CottonThreads

philbach · #1 07-29-2009, 03:27 PM

I was just wondering if there is an easy way to remove these cottony artifacts on this photo.

TommyO · #2 07-29-2009, 09:06 PM

Phil,
That is a tough one. I certainly don't see an easy method. Although, in CMYK there are some striking differences in some of the channels, maybe enough to at least split the task among a few areas.

0lBaldy · #3 07-30-2009, 12:54 AM

I would try the Color Deconvolution Plug-in.. BUT.. I don't have it on my puter any more.. it is on the one with the fried motherboard..

Does anyone think it would work with this picture?

Color Deconvolution Plug-in

Kraellin · #4 08-03-2009, 08:09 PM

phil, do you have the original photo and if so, is this really cottony threads on the photo, or is it something actually deteriorated within the emulsion? if it's just something stuck to the photo, there's a good chance it could be removed and might save you some digital work.

philbach · #5 08-04-2009, 05:12 AM

Hi Craig; I wish I did have the original but thats not the case. I am working on the photo and in essence am painting it. I should have it finished by Christmas.

learninlady · #6 08-05-2009, 01:05 PM

I cleaned it up a tiny bit. I split it CYMK and threw out the black. and touched up a few things. I have no idea of what Im doing so maybe someone more knowledgeable can take my play here.

It looks like Im on the right track, but dont know much about this type of thing.

philbach · #7 08-05-2009, 03:54 PM

Kate this was hard and none of the usual photoshop techniques worked for me. In essence I selected the lady and had to paint her using numerous layers. I replaced the background and the foreground.

Kraellin · #8 08-09-2009, 07:30 PM

this is an interesting image because it's both very messed up yet retains enough detail to make out nearly everything needed for a full restore. i can even make out the pupils. that being said, it's not an easy one! by far! i did only the face of the woman on the left and then only the nose, eyes, cheeks, mouth and chin. i roughed in the forehead and very roughly roughed in the hair... sort of. so, this is far from done. but, i wanted to show what can be done with a bit of care and effort. this is my standard work with clone, push, airbrush, eraser and one other tool i often use for restoration, group layers.

group layers allow one to put certain layers together and act as one. in this case it was all my work done on blank layers with airbrush, clone, push and eraser. you then have a sort of master layer over all of these that groups them. and the trick then, is to lower the opacity on the master layer to see how accurate you are to the original work. you can even do a bit of work on the sub-layers of the group with the master layer opacity lowered, but be careful with that, as it's very easy to overdo things like that. this trick is very good for checking small details like eyes and larger detail like shading.

i'm posting the work i've done so far. i probably will not be finishing this. i just wanted to show this and talk about group layers a bit.

i like what you did, phil, but doing all paint tends to not be as accurate as i'd like. thus, my method. it's terribly tedious, but it does a good job for the most part.

philbach · #9 08-10-2009, 04:51 AM

A great start Craig and using group layers is a fine method to use. I did use that technique also, but I forgot in what context. Usually I will do what Katrin Eisman suggested which is to copy the base layer and use screen blending mode and blur like Gaussian at 50% and then copy that layer and use multiply blending mode and then convert those layers to a group. Then add a group Mask to the whole group and take it from there.

You are off to a very nice start on the retouch and it was tedious as you can suspect.

Kraellin · #10 08-10-2009, 02:34 PM

thanks, phil, but i wont be doing any more on this one, except maybe to see if i can improve on what i've already done.

i looked at yours again, phil and i think i was a bit unfair in my comments before. you did a very nice job

amica999 · #11 08-10-2009, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0lBaldy

I would try the Color Deconvolution Plug-in.. BUT.. I don't have it on my puter any more.. it is on the one with the fried motherboard..

Does anyone think it would work with this picture?

Color Deconvolution Plug-in

OB, this is the closest I could get just using the filter, no cloning or anything else was done obviously

philbach · #12 08-10-2009, 04:02 PM

I use a mac so the plug in is not available for me. However that was a nice start, Amica

amica999 · #13 08-10-2009, 04:11 PM

Thanks Phil, just a quick try

Kraellin · #14 08-10-2009, 04:20 PM

that's pretty good, amica. i might have to invest in that one.

learninlady · #15 08-11-2009, 09:22 AM

I have been dissecting this one for a while now. There is still plenty more to do on it, but I wanted to share as I may or may not finish...
I used Tims De-Crack several times at around 90% until I had the look I wanted, then kati-clone went into action. This is what I wound up with:
LARGE FILE

My posted file here is a bit fuzzy as I had difficulty resizing to 100k. I dont usually have a problem but for reasons I can not figure out I did today.

learninlady · #16 08-11-2009, 09:24 AM

Amica that is very good! Im going to go have a lookk/see at that plugin!

Kraellin · #17 08-11-2009, 11:50 PM

that's lookin good, kate. add a little light to the hair. it's never that solid

learninlady · #18 08-12-2009, 12:58 AM

Thanks Craig, your right it does look fake. I also noticed that I thinned her face out at some point without noticing what Id done....

0lBaldy · #19 08-12-2009, 01:29 AM

I know it looks bad.... but I just used the Color Deconvolution plug-in to see if it would work on this image to get a starting point....

K.... I'm dun playing now! Just showing the results of one quick pass

learninlady · #20 08-12-2009, 06:42 AM

NO baldy, thas not bad at all! that is a great job. that is definitely a plug in Im getting as soon as I get some money to donate for it! I myself have struggled for days trying to split all the channels and correct each one to combine and have it 'better' but considering all the work I did it wasn't worth the effort.

philbach · #21 08-12-2009, 09:58 AM

Well I am glad all of you are enjoying this problem photo. I think all of us learned a lot discussing this one.

learninlady · #22 08-12-2009, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philbach

Well I am glad all of you are enjoying this problem photo. I think all of us learned a lot discussing this one.

Total agreement Phil! This is a good one!