How can I improve this image?

[chil]

The attached is a scan of a photo with glass stuck to print.
I have tried various methods, RGB channel manipulation, blending modes etc., with little success.
The grey/blue stain on the face et al is also proving troublesome as it seems to be present in all channels.
I would normally take the time to resolve this image but unfortunatley the young lady in the photo died last week and the restored image is required for her soon to be held memorial service.
Any suggestions/help with this image would be greatly appreciated.
Regards

chil

[mochamoose]

You mentioned the photo is stuck to glass. (after scanning it of course) you can usually release it by floating it in water- can take awhile- be patient. The photo swells and it will usually "unstick". If it is real bad a touch of photoflo will do the trick. Just make sure you handle it with care when wet. It will look funny, but once dry it will be back to normal. Since time is an issue wondering if restoring the original might be your best option.

[mistermonday]

Chil, the image you attached is way too small (150 x 200 pixels). You have a 100KB limit so you should be able to upload an image with 3 or 4 times that size. There is not enough detail in this one to adequately analyze it.
Regards, Murray

[Cupcake]

I'm sorry for the loss.


Here is the full size!


http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/9102/redbow.jpg

Small size:

[chil]

Hello mistermonday & mochamoose,

I tried to upload a higher quality image but it kept exceeding the maximum file size. This one is just under 100KB according to the upload aplet.
I have posted a full size (<5 x 7 @300dpi) version on Flickr at
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2458/...b38a0df0_b.jpg.
The original photo is stuck to the frame glass and a photographer/printer colleague reckoned that the paper coating is such that it will not "wet" sufficiently to separate cleanly, without damage, from the glass.
Many thanks for your replies.

Chil

[chil]

Hello Cupcake,

Considering what you had to work with it is a great improvement, how did you remove the facial staining?

Many thanks
chil

[Cupcake]

I painted over it with the color and then blended it.
Re painted the hair on that side.

Very Large
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/4220/redbow3.jpg

[chil]

Hello again Cupcake,

Perfect!
Aren't things easy when you know how
(Separate layer in color/hue mode?)
Many thanks for taking the time to help with this and also your earlier condolences.
I'm off to have a play with the 1200dpi version now.

Again, many thanks

chil

[aartist]

This suggestion isn't about color or repair. I would select the mountains and some of the background grasses and give it some blur to focus more on the lovely subject.

[chil]

Hello Cupcake,

Thought so, I ended up treating it like a "tinting" operation, painting colours where needed.
Three versions here, I particularly like the sepia one.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2359019...n/photostream/
Many thanks

chil

[chil]

Hello aartist,
Not a bad idea, maybe a blur vignette around the subject?
Knowing where the subject lived I would say it was shot in the English Lake district about 35years ago.
I'll put it to her son (he just wanted it cleaning up and enlarging)
Regards

chil

[Cupcake]

You did a great job Chil,
I'm happy it worked out for you.

[chil]

Hello Cupcake,

Thank you, with no small help from you.
At least the family are happy with my effort and will be using the image(s) for an order of service booklet.

Again, many thanks

chil

[smurfing]

Still a newbie to this
Heres my try

http://www.flickr.com/photos/15387173@N06/3707131239/

Smurf

updated
http://www.flickr.com/photos/1538717...n/photostream/

[chil]

Hello smurfing,
Not bad! I particularly like the hair.
Still got the anoying darker band down the LHS side though.
I tried selective corrections with this but in the end went down the monochrome route.
Regards
chil

[smurfing]

Left hand side modified

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1538717...n/photostream/

Smurf

[chil]

Hello smurfing,

Still a newbie eh?
how did you do it?
Please don't say you cloned or patched it.
Regards
chil

[smurfing]

Hi Chil

No patchwork/cloning at all
Used the dodge tool to reduce the colour of the darker areas
Then used the eyedropper to copy the colours of the grass
Painting those colours as and where I though they should be

Hope you found it acceptable

Smurf

[chil]

'Lo smurf,

More than acceptable
I tried the dodge tool earlier but had trouble with the "line", never thought of painting in the colors where required.
I almost ended up treating this image as a tinting exercise.
"In Photoshop there is always more than one way to excoriate a feline"
Many thanks,
chil

[learninlady]

Heres my attempt. I cloned to my hearts content from about every image I could find!
airbrushed the face smoothed out a bit

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/i...h/LLredbow.jpg

[chil]

Hello learninlady,

like it lots, very pre-raphaelite!

Regards
chil

[learninlady]

Originally Posted by chil

Hello learninlady,

like it lots, very pre-raphaelite!

Regards
chil

HA dont I wish! I love his work.
enjoy.

[learninlady]

Little less foggy?
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/i.../LLredbow1.jpg

[chil]

hello learninlady,
Nice job, what was your workflow?
Regards
chil

[learninlady]

ah boy work flow.
well in psp2 I used the fade correction
I found a picture of a blonde girl and cloned her hair in place.
I then airbrushed her skin and smoothed it using the smudge tool then the sharpen for her eyes eyebrows and mouth
I put the photo through the photo effects glamour/warming filter. at zero.
then after the pre-raphael thought. I then put it thru the high pass sharpen
radius 62 strength I believe 100 and soft light.
Im sure there are steps here and there I have missed as I am a hunt and peck try and go back and try something different until the pic looks right to me.
Not very orthodox, but thats seems to be the only way I can get it right. I am learning to at least try to write my steps mentally and put them down.
Still trying to.

[chil]

Hi LinL,
Not familiar with PsP, since getting bitten by an adobe spider in 1997.
I thought that the hair looked particularly good
Not sure how the techniques translate between the apps but you have done one hell of a job.
Regards
chil

[learninlady]

Originally Posted by chil

Hi LinL,
Not familiar with PsP, since getting bitten by an adobe spider in 1997.
I thought that the hair looked particularly good
Not sure how the techniques translate between the apps but you have done one hell of a job.
Regards
chil

Dont for one minute feel bad, even if you were totally a pro at psp you couldnt decipher what I write..

I just recently began using CS4 and will go back and forth between the two softwares. I like the cloning tools in cs4 better than x2.

For the hair I changed the color tone in a photo I found to match better your photo, then touch cloned it over...

[chil]

Hello l'in'l
soory about the delay, been away for a few days.
Not tried CS4, hell, even though I have CS3 I can do all I need (usually) in PS7, ha, those were the days, no messing around with authentication etc.
I stayed with PS due to the number of tutorials available for it as opposed to other packages.
Regards
chil