how to remove fingerprint

[John_D]

I have an old photo (1920) I am trying to repair. I have tried several methods of attack but have gotten poor results. I would appreciate if some of you more experienced people could share some knowledge to me of how to do this repair. :o)

Sorry for not posting for a while... but due to illness and injury I am not online or at my computer as much nowadays, my eyes are not what they use to be.

I am trying to bring this old photo back to life to be given as a gift to a person who is in this photo. She is now in her 90s and sharp as a pin.

I can provide a much larger resolution if needed.

Thanks for any help on this photo.

John_D

[cun030876]

John_D, i think you could find clone tool quite handy to solve your problem.

[lurch]

I'd suggest re-scanning the photo in color without any other processing, 16 bit depth if you can, and re-posting the result. Fingerprints are often discolored and we can take advantage of that to get rid of them.

[des151]

John,
Can you use part of the right arm to blend over the left arm?
Ray

[Paradigma]

Is it good?

[igot2pman]

Originally Posted by Paradigma

Is it good?

You could keep going... but i think anybody could be happy with it.

Still a bit uneven and more healing could be done.

-Keven

[DCobb]

This is my try.

dc

[John_D]

cun030876;
I have been trying with clone tool as well as other tools using Photoshop 7 but just cannot get it to look acceptible. Which is why I posted here. I must be doing something wrong here. I am hoping some skilled members here will come up with a method and explain it here so I can follow along with their technique and try for better results.

Thanks

[John_D]

Hi lurch ;
I have the original scan here without presets or edits. I can try to post if you wish.

[John_D]

Hi des151;
No. The opposite arm is only showing the inside of the arm. He is reaching out to a child.

[John_D]

Hi Paradigma;

You result is better than mine so far... what did you use?

[John_D]

Hi DCobb;
Nice job... but what do I need to do to get the texture of the jacket.

If I can repair this photo, I need to repair the sleeve well enough to allow an enlargement to 11x14. ( or 12x something... not sure atm) without the damaged sleeve being too noticeable.

[John_D]

Hi Lurch;
Here is a bettere copy of the pic at a higheer res and scanned with no presets. The pic has not been edited.

http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/u..._01/Ha-800.jpg

[Paradigma]

Hi John_D

I used curves.
Try to make all the image darker, then invert mask and with 5% opactity brush make fingerprint mask. When you get correct luminocity u can add some texture with healing brush.

[cun030876]

John,
This is my try. I used clone, and a bit copy and paste.

[Paradigma]

Is it better now?

[John_D]

I have to thank you all for sharing your methods and comments. You have been very helpful. After reading your comments and after scanning retouchpro's archives, I gave it a try.

So... how did I do.

I hid the fingerprint using D&B with "highlights" setting. I used clone very little, only on the black spots and a few white spots, and also used levels. I did not use Healing brush at all. I do not like the result of healing brush. Oh, and I added a little noise to the repair area to give a little texture.

I am not sure what I am doing... but I enjoy what I am doing... without your comment and tips though, it may be a lot diferent. :o)

Is there any easier way to do this repair? Is there any other step that I may have missed that could have made the repair better? Thanks again for your comments.

[Mannock]

The healing tool seems to do the job well. It does a nice job on those pesky Corbis watermarks...har har...

[Mannock]

D&B? Sorry, I am bad with initials.