Unreadable Handwriting in Old Family Bible

[Restret]

I'm trying to read the faded handwriting on this inside-front-cover scan from a very old family Bible. I've tried adjusting the color curves, but can't quite get it to a readable state. Any suggestions or attempts?

Thank you very much!

[Cupcake]

Re: Unreadable Handwriting in Old Family Bible

Turn it this way

[Chain]

Re: Unreadable Handwriting in Old Family Bible

Also, upload a high-quality version (preferrably 16-bpc scan in lossless quality) if possible and link it. That helps in cases like this.

[Restret]

Re: Unreadable Handwriting in Old Family Bible

The full-size full-resolution rotated-clockwise image can be downloaded at http://i.imgur.com/aTZcBH6.jpg

It's so tempting...to be able to almost be able to read words but not quite!

[Chain]

Re: Unreadable Handwriting in Old Family Bible

If you could scan it and save it to a lossless format (NEVER EVER JPEG! It damages the image.) then you could try this plugin:

http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/6795661/4N6site/improc/decoplugin/main.htm

I don't have the full version so I haven't tested, but it might be helpful.

Here I've tried to trace some of the lines I could see:

http://i.imgur.com/0A5ZO1X.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/xxMYmJX.png

[Restret]

Re: Unreadable Handwriting in Old Family Bible

Tracing out the lines has been very helpful, Chain. Thank you for doing that.

By switching quickly between the original and your version, probable extensions to your lines can be seen and I've been adding those. I still don't have many full words, unfortunately, just letters.

[JoReam]

Re: Unreadable Handwriting in Old Family Bible

I don't know if this helps or not
I tried duplicating the layer 2x with multiply blend, then hue/sat desaturating the red. then brightness contrast. I didn't try channel mixer but the green channel seemed to lighten the image the best - so could also be worth trying as well - different combinations seem to show up different letters
A bit of a guess but I think the top line is
Jessie ? (possibly)Margerite,
...................?
and not a............
Res........
........Pohi?.......R...?St....te

[iDad]

Re: Unreadable Handwriting in Old Family Bible

.....call CSI

[4N6site]

Re: Unreadable Handwriting in Old Family Bible

Indeed, call in forensics!
Your best chance is to obtain a high quality scan: preferably a lossless compression PNG image. I also noticed parts of the image are out of focus.
Once you have that image feel free to post it and I will have a go at it with the color deconvolution plug-in from 4N6site.com. It is designed to separate colors, remove stains, crossed-out text, silvering, etc. Very useful in photorestoration and examination of faded writing.
It was mentioned above by Chain and it is permanently available via 4N6site.com.

[Restret]

Re: Unreadable Handwriting in Old Family Bible

Thank you for the offer, 4N6site !
Here is a link to a 6MB PNG scan of the Bible page.

http://imgur.com/7FZccpp

Good luck!

[4N6site]

Re: Unreadable Handwriting in Old Family Bible

The link lead me to a 600kb JPG, not a 6Mb PNG, but I have tried anyway.
It did not work as well as usual. Apart from the image quality it seems that the shadow effects produce a color that in this case is so similar to the pencil markings that even the color deconvolution plug-in has a hard time separating them.
Still, check it out and make sure you get some knowledge about what could be there (family names etc), and do try tracing bit by bit as well.
Enjoy your forensic exploration!

[4N6site]

Re: Unreadable Handwriting in Old Family Bible

I did some more work on the full image with the color deconvolution plug-in, and it really is a bit better.
Knowing more about the history surrounding this item you should be able to make out some more text!

[Restret]

BIG IMPROVEMENT: Unreadable Handwriting Old Bible

Thank you, 4N6site! The "color de-convolution" plug-in did make a substantial improvement in readability of the 6MB PNG file that I sent you. I don't know what the words mean, but I will send the image to the individual who owns the Bible and hope he understands them.

[4N6site]

Re: Unreadable Handwriting in Old Family Bible

Sorry I lost track of this thread.
Looked at it again and think I can read a bit more.
But I have not been able to get the 6MB .png file through the imgur link.
Is it just me or is there only a jpg file?

[4N6site]

Re: Unreadable Handwriting in Old Family Bible

OK, apparently I did work on that already. Just stared a bit more at it now. Keep in mind all of this could just be fantasy, and once I mention words you will start seeing them even if maybe they were never there:

Jesse Webb the father
... ... ... ...
and not a much
Respected man he
... John Jacob Astor

That last name is a very famous one, but up to John Jacob A... it seems to be pretty clear. Is it possible with the time this thing came from?
Would love to hear more about this!