Tips How Eliminate Glossy Sheen?

[KenithO]

Hi

Am new to both photo restoration and this forum.

Am trying to make a digital copy of the glossy photo I would like to restore.

My problem is reflections off the glossy surface of the photo which are especially noticeable in the darker areas. To date, no matter how I place the photo in relation to the light am unable to completely eliminate them.

Googled and while I found things like "Matte Finish Spray Eliminates Glossy Sheen" (I do not want to alter the original photo) have not found any easy way to eliminate these reflections.

Appreciate any suggestions!!!

Thanks

Ken

[Tony W]

Re: Tips How Eliminate Glossy Sheen?

If the problem is related to seeing your own reflection, camera and the background behind camera a trick that can work is to use a sheet of black canvas.

At the correct copy distance cut a sheet of black material with a small slit cut for the lens to peep through. Shoot with this set up

The material will need to be large enough to cover the camera field of view in relation to the size of the copy work. Place your lights in relation to the copy work usually two lights set around 45 degrees (or a lesser angle may be desirable) relative to the copy work

[KenithO]

Re: Tips How Eliminate Glossy Sheen?

Hi Tony,

Thank you for the suggestion.

Sorry for being unclear when I posted this question.

Will try to restate.

The reflections off the glossy surface of the photo are not of me but just bright areas which are especially noticeable in the darker areas.

Am now thinking it is caused by the irregular glossy surface of the original photo (think this surface texture is to give the impression of canvas).

Hope someone else has had this problem and solved it.

Thanks again for your help.

Ken

[Mike]

Re: Tips How Eliminate Glossy Sheen?

Try a search on here for "double polarized light".

Works like a champ.

[Tony W]

Re: Tips How Eliminate Glossy Sheen?

Ahh, I see. As you said glossy the assumption was catching reflections rather than texture. Go with the search Mike suggested or try another search for Fourier (FFT) which may help remove texture. If you can post an example (just a small area will do) of the problem print

[KenithO]

Re: Tips How Eliminate Glossy Sheen?

Mike & Tony,

Thanks for the comments.

Again am sorry for my wording.

"If you can post an example (just a small area will do) of the problem print"

Yes I think this would be the best because since posting have been searching using textured photos and have found

http://www.bayphoto.com/mounting-finishing/textures-coatings.htm

http://www.nationsphotolab.com/texturedprints.aspx

I will post a sample. Please give me detailed instructions how and maximum size.

Thanks again for the help!!!

Ken

[Tony W]

Re: Tips How Eliminate Glossy Sheen?

Maximum size is 100KB which should be enough to post an example. Detailed method here:

http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/image-help/7933-attaching-files-images-threads-posts.html

[KenithO]

Re: Tips How Eliminate Glossy Sheen?

Tony,

Thanks for the info and link!!!

Have made 5 different examples and for all except the dark square have tried to include dark and light areas.

If there are any problems please tell me and I will try to correct.

Thanks again for your help!!!

Ken

[Tony W]

Re: Tips How Eliminate Glossy Sheen?

Ken, first I forgot my manners, welcome to RetouchPro .

From the images it is not too clear if you are scanning or photographing the image with a DSLR. I suspect the latter but if you are using a scanner it may be possible to minimise the paper pattern by scanning twice with the image rotated 180 degrees then combined in PS.

Concentrating on the idea that you are using a camera the problem of course is the surface of the paper picking up the lighting direction. The FFT filter will not work well (if at all!) for this type of texture and other filtering methods are likely to have a detrimental effect on image quality i.e. softening too much.

The images show the light direction coming mainly from the top causing the paper surface to be accentuated. Lighting is key! It may be possible to minimise this with careful positioning of your lighting which ideally should be diffused. What you are aiming to do is position at least two lights in such a way that they will have the maximum effect of cancelling out the shadows formed by each. Sometimes just a very diffused light source pretty much straight on in line with the lens can work.

Failing that the cross polarisation may be of help. One resource worth looking at is a pdf presentation Here

[KenithO]

Re: Tips How Eliminate Glossy Sheen?

Tony,

Thanks for the Welcome and Link!!!

The link is the best I have read concerning problems and possible solutions photographing art. Really liked the comparison photos!!!

You are correct the edited images posted were taken with a Nikon 3100 camera.

"The images show the light direction coming mainly from the top causing the paper surface to be accentuated. Lighting is key! It may be possible to minimise this with careful positioning of your lighting which ideally should be diffused. What you are aiming to do is position at least two lights in such a way that they will have the maximum effect of cancelling out the shadows formed by each. Sometimes just a very diffused light source pretty much straight on in line with the lens can work."

Am thinking about trying a large ring light? Any tips or suggestions?

Also are you using polarized filters? If yes what mfr etc.

Thanks again for all your help!!!

Ken

[Tony W]

Re: Tips How Eliminate Glossy Sheen?

[QUOTE=KenithO;321552]Am thinking about trying a large ring light? Any tips or suggestions?
Also are you using polarized filters? If yes what mfr etc.
..QUOTE]
If you mean a ring flash then certainly the capability is there to produce shadowless images as the flash extends all around the lens and light therefore is directed in such a way that shadows should not be a problem - most of the time! That is assuming your subject is small enough to be covered by the circular area of the flash but can be a problem for larger subjects due to shadows forming in the outer areas

Standard copy technique would be something like This with lighting arranged carefully to cancel out shadows formed due to raised texture. I see no reason why a couple of flash umbrellas placed in the appropriate position could not serve equally well.

A couple of sheets of polarizing material e.g. This for covering your two flash units - not suitable for continuous light source due to the melt factor and a reasonable quality polarising filter perhaps from the Hoya range or if you are feeling flush B+W and you should be good to go

[KenithO]

Re: Tips How Eliminate Glossy Sheen?

Hi,

Tried to make the new RingLight photos as similar to the first ones as I could. Noticed they are all smaller (esp the dark ones).

Ken

[John Wheeler]

Re: Tips How Eliminate Glossy Sheen?

Great improvement Ken!

[Tony W]

Re: Tips How Eliminate Glossy Sheen?

I can certainly see an improvement from the first shots but still there remains very noticeable horizontal dark densities across the darker images (increase the brightness to match your first shots).

It is not clear what could be causing this, it could even be that this effect is baked into the image. But it could still be a lighting issue causing shadows.

John nice to see you back posting

[KenithO]

Re: Tips How Eliminate Glossy Sheen?

Hi John & Tony,

Agree about the improvement.

"increase the brightness to match your first shots" What software do you recommend to do this?

Since the 1st was made with daylight and 2nd LED light am guessing the color temps are very different.

Am guessing I want an app that can easily change the color temp and primary colors. I know from video some colorists really like DaVinci Resolve 10 Lite

http://software.blackmagicdesign.com/DaVinciResolve/Manual/DaVinci_Resolve_Colorist_Reference_Manual_Feb_2014.pdf

Am I correct that 1st would change the 2nd LED light to same temp as daylight or visa versa?

After this would try to match Red and Blue levels?

Have never tried anything like this so am interested in any tips!!! Especially concerning apps that make it easy for beginners!!!

Ken