How To Retain a Gold Border on a Tintype?

[CJ Max]

I've got an image of a tintype to restore. The paper holder has a gold border.

Link to image: http://www.pbase.com/image/39366500/large

When I set the white and black points the gold coloring of the borders all but disappears making them impossible to restore. Probably the best procedure then is to save the borders on a layer and then work on the image proper itself. Any suggestions on how it would be best to save those gold borders, ie: workflow?

Cliff.

[Flora]

Hi CJ Max,

Originally Posted by CJ Max

Probably the best procedure then is to save the borders on a layer and then work on the image proper itself.

What I did was in this direction, but exactly the opposite...meaning... I selected the picture only and worked on it leaving the framed background alone.... I didn't know how much of the frame you wanted to keep, so I kept it all...

here are my steps:

• Duplicated the Bakground Layer.
• Duplicated the Green Channel, used the Levels to increase the contrast and selected the oval part of the picture.
• Back to the layers, with the selection still active, I copied it on its own Layer (Ctrl+J)
• Restored the main picture.
• Cleaned and straighten the duplicated background Frame.

Hope this helps...

[CJ Max]

Flora,

I'm suitably impressed. Thank you very much for your imput.

When my new-found distant cousin discovered and scanned the images she clipped the frame on this one. I'm going to have her rescan this image to include all of the frame.

Cliff.

[Flora]

CJ Max,

sorry for my delayed reaction.... but thank you very much for your kind words!
So glad you liked my solution!!!

With a new scan and the entire frame, you'll surely be able to get even better results!!!