Bringing out the detail in this 1908 photo

[archivist2]

This is a picture of my grandfather sketching in the square in Pamplona. I'm trying to bring out the detail in the photo with a view to using it in a print on demand publication. What you're seeing here is the original scan. I've worked on it in PS3 and achieved some success in making the detail visible, but at the cost of also enhancing stains and blotches, which I just don't know how to deal with.

My best results have been achieved as follows:
1) Adjust levels in red, green and blue channels individually
2) Then use Adjustments > Highlights/Shadows

This brings out a fair amount of detail, plenty of white spotting (which I can rid off) and blotches that have me flummoxed.

I'd really welcome any suggestions for alternative approaches.

Cheers,
James

[igot2pman]

The easyest thing to do is just open curves and just push auto *picture 1.

The next easyest thing to do is adjust the exposure>> offset to the left *picture 2&3.

You can use masking to help controll each effect.

Hope it helps,
-Keven

[0lBaldy]

I used a little different approach..(I don't have Shadow/Highlight in V7)
I used several different tone maps from a single image HDR then combined them using different layer modes and opacities with a tiny bit of masking to even out some areas, trying to bring out as much detail as I could..
Then Polaroid Dust & Scratch both light and dark settings for a few spots.. lots left to do but I was only after detail..
which is the first example.. the second is after some noise reduction..

Is he wearing glasses?

[archivist2]

Originally Posted by igot2pman

The easyest thing to do is just open curves and just push auto *picture 1.

The next easyest thing to do is adjust the exposure>> offset to the left *picture 2&3.

You can use masking to help controll each effect.

Hope it helps,
-Keven

Both very useful first steps. Thank you. I'll try both approaches and tinker with the resulting images to clean them up.

[archivist2]

Originally Posted by 0lBaldy

I used a little different approach..(I don't have Shadow/Highlight in V7)
I used several different tone maps from a single image HDR then combined them using different layer modes and opacities with a tiny bit of masking to even out some areas, trying to bring out as much detail as I could..
Then Polaroid Dust & Scratch both light and dark settings for a few spots.. lots left to do but I was only after detail..
which is the first example.. the second is after some noise reduction..

Is he wearing glasses?

Thanks for this alternative approach. I had to Google the terms "tone map" and "HDR", but I think that I understand the technique now. Certainly it draws out more detail than my approach.

Glasses, I don't think so; merely assertive eyebrows!

[igot2pman]

Olbaldy,

I like what you did...what methood of single image HDR did you use. I know there are a few but i like the quality that came out of it.

-Keven

[0lBaldy]

Originally Posted by igot2pman

Olbaldy,I like what you did...what methood of single image HDR did you use. I know there are a few but i like the quality that came out of it.
-Keven

Keven, Everything I have is OLD like me.. So, I cheat a lot!!
On this picture... I have an Older version of Photomatix Pro (2.2.2) that can do a single image HDR (High Dynamic Range) photo using the 'Automatic'>'Batch Processing' menu. I also have a newer version that I use for doing the Tone Mapping after I get the HDR. The newer versions do not do a single image HDR, but they have more control over the final image.. I zoned in on certain aspects of the picture and adjusted the tone map for them.. I wound up with 4 different tone maps and blended them with the Original using Photoshop Vs7..

I have also have had some success importing 7 pictures from Photoshop (1 Original, 3 stepped up Screen Mode images, and 3 Multiplied images (or however many each way that were needed to cover the range, Lightest to Darkest)) into Photomatix (I think this process can also be done in CS2+)

[igot2pman]

I’m always looking for old school tec and methods. If we don't know the past, we cannot improve our future, as we are doomed to repeat it.

Thanks for the replay, noted and saved,
-Keven

[TommyO]

James,
I think what you said you have tried (levels + lost of general fixing) is about it. Kevin also confirmed it with Curves.

I was surprised that the original histogram was so narrow. Are you sure the scan was done correctly ? I would have expected a better histogram and more variation between the channels. Just wondering.

[kyo]

Tried to pull out as much detail as I could find..

www.kyostoys.com/sketching_detail.jpg

You can find the original psd here..

www.kyostoys.com/sketching_detail.psd

Kyle

[Kraellin]

archivist2, welcome to RP.

i had a go at your image. a difficult one. i started with 'fade correction' in psp. then did a histogram adjustment. after that, i added a blank layer and filled it with a 128/128/128 gray fill. on this, i used the lighten/darken tool to adjust the various lights and darks that were amiss. after that, i used airbrush for even more contrasting, particularly added more dark to the darks and getting rid of some of the underexposed artifacting. cloning and push followed that to smooth things out a bit and do some solids where needed. there was a lot of this and some of the fine detail was handled with the push brush. near the finish, i added a hue/sat layer to get rid of some errant color junk. and that was pretty much it.

there is more that could be done, depending on what you consider might have been damaged and what was there to begin with.

the hardest part was the gentlemen in the middle, sitting, and the one behind him. these could, perhaps, also be done better with some rebuilding.