Old photo, need restoration.

[ode11979]

Hello guys,first of all let me introduce my self, im a regular 30 year old guy, looking into learn some restorations technics in adobe photoshop, my father in law found this picture and ask me if i could fix it for him , since i did several photo jobs for him but never a restoration job, most of the stuff i do is i cut backgrounds and place some other background ,regular noob stuff i guess, but restoring old pictures got me all interested.
Anyway i dont know where to start, i found a couple of tutorials here
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pho..._Photoshop.htm but most of them are for paintshop pro.
So i will try to learn how to restore pictures in adobe, i promise i will not be a hit and runner , if you want to help me fix this picture mi and my father in law will apreciate your work. Thanks allot.

heres the picture
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a178/ode1979/HOY2.jpg

[mistermonday]

One approach might be tp use the Extract filter or a path to select the girl and remove her from the background and place her on another. Next you could use a FFT filter to remove the texture or just treat the image as if it were on canvas and use the Filter > Texturizer > Canvas to add a texture to your background. You will need to use the clone tool mostly to clean up the cracks and blemishes. Finally you can paint back in some color or go to B&W.
With some time you should be able to get a very good restoration.
Regards
Murray

[DCobb]

This was a quick try. Much more could be done to refine some of the textures in the picture. I did run an FFT on this.

dc

[Dave.Cox]

Hey dc, I think that you have the right approach. You have kept the parts of the photo that has the important information. From there I think that I would continue to repair the important parts, and maybe soften or remove the parts of the background that don't add anything, particularly the area above the head, and maybe fade the shadow into the background by the feet.

[ode11979]

Originally Posted by mistermonday

One approach might be tp use the Extract filter or a path to select the girl and remove her from the background and place her on another. Next you could use a FFT filter to remove the texture or just treat the image as if it were on canvas and use the Filter > Texturizer > Canvas to add a texture to your background. You will need to use the clone tool mostly to clean up the cracks and blemishes. Finally you can paint back in some color or go to B&W.
With some time you should be able to get a very good restoration.
Regards
Murray

Thanks allot for the idea, my computer got broken im some accident i had at home so now i got to come to this cafe internet to work on the picture,so it will take time for me to do something nice to the picture, im still not familiar with the names of the tool and filters but in a couple of days im pretty sure i will, thanks again

Originally Posted by DCobb

This was a quick try. Much more could be done to refine some of the textures in the picture. I did run an FFT on this.

dc

Awsome job , i hope ill learn that, i like the fact that the picture its a whole picture now, nice work.

A little update on the picture info its that this is some girls mom when she was a kid , her mom died but tha lady has a baby girl that looks allot like her mom, since this is the only picture she has of her mom when she was a kid, she would like the picture fixed, im pretty sure she'll be happy once i or we get the wrok done, thanks allot guys.

[ode11979]

Man this tutorials are hard, i tried 2 methods to remove the cracks and they didnt work for me, could it be that im using photoshop 8.0, dekrack didnt work for me, and the method to get the 3 pieces toghether didnt work either, could it be because of the version of photoshop im using?

[Flora]

Hi...

ode11979,

Welcome to RetouchPRO!!!

I had a go at your picture trying to save the original background...

I started by removing the photographic paper texture following this Tutorial (if you haven't it yet, you will find the link for downloading the FFT filter at the bottom of the Tutorial page...)

Let me know if you'd like a more detailed description of what I did..

P.S.

Originally Posted by ode11979

could it be that im using photoshop 8.0, dekrack didnt work for me

I didn't use the decrack action you mention (originally written for PS 6 or 7), but I'll try to see if it works with more recent versions of Photoshop...

[dkf10425]

Originally Posted by Flora

Hi...

ode11979,

Welcome to RetouchPRO!!!

I had a go at your picture trying to save the original background...

I started by removing the photographic paper texture following this Tutorial (if you haven't it yet, you will find the link for downloading the FFT filter at the bottom of the Tutorial page...)

Let me know if you'd like a more detailed description of what I did..

Thanks for the tutorial! I had a bit of a problem at first until I found out that the filter doesn't like image sizes over a certain limit. It froze up my machine twice until I researched the filter and found out about the size issue.
And yes, I would like a more detailed description. Great restoration!

[Kraellin]

moved this over to the restoration forum.

welcome to RP, ode11979.

[ode11979]

Originally Posted by Flora

Hi...

ode11979,

Welcome to RetouchPRO!!!

I had a go at your picture trying to save the original background...

I started by removing the photographic paper texture following this Tutorial (if you haven't it yet, you will find the link for downloading the FFT filter at the bottom of the Tutorial page...)

Let me know if you'd like a more detailed description of what I did..

P.S.
I didn't use the decrack action you mention (originally written for PS 6 or 7), but I'll try to see if it works with more recent versions of Photoshop...

Wow , thats an awsome job you did with the picture, im still dealling with some problems with my computer, i guess i will have to buy another one, and as soon as i get the chance i will post my work, like i said before, i will not be a hit an runner, cus i really want to learn this job. From the bottem of my heart , thanks, and i will try to follow the tutorial to see if i can do the same job, thanks allot again. Heres a start of what i got so far , i run the fft filter, and this are the results.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...79/example.jpg

[ode11979]

Well, just waiting on more instruction on how to remove the bigger carcks.

[Kraellin]

outstanding, flora! good to see you back

[Flora]

Hi,

dkf10425, ode11979, Craig,

Thanks!!!

Here is what I did:

1) PHOTO PAPER TEXTURE (FFT Filter)

• Following the Tutorial (link in my previuos post) I minimized the photo paper texture.

• Where I covered the 'stars' (Attachment 1).
• The immediate result after this procedure (Attachment 2).

2) ALIGNMENT

• Using the Pen Tool and staying just a bit under the cracks, I selected the parts of the picture and copied them oheir own Layer (Ctrl+J) (Attachment 3).
  
• Working on the Layer just created, I aligned and adapted those parts with the Transform Tool.

3) CRACKS

• Patch Tool particularly for the cracks and discolorations on bigger areas containing few or no details (Background).
  
• Heal Brush (first set to 'Replace' then to 'Normal')for smaller areas and fine details.

4) RECONSTRUCTION OF MISSING DETAILS and BACKGROUND

• Select, Copy, Paste (Ctrl+J) and Transform for bigger parts (Furniture/Stand)
  
• Heal Brush (first set to 'Replace' then to 'Normal')for smaller areas and fine details.

Tip: Adjust each addition and/or changed/corrected part for brightness, contrast, sharpness and noise so that the corrections blend in smoothly with the rest of the picture.


5) SPOTS, BLOTCHES, SMALL CRACKS

• Merge Visible (**), duplicate the merged Layer and run Filter>Noise>Dust & Scratches on the Duplicate.
  
• Check this excellent Tutorial for this procedure.

Tip: in the Dust & Scratches Dialog Box:
move the Radius slider to the right until nearly all the 'problems' have disappeared. (very blurry)
move the Threshold slider to the right until you have your 'texture' back, but stop just before the problems reappear.

6) NOISE

• I use Neat Image (free Noise removing software... Download and 'How to' here)
• Tutorial (here)

7) REFINING

• For this I use 'my' Blank Layer set to... technique (tutorial here ...just scroll down the page to BLANK/EMPTY LAYERS SET TO....)

8) ENHANCING (Adjustment Layers)

• Levels or Curves or Brightness/Contrast for contrast. (used on selections and/or globally)
• Smart Sharpen or USM for sharpening
• Vignette to help the 'subject' pop up more.
• Hue/Saturation to desaturate.
• Color Balance to add a light sepia tone.

(**) Merge Visible:

Keeping the Alt key pressed, open your Layers Palette's Menu and, click on 'Merge Visible'.

A new Layer containing all your corrections will be created on top of all the other Layers ....

This procedure enables you to carry on with your restoration from your advanced point... without losing any of the previous steps/Layers... thus giving you the possibility to retrace your steps and making changes wherever necessary.... even after you've 'finished' the job....

Finally, here are some vital tips for better Restoring old pictures.

Hope this helps.

[LonK]

Flora, your workflow details, especially about FFT, have been most helpful to me. Since I don't use Photoshop, and PhotoImpact lacks access to color channels, I thought I would be unable to use it effectively. However, by reviewing your methods in this case, I was able to figure out how to use FFT with PI using an extra working layer -- a B&W conversion using a red filter. Thank you so very much for sharing your expertise. Your work is fantastic!

[ode11979]

thanks for all the detailed information on your work, since to me like allot of practice is what i need, i will start as soon as i get my computer runing, thanks allot for your effort.

[Flora]

Lonnie,

thank you so much for your feedback and kindness!!!
I'm so glad my work flow has helped you!!!

ode11979,

thank you for your feedback ... and have fun with your restoration!!!

[Janet Petty]

I, for one, am glad to welcome Flora back. She is the most amazing restorer, retoucher, almost creating magic with her creations.

Thank you FLORA.

Janet

[Flora]

Wow...

Thank you so much Janet!!!

[mistermonday]

Flora, I fully agree with Janet. You have a rare talent!
Regards, Murray

[Flora]

... and thank you so much Murray!!!!

[ode11979]

and ill try to follow her.....

[Adobitech]

Wow Flora that restoration is incredible it looks so polished. I cant even tell anyone was ever wrong with it.

[raydream]

Hello- I'm the new guy here. I'm working on it and hope to have it back to you in a few more days. Regards-Raydream

[raydream]

Hello- Here's a couple of results I came up with. Hope they're useful.

[ode11979]

Originally Posted by raydream

Hello- Here's a couple of results I came up with. Hope they're useful.

wow thats a great work .... thanks allot , i will try to follow your steps too

[0781888]

Wow! Look and listen to Flora. I just joined this site today and I'm sure I'll be following what she has to suggest. Just look at the pic she restored of the little girl.......Jerry Morgan.

[raydream]

Originally Posted by ode11979

wow thats a great work .... thanks allot , i will try to follow your steps too

There were MANY clicks involved but it was all pretty basic, meaning a lot of rubber stamping (98%) with no use of layers or filters.

[Flora]

Adobitech, 0781888,

thanks for your kindness!

raydream,

welcome to RetouchPRO!...

Nice stitching the parts together.

A couple of tips...

1) Photopaper texture ... you can leave it as is.. but, if you decide to remove it, it should be on the whole picture. Blurring some areas only while leaving the texture on others, makes it look like a 'pasted' job. (The best method for removing the texture is the FFT Filter ... Tutorial on 'how to' and link to download the filter here.)

2) Some of the scratches/folds are still visible.

3) If a Vignette at all, it should be faded at the edges (along the oval) ... the hard transition line is a bit of an eyesore.

4) In photo restoration (as opposed to retouching) you cannot add things that weren't there to start with ..(I'm not talking about reconstructing missing parts) ... If the borders of the image are torn or missing, rather crop than not add a solid vignette.

Originally Posted by raydream

with no use of layers or filters

... It's ok if you'd rather not use any filter ... but using layers is a vital part of image manipulation. If you work directly on the image the only way to correct something done previously, is to start from scratch ... always provided you haven't worked on the original!!

[raydream]

Originally Posted by Flora

Adobitech, 0781888,

thanks for your kindness!

raydream,

welcome to RetouchPRO!...

Nice stitching the parts together.

A couple of tips...

1) Photopaper texture ... you can leave it as is.. but, if you decide to remove it, it should be on the whole picture. Blurring some areas only while leaving the texture on others, makes it look like a 'pasted' job. (The best method for removing the texture is the FFT Filter ... Tutorial on 'how to' and link to download the filter here.)

2) Some of the scratches/folds are still visible.

3) If a Vignette at all, it should be faded at the edges (along the oval) ... the hard transition line is a bit of an eyesore.

4) In photo restoration (as opposed to retouching) you cannot add things that weren't there to start with ..(I'm not talking about reconstructing missing parts) ... If the borders of the image are torn or missing, rather crop than not add a solid vignette.

... It's ok if you'd rather not use any filter ... but using layers is a vital part of image manipulation. If you work directly on the image the only way to correct something done previously, is to start from scratch ... always provided you haven't worked on the original!!

Flora- Thanks for the welcome! This truly seems like a valuable site. I guess I intended to leave some of the scratches and folds because of my predilection from my work with video game objects (race cars, fighter planes and such) that often require a somewhat dirty or usage worn appearance to lend authenticity to the "look"- in this case trying to preserve the appeal of an antique photo. As well the Vignette was only intended as a "cover" mask, presented as a possible suggestion for further exploration. Thanks so much for the useful link to the FFT filter. I can tell already that this is going to be one of my most frequented sites. Thanks again for your tips and advice.
Regards-Rob

[dkf10425]

Originally Posted by ode11979

Hello guys,first of all let me introduce my self, im a regular 30 year old guy, looking into learn some restorations technics in adobe photoshop, my father in law found this picture and ask me if i could fix it for him , since i did several photo jobs for him but never a restoration job, most of the stuff i do is i cut backgrounds and place some other background ,regular noob stuff i guess, but restoring old pictures got me all interested.
Anyway i dont know where to start, i found a couple of tutorials here
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pho..._Photoshop.htm but most of them are for paintshop pro.
So i will try to learn how to restore pictures in adobe, i promise i will not be a hit and runner , if you want to help me fix this picture mi and my father in law will apreciate your work. Thanks allot.

heres the picture
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a178/ode1979/HOY2.jpg

I belong to a graphic design forum and we would like to use your photo for a restoration contest. Please let me know if we have permission. Thanks!