Need help restoring photo

[mpklaus]

This is a picture of my mom and dad in 1946. I just recently found the original photo which has creases and folds. I scanned it in and was thinking of trying to fix it in Photoshop. Is it worth the effort? Feel free to play with it and tweek it, and repost it to this thread. Tell me what you think.

[RogerAylstock]

Martin, that would be pretty easy to clone out the creases in PhotoShop. It would be well worth the effort IMHO. If you are not up to it yourself, you might submit to to the Dave Cross fix it challenge. http://davecross.blogspot.com/2009/0...allenge-8.html
If anyone here gives it a go, you might have the high res version available (if you have it).

[imagefxphoto]

Send me a high res at jasonparrish@mail.com

[mpklaus]

Originally Posted by imagefxphoto

Send me a high res at jasonparrish@mail.com

Jason, this is the only res I have for this photo.
M

[mpklaus]

Any advise where to start on Photoshop?
I'm perplexed.

[windrivermaiden]

I'd start by making a copy. NEVER work on your original.

Next, desaturate the image. (You can add back tone later when repairs are done.)
Use the clone tool to remove scratches.
If you set the blend mode of the clone tool to "darken" you will only clone out things that are lighter than your sample. If you set it to "lighten" you will only affect the pixels that are darker than your sample.This allows you to change fewer of the original pixels and preserve information that might come in handy as you move around the image. Some places you might need to use the clone tool in the "normal" mode which paints down all the pixels that you sample.
Try cloning at less than 100% opacity as well, it will give you smoother transitions and less "cloned" look.
This is a pretty simple fix job, you can do it. Just dont work on your original.

[mpklaus]

Thx Windy. I'll give it a try.
M

[imported_PhotoGal]

Thought I'd give it a go:

Original:


Simple B/W:


Sepia Conversion:


This was a quick 15 min 'play' -- you could get better with more time and more attention to detail.

I used the patch tool to cover the folds/scratches, cropped the original edge off and added a new border (probably not visible here), ran through Noiseware, used Pioneer Woman's B/W Beauty action to covert to b/w and then used PS's Sepia action to get the sepia version (adjusted layer opacity to about 50%).

[imported_PhotoGal]

Oh, and I'd re-scan at 300ppi and original size...what is posted (if I right-click>save) is 3.3x2.3 at 200ppi.

[isaiahbrink]

Geez, that's an easy one, no offense. You should see some of my family's old photos. I'd be glad to help you out if you'd like. Send me a PM.

Isaiah

[mpklaus]

Wow!!! Amazing what you can do once you learn PS. I'm still learning. Thanks for the advice!!! I will give it a shot now. You guys are the best!!! Thanks Jill!!!