feedback wanted

[niteowl64]

I'm looking for some feedback on my photo restore. Specifically in the curves and noise removal area but any suggestions are welcome as well. I'm not that good at curves-finding a hard time getting the correct balance. Still fairly new and unexperienced in the use of Neat Image-thanks to the forum people for making me aware of the filter! I've been using the recommended settings of the program and not really sure if I am using to much smoothing and noise removal. It's more of a trial/error and eyeball it thing for me at this point

I like how this came out but it almost looks too clean, if such a thing can be said. I'm attaching a before and after.

[Kraellin]

the reason it looks a little too 'clean' is the whites. you went a bit bright with them. other than that, looks great!

[niteowl64]

thanks for the input Kraellin, much appreciated. I'll get the hand of curves sooner or later

[TommyO]

Niteowl64,
I agree with Craig's point. Also, I prefer not to remove backgrounds unless they are unrecoverable. It's always interesting to see what was around when these earlier photos were taken. It could be that the lack of background objects is also making it appear too clean, or unnatural.

With regard to feedback, the background and floor do have some noticeable cloning artifacts. You may want to work on those a little. Otherwise, very nice.

[niteowl64]

Tommy. I see your point about the lack of background objects making it look unnatural as well. I went back and forth about it, twice i started to replace it and changed my mind and went back to the original background. The "remove the distraction" part of my brain overruled the "keep it natural" part I'm also noticing the cloning artifacts that I didn't notice before, once you mentioned it.

I'm taking both your and Kraellin suggestions and doing a second version with toned down whites and the original background intact. I think you both hit it on the head why it looked too clean. Thank you for the feedback-it's greatly appreciated!

[aartist]

I like what you've done.
A little noise would take care of the "clean" problem.
The chair would have been nice to keep.

Overall: A+

[Gary]

I too like what you did. Nice work. The noise, as suggested would look good as well as removing the chair leg from in-between the young boys legs?

;^)


Cheers!

[niteowl64]

Thanks Gary. How could I have not seen that extra leg? Yikes! lol I've got several versions going now with all the suggestions and see which comes out the best.

[niteowl64]

I wanted to show the final results after all the helpful suggestions. I did another version with the original background-I liked it but the friend i was doing it for prefered the look of the new background (less distracting). I compromised and did away with the right side and adding the left side to it to balance out. So the top half is original-in most respects-while the bottom is new. I liked the texture of the top half as opposed to the flat one I first posted here.

Thanks you again for all the suggestions and pointing me in the right direction. I'm learning

[Gary]

Well done!

Cheers!

[TommyO]

Looks very nice. I hope it was a good experience for you. We appreciate your sharing.

[niteowl64]

It was a great experience Tommy, and I appreciate all of you sharing your knowledge and experience. Taught myself to photo restore from a book about 2 years ago. I'm pretty good at the garden variety restores but need more experience with the tougher ones. Before I found this forum, i was basically in my own cave-I thought the restores look good but had zero feedback from someone "in the know" which makes a difference.

I've got a few more tough ones that I am sure I will post to pick your brains. I need to do the work myself if i am to get better-my thing is lack of certain info and experience in some areas. Everyone on the forum has been very helpful and informative

[aartist]

Color may work for this also.
Love your results!

[Kraellin]

that looks very good, niteowl. well done

nice, aartist

[niteowl64]

Thanks guys-it's great to get feedback from those that know so much more than I do. I like the colorization. Something I have yet to try. Another photo perhaps. I'll save that for my own family photos (colorizing and all the other suggestions).

My friend I am doing this for is driving me nuts. She doesn't want me to go overboard and spend much time on the photos. I don't think she realizes fixing just tones or scratches or whatnot and not doing the other stuff is pointless. You can fix all that stuff without going overboard-at least so far I have. The more damaged photos she gave me do require alot more time than she wants me to put in.

But it's good practice and a learning thing for me, as I encounter problems I didn't have in many other photos.