Removing discoloring

[markfh]

I have this photo and I'd like to know how to remove the discoloring from the picture. I've done some restoration but haven't had to fix something like this. I have a jpg file first and if you want a really big file I have a tif file second.

http://ftp2.ftpexp.com/Photos/mark1960.jpg

http://ftp2.ftpexp.com/Photos/mark1960.tif

[Stormy]

2nd image (tiff file) isn't a full image.

[Stormy]

not sure if the first one is messed up to. Is it supposed to have a line throught he picture?

[markfh]

I'm uploading the tif file again because it didn't finish. The jpg file is fine. Here's a smaller version.

[Stormy]

the jpg one is messed up, the first one you posted looks different then the 2nd smaller one. The picture is really off on the color, I tried working with it a bit. I will try a little more, but it seems like there isn't going to be much help for it.

[4personnen]

By inspecting the 3 RGB channels, you can see that only the blue is affected (as long as there is only yellow cast in the image, you could have guessed it) So I made a rough attempt by deleting the blue layer and replacing it by duplicating the red (which was the one with best details) and then masking and colorizing with color balance and masks, finishing with levels and channel mixer. The masks are pure crap and the colors are wrong, I know but it's for you to get the idea ;-). Surely other people will have solutions of their own.

PS: once you delete the channel, your image mode turn into multichannel, you got to turn it again to RGB once you replaced the missing channel.

[markfh]

4personnen, thanks. I did see the blue channel was crap but I'm not "yet" experienced enough to handle the fix. I'll give this a go and see what I can do.

[LonK]

Done quickly working on your small jpg just to demonstrate the potential. As noted, the blue channel contains most of the damage. To the blue channel, apply image (green, normal), then again apply red, add mode (adjust opacity & offset to taste) with sky mask. Then just dab some color on the flesh, jeans, etc.

[markfh]

Lonk, That's great. I like what you did and I'll work on that. I was a cute little bugger long time ago... : )

[Boneappetit]

Nice work LonK, how'd you do that?

Ha, this always happens when one don't read first... LonK explains the process there, sorry... I just saw the work he did, and went right ahead to write my question without reading first.

[kmmbkworm]

Yes, LonK, extremely nice work. Wish you would explain in detail the ins and outs of Apply Image and could you throw in Calculations as well? Have worked with both, some, but know I have not yet figured out how to get the full potential from either. None of the books or training DVDs are very explicit on either Apply Image or Calculations. Maybe Wayne Palmer could cover these in his presentation today.

[LonK]

Thanks for the compliments, folks.

kmmbkworm: Detailed ins and outs of apply image and calculations is way beyond the scope of a single forum entry. If you Google 'photoshop apply image' or 'photoshop calculations' you'll find tons of info, tuts and videos. Peruse as many as you can and, if you're like me, eventually you'll get the 'aha' moment.

Here's a general rule of thumb I follow. If I need to MODIFY an EXISTING layer image, layer mask or channel based on the contents of any channel, apply image is my tool of choice. If I need to CREATE a NEW alpha channel (or selection) based on the contents of 1 or 2 color channels, calculations gets the nod.

Did I have to use apply image for the task at hand. Certainly not. Like anything else in PS, there are usually dozens of ways to achieve a similar result. E.g. to replace the trashed blue channel with the green, one could copy green/paste in blue, but <apply image - green - normal> is quick and easy. This resulted in bluish grass. To make it green I used <apply image - red - add, scale 1, offset -100> with the sky masked. One could have used curves to darken the blue channel. One could burn the area on the blue channel. Etc.

The bottom line is know the tools at your disposal - experiment, practice diligently. Learn to analyze a problem image and specify what needs to be done. Then use the most appropriate and efficient tool to correct each problem.

[kmmbkworm]

Thanks LonK for the excellent advice. Will definitely research online for resources. Love PS and have been using it since Version 6. Use PS daily with restoration business. Yet, seldom a week goes by that I don't learn something else about PS. Have used Apply Image and Calculations in the past but was not really pleased with the results. Refuse to give up, however. Looking forward to my 'aha' moment with both.

Love the description of knowing when to use Apply Image versus Calculations. That in itself is an 'aha' moment.

Your bottom line about knowing your tools is fantastic advice. Most projects I get through with little or no problem now. Amazing how much faster you can complete a photo project as your knowledge of the program increases. But, there is always that one challenging photo that nothing seems to work and you start digging deeper into PS. I refuse to accept there is not a solution to each problem.

Retouch Pro gurus recently introduced me to the FFT filter which solved an immediate challenge. Even though I taught PS for four years and have used PS about 12 years or more, I had never heard of the FFT filter.

Can't recommend Retouch Pro enough.