Grandma is Backlit

Charlene5 · #1 07-15-2007, 04:40 PM

I've searched the forums for a solution without much luck. This is a levels-corrected scan of my grandmother in the early 1920's. She died very young - about 2 years after this picture was taken - and there are few photos of her making what few there are more precious.

I don't know how to go about correcting the backlighting enough to bring out her facial features. They're there in the gloom - I can see them at a high zoom. I'm ready to learn something new from y'all

Cheers,

MUJ

lurch · #2 07-15-2007, 05:33 PM

Hi Charlene,

A quick way to bring out detail in a backlit image (in Photoshop) is to add a blank layer in overlay mode and apply to it a blurred, inverted copy of the 'best' channel. I did that here using the green channel, then converted to gray scale.

Carole

Charlene5 · #3 07-15-2007, 06:21 PM

Thank you Lurch!! I just tried it and I can see her face

I've noted your suggestion in my little notebook to use on other examples of my ancestor's fabulous <cough> photographic skills.

MJ, who grew up in west LA

DCobb · #4 07-15-2007, 08:53 PM

Just wanted to give this a try.

dc

Daviskw · #5 07-15-2007, 10:42 PM

Hi there

Curves... healing brush and clone...then smudge ..then a little color.

Butch

chillin · #6 07-16-2007, 01:08 AM

I gave a try. I hope the layers palette is self explanatory.

duwayne · #7 07-16-2007, 06:46 PM

Throw away the green and blue channels. The blue channel is trashed and the green channel is not quite as good as the red. Use the red channel as your starting point.

Charlene5 · #8 07-16-2007, 07:34 PM

David I was really touched by your coloration. I never knew my grandmother - she died when my dad was only 8 years old. You can see how ill she was when the picture is corrected. She had tuberculosis back when it was a death sentence. Rather than risk the further exposure of her son, she left my dad with her mother - his grandmother - in Memphis and went to live with a sister in Oklahoma. I feel certain that this picture was taken there. I think I just got carried away there with the backstory but I wanted you all to know how important this restoring is to me and how touched I am by all the help.

Duwayne I've just been toying with the channels in another fabulous Brownie box camera snap and that is another technique I've put down in the famous notebook. Thanks

Chillin I learned something from your layers palette - I'm still trying to get my head around all the behind the scenes magic that can be done with Photoshop.

DCobb thanks for your effort! I've downloaded all of them to refer to when working the original.

I really appreciate your work, your suggestions and encouragement. I'll be back when I get stuck again!

Cheers,

MJ

lurch · #9 07-16-2007, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlene5

Thank you Lurch!! I just tried it and I can see her face

I've noted your suggestion in my little notebook to use on other examples of my ancestor's fabulous <cough> photographic skills.

MJ, who grew up in west LA

Glad you found it useful, MJ. Where in West LA were you? My son lives there now - I'm in the 'burbs - Pasadena area.

<C>

BillFrey · #10 07-16-2007, 08:37 PM

Nice work by everyone.

I like new tricks but lurch's went over my head. I'm embarassed since everyone else got it

Nice work, lurch. Could you please explain further?

Quote:

add a blank layer in overlay mode and apply to it a blurred, inverted copy of the 'best' channel.

I added a blank layer in overlay mode
I made a new layer containing a blurred inverted copy of the green channel.

What do you mean by apply to 'it' a blurred, inverted copy of green channel?

Thanks

Edit: I think I got it....

"Make a new layer in overlay mode containing a blurred, inverted copy of the green channel."

Charlene5 · #11 07-16-2007, 09:05 PM

Lurch I grew up in Pacific Palisades.

MJ

lurch · #12 07-17-2007, 12:11 PM

Quote:

What do you mean by apply to 'it' a blurred, inverted copy of green channel?

Thanks

Edit: I think I got it....

Bill,
I love the feeling that comes with figuring it out yourself, don't you?

<C>

Graphics23 · #13 07-17-2007, 12:44 PM

Hi Carole,

That's a Dan Margulis move if ever I saw one!

Good job.

How are you doing with his books?

Did you see my tutorial?

Regards,

Michael

lurch · #14 07-17-2007, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Hi Carole,
That's a Dan Margulis move if ever I saw one!
Good job.
How are you doing with his books?
Did you see my tutorial?
Regards,
Michael

Thanks, Michael. You're right - it's pure Margulis, and I didn't even have to consult the book to remember it! After a couple of readings, the books are now references (albeit consulted frequently).

I did indeed read your tutorial. Good work!

Carole