Photo Restoration - - Can a copy (xerox) of a photo be turn back into a "real" photo?

Cincy Gal · #1 12-31-2004, 08:41 PM

Hi! Newbie here.

(everyone says "Hi Newbie!")

I have a photocopy of an old (i.e. 1920's) family portrait. It is very dark and the facial detail is limited because of the darkness. It was a poor photocopy job, obviously. Unfortunately, the originals are no longer available. My question is: can it be reversed and turned back into a "real" photo and the detail restored?

I have Photoshop and PaintShop Pro. (and I'm not afriad to use them either, so watch out!)

Anyone have some suggestions?

Thanks!
Cincy Gal

Noelf · #2 12-31-2004, 11:34 PM

You might be able to clean up some of the detail, but you will never restore it to a "photo".

The definition of a photocopy doesn't have the amount of information necessary to even begin to restore the print to life unfortunately.

Again, you can probably enhance what you have, but you really probably can't restore it.

- Noel

Gary Richardson · #3 01-01-2005, 02:12 AM

Have to agree with Noel, you are unlikely to get quite what you want. That is not to say that there is no improvement to be made. Try posting your photocopy, so that we can see it. There are people on this site who can get amazing results from the worst of originals, the only way to find out is to give it a go.

Cincy Gal · #4 01-01-2005, 02:56 PM

Okay, I fiddled with it a bit today. Nothing that really looked like much of an improvement. I'll take Gary's suggestion and post this photocopy and see what folks out there can do. Thanks in advance.

This is my great-grandfather and his family. Eleven kids in all. All survived to adulthood. This pic was taken about 1915.

Let me know if this is big enough or not.

Axleuk · #5 01-01-2005, 04:37 PM

To me this looks like a good sample from which i am sure that many of the talented individuals on this site can surely help you with.

The quality looks like it can be greatly improved upon, and whilst you will never get it to the original standard, with todays technology, I am sure you will have something that is defintely worth the effort.

Cincy Gal · #6 01-01-2005, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Axleuk

and whilst you will never get it to the original standard

Gads I love those of you from the UK. You're the only folks I know of that can get away with using "whilst" in a sentence! LOL

I hope someone can "perk" up this old portrait. Two of the girls in that pic are still living and I'd love to give them a new "original"!

Gary Richardson · #7 01-02-2005, 03:37 AM

Hi Cincy gal, Thanks for posting your Xerox, Have had a quick play with it, and attached copy. Its not great, but there is'nt too much detail to get good results without spending more time than I've got available at the moment.

Axleuk · #8 01-02-2005, 05:38 AM

Ok, i'm no expert, but took it anyways and had a go at cleaning it up a bit.

Duv · #9 01-02-2005, 11:36 AM

Well, I wouldn't call it photo like but I just did some basic smoothing and adjustments for Shadow/Highlights so that not too much information was lost, especially in the shadows.

Cheers
Dave

Cincy Gal · #10 01-02-2005, 08:28 PM

Thanks guys!

All three are better than what I've got at the moment.

Other than doing what you guys did, do you have any other suggestions as to what I might do to clear things up? Is there a professional process I might get done? Either that or I'm going to find an art student to do an oil painting of it.

MBChamberlain · #11 01-03-2005, 09:01 AM

This is a good portrait, and the quality of the print is excellent considering it is a Xerox. I used curves to highlight the existing details, then levels to regain the blacks, then did a little cloning to repair the damaged areas. I also thought it would look good in color. I like the idea of having an oil painting made from the picture, it sounds like that is really your best bet at this point.

Michael

Axleuk · #12 01-03-2005, 09:18 AM

MBChamberlain,

Is very interesting that you have coloured your picture, but in reality when a family are asked to pose for a portrait, they are noramlly asked in advance to selective clothing that is neutral to each other so that not any one person stands out more than the rest (not an easy task might i add).

Not even sure if they have colours that bright back in the day.

Anyways, just a piece of mindless info

MBChamberlain · #13 01-03-2005, 09:29 AM

I'm a photographer and I am fully aware of that fact. I actually had a group in mind from a wedding I shot recently, where all the guys were in tuxedos, but all the bridesmaids were in matching dresses in a variety of pastels...(by recently I mean last spring).

I see what you mean about the colors being a little bright.

Cincy Gal · #14 01-03-2005, 08:26 PM

OMG! MBChamberlain that is amazing!! Utterly amazing. I was initially against colorizing the pic (blame Ted Turner), but after seeing your example, I'm floored.

I'm going to save this to my C: drive and show my two great Aunts who are in that pic. They are 95 and 97 today. In the pic, they are the two girls on either end with the bows in their hair. My grandfather is the rather sober looking young man on the upper right. You rock!!

coilte · #15 01-03-2005, 10:57 PM

Other here are far better than I at this but here is my quick and simple attempt. My main goal was to try and keep the maximum amount of detail. Needs alot more time than I have to spend tonight but with patience you could have a decent picture considering what the original was.

Jim