Help with old photo?

[Donb10]

A friend contacted me regarding a very old photo he found containing his great great grandfather. There is some faint writing on the rear. Does anyone know of a method to bring out the writing. I suggested photographing the writing and trying to enhance it in photoshop but if anyone knows a better method I'm open to suggestions.

[PhotosbyHollyWood]

save time... scan it

see if you can not enhance the writting that way in your editing program

[venchka]

If that doesn't work, there may be professional restorers who can bring up the writing. Might run into some serious money. Good luck!

[sniperkittie]

You may want to try scanning it with various color of plastic sheeting between it and the scanner bed. I would start with blue, then try red. Use a black opaque sheet on the side towards the scanner top. That stops the scan from "seeing through the photo."

Another option is to photograph the back with a polorized light source using a polorizing filter. You will have to try various rotations of the source or filter.