B&W stain removal

[tuco1977]

Hi all - this is my first time here! Your feedback would be greatly appreciated. I am restoring a 1940 photograph scanned at 1200 DPI. I used levels to correct black to white tones and removed much of the scratches etc. As you can see in the attached, the shirt of the lady on the left is somewhat stained. If it was a colour photo, I would have added a new layer, blend in "color" mode, sample a colour I need and paint over the shirt stains. However this does not seem to work on B&W images, even though it is scanned in colour. My question is, what technique (other than the stamp tool) is best to remove stains on black and white images?

I am using Photoshop Elements 9.

Thanks in advance!
Matthew

[Tony W]

Hi Mathew, welcome to RetouchPRO. Not sue why you could not use a new layer set to Colour and paint over - no problem for the image you posted.

Why not try the channel mixer set to Monochrome you can always tone it afterwards

[tuco1977]

Hi Tony, many thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, blending a new layer using the "color" mode could not adjust the stain by painting over it after I selected the correct colour through the eye-dropper...maybe Im doing something wrong.

Can you please elaborate on how to set the channel mixer to monochrome and why (for my understanding and learning) would that be effective?

Thanks,
Matthew

[Tony W]

Mathew first image is using the technique you mentioned i.e. new blank layer set blend mode to 'Colour', select area near stain and sample colour then paint over - I cannot therefore suggest why it is not working for you.

2nd image add a Channel mixer layer and tick the 'Monochrome' box which will convert your image to greyscale, however you can then play with the R,G and B sliders to get what you want. Note it will not remove the stain but it will be hidden as the density difference is not too great a difference from the unstained area. There will of course be further work to be done but at least you should not have the additional burden of colour correction.
Note: The Channel mixer dialogue may be a little different in your version of Photoshop

Hope this may be of some help

[tuco1977]

Hi Tony - thanks a lot. Through your advice in fact I "discovered" that playing around with the levels (adjustment) for each colour channel I can in fact hide the stains.

Thanks a real lot for your help!

Matthew

[chillin]

I would use a curves adjustment layer with values:
R in 57 out 56
G in 43 out 52
B in 8 out 15
... next I would use mask to apply it to affected area.

[daygraphics]

Nice Animated Gif Tutorial Chillin!!! Says it all.