Restoring face color

[jeanoragrace]

I have a picture that is about 34 years old (attached) and I need the color restored to the face. What is the best way to go about this and also the best and easiest software to use? I am new and thanks for all the information contained in this forum. It is really interesting.
Jeanora

[0lBaldy]

Jeanora, Welcome to RetouchPRO Hope you enjoy your stay here and make lots of friends. Poke around, ask questions, have fun!

What software are you using for photo repair?

A larger scan/copy of the picture might help a lot.. This is less than 1/2 inch @ 600 resolution therefore very pixelated

If you use Photoshop you can post fairly large pictures which are under 100k using the 'save for web' function in Photoshop as described here:
Size, Quality and/or Format your Attached Images.. (Click here)

If you want to post a larger resolution that is over 100K then you can host your image elsewhere and attach a link in the thread, but also please attach an under 100K version (so the thread remains useful in the future, regardless of external links).
Other Hosts if you do not have your own site:
ImageVenue.com (3Meg max, free) pixentral.com (2Meg max, free) photobucket.com (1 Meg max free, 5 Meg PRO) mediafire.com (100 Meg per file, free) post a link in the thread to the site that is hosting the larger image.

This is auto levels and color then a few masked multiply layers

A larger size scan (8X10) with everything automatic turned OFF (Levels, brightness/contrast, color, noise reduction, etc) should help you get much better results

[Kraellin]

i've moved this to the restoration forum where it shld get more attention.

[jeanoragrace]

Thank you so much...

[aartist]

A larger size photo attachment would be nice.

[jeanoragrace]

I will try to attach a larger one. Thanks

[aartist]

Jeanora, Nice photo!

For photo editing, I recommend using Corel's PaintShop Pro Photo, my personal favorite. Normally $35 to $50, so it's very reasonably priced and very easy to use. There are some free programs out there but harder to use, like GIMP.

Photos like this one sometimes do better with the color completely rebuilt.
You have to ask yourself what the intended purpose of the restore is for.
Lots of restoration work is dependent on subjective criteria. You will need
to answer those questions for yourself.

I used "reduce fade", then increased the color with "hue and saturation" by 50% and then added a little noise to soften the face. You may want to use the darken/lighten function to increase contrast with facial features and hair even further. Good Luck!

[0lBaldy]

My try @ the larger pic Done same as before

[Cupcake]

Blue Dress,
Pretty little girl.

PS3

Levels, noise reduction in PS3.
Color bush and dodge and burn tools.

[jeanoragrace]

Hello everyone thanks for the pics. This is my oldest daughter about 35 years ago in my 1st birthday dress from about 50 years ago. I have both of my daughters as well as all 4 of my granddaughters in this dress standing on the same piano stool that I stood on when I was 1 year old in 1959. I am going to try to attach the pic that I have been trying to do for your viewing. I am the fat one in the middle.
Jeanora

[Gary]

A cutie !



Cheers!

[jeanoragrace]

Gary, Cupcake and Olbaldy,
Thanks for the pics that you worked on. I would like to know what you did so that I can do some other pictures. I am new at this and need all the clues I can get. Also thanks so much and what software do you recommend since I am just starting out. Maybe not one with a really hard learning curve>>>

[Flotsam]

Here's my try

[jeanoragrace]

Thanks but can you tell me how you did it. I am new at this and trying to learn also what software do you recommend?

[Flotsam]

I used the your montage of pictures to get the colour.
Using Photoshop.
I opened that montage and made a selection of one of the pictures, then went to your original picture. Go to: Image • Adjustments • Match Color then select the image I have made a selection in as source, adjust fade to suit •OK
I then made a selection of the Hair, Face, Arms and legs using the quick selection tool and went to: Image • Apply Image, set blending to multiply and the opacity to 40%. Done

[jeanoragrace]

Thanks for all your info. Am going to try a new pic of my Moma when she was a baby.

[Kraellin]

jeanoragrace,

welcome to RP.

i tend to agree with aartist on paint shop pro. it's fairly easy to use, though it will require some study and practice. photoshop tends to be more complicated but is also more powerful. but for most restorations you dont need so much power.

as you've probably already noticed, if you are completely new to retouching and restoration, there are going to be a lot of terms you dont know. that's the hardest part in the learning curve, getting all those things defined and understood. both photoshop and paint shop pro come with fairly good documentation and there is a wealth of third party helps, tutorials, videos and so on spread out across the internet. and, we here on retouchpro also have some tutorials on various aspects of this business. so, check those out in that forum here.

and, as you've probably also noticed, we have a good group of very helpful folks. they're also quite talented. so, always feel free to ask. you may not get a response right away, but just persist a little and someone will usually drop in and lend a hand.

[jeanoragrace]

Thank you for this info. I will look into PSP.
Jeanora