Dear all,
I have been lurking once again after a stint of being incredibly busy at work. I have been doing some playing on photoshop 7 and the Mother-in-Law (aka "The Dragon") gave me the attached photo which is her sister's children.
Well after threats from my wife I have "voluteered" to restore it, but it has to be the hardest restoration job I have attempted. The combined wisdom of this group has always been an inspiration to me so here goes my ask.
History
The photo is the only known one of my wife aunts' children. The family didn't have a camera and this was taken at on of those "in store" K-Mart photo places. To put even more sentimental value on it, two of the chilidren have died from MS. The picture "lived" for 25 years in bottom of a handbag. Thus the reason for the need to restore it.
The Process
What workflow would you try with this - I was going to do the following, but pick it apart as appropriate.
* Scan at 3200 (I have an Epson 3200 photo scanner for my print scanning) to get the most detail possible at 16 bit grey-scale (the attached file is a 600 dpi scan - originally 16 bit) The rationale was to get the most information possible - although even at 600 dpi you will notice that the surface is dimpled - no smooth tones - at 3200 it looks like a relief map!!!!!. Altenatives - scan at a lower resolution and/or colour???
* Balance the contrast and brightness of the image and convert to 8 - bit grey scale.
* Make a layer of the background and repair using the patch tool
* Use the patch and clone stamp to fix other "bits" - this is where I run into problems with "smoothing" the repair.
* Use a miracle to reconstruct the nose and mouth of the eldest (I think I have a spare one somewhere
- or just the copious quantity of artistic talent (last seen residing under my little fingernail 
The problems are that I have made an attempt, but I can't get smooth tones from anywhere - everything is "dimply" from the original print, or damaged.
Also, if you were doing this as a commercial job, how many hours do you think it would take. I ask this out of interest, as though I do some commercial restoration, this one is right out of my league. Most of my commercial work is photography, but getting increasing restoration and "arty" work......and loving it
Thanking you in advance
I have been lurking once again after a stint of being incredibly busy at work. I have been doing some playing on photoshop 7 and the Mother-in-Law (aka "The Dragon") gave me the attached photo which is her sister's children.
Well after threats from my wife I have "voluteered" to restore it, but it has to be the hardest restoration job I have attempted. The combined wisdom of this group has always been an inspiration to me so here goes my ask.
History
The photo is the only known one of my wife aunts' children. The family didn't have a camera and this was taken at on of those "in store" K-Mart photo places. To put even more sentimental value on it, two of the chilidren have died from MS. The picture "lived" for 25 years in bottom of a handbag. Thus the reason for the need to restore it.
The Process
What workflow would you try with this - I was going to do the following, but pick it apart as appropriate.
* Scan at 3200 (I have an Epson 3200 photo scanner for my print scanning) to get the most detail possible at 16 bit grey-scale (the attached file is a 600 dpi scan - originally 16 bit) The rationale was to get the most information possible - although even at 600 dpi you will notice that the surface is dimpled - no smooth tones - at 3200 it looks like a relief map!!!!!. Altenatives - scan at a lower resolution and/or colour???
* Balance the contrast and brightness of the image and convert to 8 - bit grey scale.
* Make a layer of the background and repair using the patch tool
* Use the patch and clone stamp to fix other "bits" - this is where I run into problems with "smoothing" the repair.
* Use a miracle to reconstruct the nose and mouth of the eldest (I think I have a spare one somewhere


The problems are that I have made an attempt, but I can't get smooth tones from anywhere - everything is "dimply" from the original print, or damaged.
Also, if you were doing this as a commercial job, how many hours do you think it would take. I ask this out of interest, as though I do some commercial restoration, this one is right out of my league. Most of my commercial work is photography, but getting increasing restoration and "arty" work......and loving it

Thanking you in advance
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