Photo Restoration - - What do you think can I do?

Giuseppe · #1 07-20-2004, 08:10 AM

This is a photo of a my grandfather, this photo has early 70 years, so i want to restore it with my Photoshop. I think that in this photos i must delete grain, as you can see from it, but also i would preserve the detail of it. I have thought that i could have two layer where i could work. On the first layer I could add more detail with the filter of PS, on the second layer I could apply the filter for grain of PS and applying a mask I can only have parts without grain...what do you think?

Duv · #2 07-20-2004, 08:37 AM

Hi Giuseppe!

I think you're right about the grain. You didn't post the original so it's impossible to tell how successful you were in reducing it. I hope you don't mind but I've posted your pic using software called Neat Image which does a pretty good job on a lot of pics in reducing grain. If you don't have it, a Demo is available for download. I also sharpened the image using PS: Filter:Other:High Pass set to 10 then faded in Overlay Mode to 40%. This sharpening technique also adds contrast.

Cheers
Dave

Duv · #3 07-23-2004, 08:59 AM

Fantastic Les! Either I have to learn how to pull better images out of Neat Image or I'm going to have to get the software you mentioned.

Cheers
Dave

Gary Richardson · #4 07-24-2004, 01:58 AM

Hi Les,

Grain Surgery looks like a good programme, however it seems to have added a significant amount of noise to the original image, or is this from Focus Magic. I post an attempt done manually, it took about 5 mins to do. Although I don't quite have the facial detail on your image, the noise level is significantly lower.

Gary Richardson · #5 07-24-2004, 08:29 AM

Hi Les,

I was'nt trying to be critical of your work, which was excellent, just trying to point out that good results can sometimes be achieved in a short time without use of plug ins.

Duv · #6 07-24-2004, 09:30 AM

Gary
Are you able to post your steps?

Dave

Gary Richardson · #7 07-24-2004, 03:14 PM

Hi Duv, yeah no problem.

1. Did levels adjustment to boost midtones and lower highlights.
2. Did Gaussian Blur, radius about 0.2 to smooth out minor noise in image.
3. Duplicated Background and applied Find Edges filter to it.
then Inversed it and applied Gaussian Blur to broaden edges.
4. Copied this as a mask to an Alpha Channel, and deleted copied background.
5. made selection from Alpha Mask, then aplied USM (1,200,0).
6. Flattened Image.
7. Duplicated Background and applied USM (1,200,0) and applied black layer mask. Then painted in sharpening to face area with soft white brush.

I know this looks a bit of a pain, but it's much quicker to do than to describe.

Gary Richardson · #8 07-27-2004, 01:34 AM

Hi Les, just one final thought. I tried doing a final sharpen on the image after I'd posted it. I thought it improved it.

First I flattened the image, then I copied it to a new layer. Then applied High Pass filter at 4pix radius. Then set Layer mode to Soft Light and Opacity to 80%. This improved the edge sharpness, and introduced a little contrast.

Duv · #9 07-27-2004, 07:34 PM

Hi Gary! Hi Les!

Maybe just as a point of interest, I decided to go back and redo with different settings in Neat Image. I followed it up with sharpening similar to Gary but input at 10 then faded in Overlay to about 45%. Lightened the shadows very slightly in Shadow/Highlights to give maximum detail in both. It's certainly better than my first post, don't you agree?

Cheers
Dave

Gary Richardson · #10 07-28-2004, 01:31 AM

Hi Dave, much improved on original. Two minor points, firstly, the highlight area to the right is a bit blown out, secondly the face could still do with a bit of sharpening. This is just my opinion, it really is a judgement call.

Giuseppe · #11 07-28-2004, 02:21 AM

Thanks for your advice. This is my first result, give me many critics

.

Duv · #12 07-28-2004, 08:57 AM

Hi Giuseppe!

Looks to me like the best one so far. Sharp, detailed and excellent tonality. What did you do to achieve it?

Cheers
Dave

Gary Richardson · #13 07-28-2004, 03:17 PM

Hi Giuseppe, excellent work.

Giuseppe · #14 07-30-2004, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duv

Hi Giuseppe!

Looks to me like the best one so far. Sharp, detailed and excellent tonality. What did you do to achieve it?

Cheers
Dave

First I was working on the original image, then i am folling the advice of Gary. What do you think, i must use again the Curve tool?