restoration advice

[cyberwasp]

Being a long time amateur user of photoshop elements, I've made the jump to cs4. Am currently working on retouching photos and am having trouble with the blouse of the woman in the attachment.

I've tried the healing brush and clone tool with less than admirable results. Any advice would be appreciated

[0lBaldy]

Originally Posted by cyberwasp

I've tried the healing brush and clone tool with less than admirable results. Any advice would be appreciated

Welcome to RetouchPRO Hope you enjoy your stay here and make lots of friends.

What are you healing/cloning on the blouse? The reddish/orange discoloration?

For that, I used a copy of the red channel then made a multiply layer with a hide all mask, made sure it was selected, then darkened the areas I wanted by painting white, combined, then some selective sharpening... If you are concerned by some dark splotches then you could use the clone tool, soft brush, using lighten setting at a low opacity (10-20) and make several passes if needed to lighten them

(wait a few seconds for the GIF to change)

[cyberwasp]

0lBaldy. ty for your quick reply. Yes, am trying to clean up the lower blouse.

I follow most of what you said but am still learning to use channels. I'd appreciate it if you could elaborate on the first step. I can make a copy in channels tab of the red channel buy am not sure how to get it to the layers pallete.

Sorry for the inconvenience

Originally Posted by 0lBaldy

Welcome to RetouchPRO Hope you enjoy your stay here and make lots of friends.

What are you healing/cloning on the blouse? The reddish/orange discoloration?

For that, I used a copy of the red channel then made a multiply layer with a hide all mask, made sure it was selected, then darkened the areas I wanted by painting white, combined, then some selective sharpening... If you are concerned by some dark splotches then you could use the clone tool, soft brush, using lighten setting at a low opacity (10-20) and make several passes if needed to lighten them

(wait a few seconds for the GIF to change)

[0lBaldy]

select red channel, select all, copy, back to rgb, to layers pallet, new blank layer, paste

Thats how I do it with my old stuff... the newer software should be about the same

[Michel B]

Originally Posted by 0lBaldy

select red channel, select all, copy, back to rgb, to layers pallet, new blank layer, paste

Thats how I do it with my old stuff... the newer software should be about the same

The original image has very little color: I found there is little advantage in using the red channel instead of a simple desaturated copy. Is it because the red channel generally produces cleaner result with old photos like this?

[cyberwasp]

0lBaldy, Thank you for your efforts. I finally got it to work after 4 tries.It wasn't your explanation just me. Like I said I'm just beginning to learn channels. I find that if I use a routine a number of time I'll remember how it works. TY

Originally Posted by 0lBaldy

select red channel, select all, copy, back to rgb, to layers pallet, new blank layer, paste

Thats how I do it with my old stuff... the newer software should be about the same

[0lBaldy]

Originally Posted by Michel B

The original image has very little color: I found there is little advantage in using the red channel instead of a simple desaturated copy. Is it because the red channel generally produces cleaner result with old photos like this?

You are right.. there is a very small difference in the results because of the subtle color.... In this particular image the red channel makes the colored area just a tiny bit brighter in black and white

Wait a couple seconds for the GIF to change

[Michel B]

Thanks !
If Elements users are interested, here is a way to create the red channel layer, with shortcuts...
- duplicate your layer (or stamp visible Ctrl Shift Alt E)
- activate the new layer
- levels (Ctrl L)
- in the levels dialog, select green channel (Ctrl 2)
- hide green channel, bottom slider to 0 - 0 instead of 0 - 255
- in the levels dialog, select blue channel (Ctrl 3)
- hide blue channel, bottom slider to 0 - 0 instead of 0 - 255
- desaturate (Shift Ctrl U)
- adjust levels (Ctrl L) in the UPPER slider 0 - 127 instead of 0 - 255. Or do auto levels Shift Ctrl L.