know what you've done right and where you need some guidance.

There are people in RetouchPRO who have incredible skills in the restoration and retouch areas... and they are more than willing to help us out anyway they can.

I am looking forward to seeing more of your work. :-)

Sherry

[VCOOPER]

I do not have a problem with reframing of the photo, it was the old fashioned square as best I could tell with a reddish overglow which I removed by scanning.

Her eyes are quite striking I do agree and they are olive shapped and appear to be a light brown. I am also trying to retain the imagery of the hat which appears to be straw with a eyelet dress (top).

Here again is one of the images posted and with some revisions, feel free to continue working with me. Do know that it is much appreciated.

[VCOOPER]

Oops, I forgot to say that while I retain the name of the basic image that I used, I did use information and ideas from each of you that had responded thusfar.

[Gary Richardson]

Your latest background is out of keeping with the figure, in that it is "clean" and the figure is not.

If you wish to use a new BG, it's necessary to distress it slightly so that it fits with the figure, else it looks "wrong".

I've done a v-quick BG change, but have added noise to the BG to help it blend better. It's by no means a complete job, but I hope you can see what I'm getting at.

[Dave.Cox]

I agree with the other folks, this photo needs a gentle touch. Here is my go at this. I used pattern maker to create a background that matches the existing one. I think an antique style border also would look good with this.

Larger image is here.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u53/dave_cox/web.jpg

[VCOOPER]

the border effect is really cool, however, when I printed the pic it was grainy, so I then put it through Neat Image at 50% for everything and this is the results.

Also I am assuming that my receiving family member will want to frame the photo, so would the additional frame be beneficial.

[sunfly]

I also agree with Dave. Some restoration projects just can't be made to look 'like new'. And in fact, too much restoration will often destroy the gentle qualities in an old photo.

A good example of 'over-do' can be found in mine. I blackened her hat way too much.... losing the delicate ribbed qualities under the left side of the brim. I also made her eyes way too dark.

Dave's work is an example of the best of both worlds... combining restoration and retaining original photo qualities.

Cheers,
Sherry

[yuccaview]

Here is a shot at this one
Don

[Dave.Cox]

I'm suprised the border came out grainy, my print looked ok. Did you try the larger image link I provided, or did you get it to look satisfactory? Any way, feel free to keep or lose the border as you like. Depending on the frame you put it in, it may look better with, or without it.

Thanks Sunfly, for your nice comments!

[VCOOPER]

I thought I would share my second challenge which is for more difficult than the first. It appears to have been not protected through time and the faces of the mom and pop are badly marred. The problem I encounter is that in cloning the skin acquires a painted look even though I am using other areas to clone that are similar. I have again attached the original and my work.

I hope you have as much fun with this one, but please share advice about the above problem. The WIP image is the one that I have just restarted working on, I threw out the first one, because I couldn't get it right, thought I would come back for your assistance again.