repairing old damaged photo

[vincelotus1@com]

I need someone to help me with this photo.Either by showing me how or doing it for me. I need Help! Thanks.

[TommyO]

These type photo's are always challenging. So, write out your plan and stick to it. Don't be tempted to do the repairs first. Those can wait. Work first on bringing out the proper tone, contrast and detail. Those elements will make doing the repairs much easier.

Obviously, the missing pieces will require reconstructing, unless you have them. If you do have them, they can be put in place easily. The tape mark at the top can be repaired fairly easily, along with all the little cracks and such.

I'm sure you will get lots of advise from the forum. One thing to think about is to break up the tasks you ask advise for... go in steps. For example, ask for assistance on getting the contrast or detail. Use that advise to do it yourself. Then the tape... then the missing pieces. That way it won't be so overwhelming. By the time you get to the cracks it will be a piece of cake.

Also, be looking for an external site where you can post a high resolution image. That will ensure those helping will be working on a representative image, not a low res. thumbnail.

[0lBaldy]

Originally Posted by vincelotus1@com

I need someone to help me with this photo.Either by showing me how or doing it for me. I need Help! Thanks.

Vince, welcome to RetouchPRO Have a look around and enjoy your stay. Looking forward to seeing some of your work

What retouching software do you have? This will help focus the tips to the programs you have available to work with.

A quick look tells me that you can flip parts of her face and some other parts to repair lost areas and cloning the rest should help lots

Clicking the 'Site Menu' button above then scroll down to 'Tutorials' would have yielded some of the following.. among many other tutorials..

This tutorial "Restoring an old photograph" by cameraken has become the starting point for most of my projects:

Enhancing Details In Unevenly Faded Pictures" by Flora:

Restoration of Old Photo (click on 'Tutorial')

RetouchPRO Tutorials

[DCobb]

This is just a very rough start. Just copy and use the good body parts in areas that are bad. I am not an artist, so trying to fill in areas were there is no pattern is not my forte. This is, at least, improved.

dc

[sergio2263]

Originally Posted by DCobb

This is just a very rough start. Just copy and use the good body parts in areas that are bad. I am not an artist, so trying to fill in areas were there is no pattern is not my forte. This is, at least, improved.

dc

very good job DC, I going to have a go at it myself, just for a challenge.


helen

[Nan]

I think it can be restored nicely. I got it this far with cloning, a levels adjustment and a little dodge and burn. The dress will be more of a challenge.
Nan

[vincelotus1@com]

That is a great restoration so far. I would like to know the steps use used.Thanks.

[Dave.Cox]

This is just a very rough start. Just copy and use the good body parts in areas that are bad. I am not an artist, so trying to fill in areas were there is no pattern is not my forte. This is, at least, improved.

For not being your forte, that's a pretty decent job. It does take a bit of artistic license to fill in those areas.

well not bad I can do a better job

Aruna, Welcome to RetouchPro. Take a look around, and keep an open mind. Perhaps you could do a better job, but the proof is in the pudding. Don't tell us, show us.

[Aruna Kamal]

Hi Dave thank you for the reply. I was just trying to get your attention. I think the job is fairly good!

[retouchapic]

nice work, but we can do it much better

[Kraellin]

please do not use this forum (the restoration forum) for soliticing work or advertising (other than normal ads in your sigs).

[Aruna Kamal]

that was fun!

[Dave.Cox]

Hi Aruna Kamal,

Not bad, but I do have some issues with your retouch. First, the image looks too flat, and the texture of the skin is gone, making him look plastic. Also, I'm not crazy about the solid brown back ground. Again, it looks fake. One of the things you need to be careful about with restorations, is you usually don't want to loose the feel of the original photo. Also, I would try to keep some of the textures and feel from the original. This is especially important for people that are interested in preserving some feeling of history, and that this is an old photo.

[BillFrey]

I believe since there is a bow on top of her head, she is a female, but I agree, it is no longer a restoration, but a painting.

Edit: There also appears to be large-capped sleeves, indicative of a dress.

[Aruna Kamal]

I agree with you Dave. I would've commented the same. but I tried to keep the original features of the face. for instanse I didn't clone the mouth and the eye for the missing parts. I think that changes the original face considerably. as bill commented, it sure is more like a painting. soon I will give you almost an original restoration. thank you guys! your comments are always appreciated!

[Aruna Kamal]

Hi again Dave! on this one I did not try to restore the original colour and tried to keep the original textutre as much as possibe.
hey Bill! thanks for the tip to say that it is a female, I think that helped a lot.

[sergio2263]

Originally Posted by Aruna Kamal

Hi again Dave! on this one I did not try to restore the original colour and tried to keep the original textutre as much as possibe.
hey Bill! thanks for the tip to say that it is a female, I think that helped a lot.

I prefer this restore, it look more natural.

[Aruna Kamal]

little bit over done?

[Aruna Kamal]

Thank you Sergio!

[TommyO]

Originally Posted by Aruna Kamal

Hi again Dave! on this one I did not try to restore the original colour and tried to keep the original textutre as much as possibe.

I would agree with Sergio... this restore is more like what we desire when restoring an older photo. If the client asks for an artistic version, then I have no problem with the other one.

Aruna, if you wish to share your basic workflow, it may help others and give them the opportunity to ask questions.

[Kraellin]

i'm not buying the female bit. looks like a guy to me. he may have a bow on his head, or in back of it, but that doesnt change his gender all of a sudden. i'd take another look. besides, i dont know any women that wear suspenders.

[BillFrey]

lol @ Kraellin, she's much too pretty to be male... and I'm old enough to have seen plenty of that type dress in my childhood. It seems that there were always puffy sleeves or attached vests or pleating on the bodice.... a lot of decoration for a kid!

Looks great, Aruna Kamal.

One can spend days on a restoration like this one. I'd say it's finished, except perhaps removing the scotch tape over the bow.

[Aruna Kamal]

took care of the scotch tape

[MariaM]

This is my first restoration. Thanks for the "copy - flip" technique.

[jeepgirl]

Originally Posted by TommyO

These type photos are always challenging. So, write out your plan and stick to it. Don't be tempted to do the repairs first. Those can wait. Work first on bringing out the proper tone, contrast and detail. Those elements will make doing the repairs much easier.

Auuuggghhhhhhhh! Do repairs LAST?!?!?!? I have been doing this the HARD way?!?!?! Sigh.

[Aruna Kamal]

Originally Posted by TommyO

I would agree with Sergio... this restore is more like what we desire when restoring an older photo. If the client asks for an artistic version, then I have no problem with the other one.

Aruna, if you wish to share your basic workflow, it may help others and give them the opportunity to ask questions.

thanks TommyO, your comments are encouraging. sorry it took me a while to reply. I have been little busy lately. but I will do my best to spend more time on Retouch pro. I have a great interest in this program.