How fix suit?

[shanafagan]

Hi i got this photo and the details in the suit are gone. Any advice on fixing the suit?

[Markzebra]

Shadow Highlight - you'll probably need a better scan than that though!

[shanafagan]

ok thanks i will try that

[TommyO]

Shanafagan,
Mark's method is certainly fine for this image. Another method to consider is Apply Image. It is not as effective on a b&w only image (like this one). However, it is still pretty good and quick.

If you have not used it, just experiment with it some. It basically can grab a copy of a channel and build it on top of another channel, or the composite. It is always done on a new merged layer. After it is done, you can add a mask and paint in or out the amount of build-up as you like... even working like dodge & burn (but it only burns detail present in the image, which is useful).

Here is an example.

[Kraellin]

blown out blacks are just as bad as blown out whites. by blown out we mean at the extreme end of the digital numbering system, in the case of blacks, 0, 0, 0. thankfully, your image doesnt have that many, though it does have some.

but, that's only part of the problem. because the original image was black and white, when you convert it to rgb 8 bit, your values across the r, g, b spectrum are all equal, like 14, 14, 14. that makes things a bit harder since there's no contrast between the r's, g's, or b's. and, thankfully, you're darks are not all 14, 14, 14. you've got a range, so that helps.

attached is what i did to show up the details that are left. this is NOT your finished product by a long shot but just something to show what's there. this was done with a levels adjustment layer and a brightness/contrast adjustment layer and then a copy merge and paste as new layer and a full strength 'clarify' applied to that.

[hawkeye60]

Quick fix: copy to new layer and set mode to screen. Add layer mask and paint over the highlights.