So, I've got a bunch of pictures from around 1971 or 1972 when my parents crossed the US when my dad got transferred to Hamilton AFB. They're faded, good overall condition, but taken with 120, 127 (does anybody even remember those? :D ) and Instmatic cameras. I'm scanning them in at 600dpi so they're roughly somewhere between 4-6 megapixels once on the computer.
Does anybody have any advice or experience restoring images with Photoshop? It would be nice to give them a bit of their original colors back if that's possible. I'm decent with Photoshop, but have never tried restoring images. What filters/plugins etc are good for that? It would be nice to be able to wow my parents with a few really nicely restored ones.
I have Photoshop Elements 10, CS6, and CS4 at my disposal.
Any help is appreciated!
JM
can i suggest sharing a sample image so we can see what quality the originals are and the scan quality?
Certainly 'Tini!
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7444/12365025605_e0a28e389f_o.jpg)
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5546/12365025255_a59d2b3048_o.jpg)
I *can* scan as high as 1200dpi, but my older scanner sometimes fusses about the file size being too big.
JM
man, that brings back memories. we drove across from virginia to oakland
in about 1970 for a military transfer. did all the tourist stuff. mt rushmore,
devils tower, yosemite. even drove through the 'tunnel tree' south of
yosemite.
Just curious what you are looking to "restore"? Those two samples look pretty darn good, other than the orange hue.
Hue can be modified. Most of what I imagine you'll be playing with are Levels, maybe Contrast, and Hue/Saturation. Those features can help make the image "pop" more. There is a filter that removes dust/scratches, but it doesn't appear you have anything bad in that regard. Besides, that filter can only be used sparingly before the image gets IZ_---better to actually do spot touch up. But again, it doesn't appear that scratches are an issue. There are Sharpen filters that can help make things crisp, but again, only used sparingly before it cuts up the image.
I would go with one of the CS versions you have---elements is enough to do the job but I find it a little user-unfriendly.
I'm mostly wanting to try to get some of the color back or more vibrant. They've been sitting in an album in a closet for years. That yellowish cast is mostly what I want to remove. I've been reading tutorials but so far haven't had much luck. It could be that since these were taken with cheap cameras likely Kodak (I prefer Fuji because colors seem better) film the color is just not there in the first place.
JM
I might have figured it out:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3771/12367221914_5d62f221f0_o.jpg)
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2866/12366769195_e43cc6615d_o.jpg)
JM
Quote from: the_Journeyman on February 07, 2014, 09:07:03 AM
I might have figured it out:
~~~SNIP~~~
JM
I think you've got it, perhaps even a bit better than original.
I don't remember typical snapshot color pictures from back in the day being quite 'true' on color.
I agree with Speeddog, looks like you got it as good as it's gonna get.
One possibility that might take the grainy-ness out: blur it a little, either using Remove Dust & Scratches or a blur filter (Blur or Gaussian Blur) and then use Sharpen Edges. This doesn't always work well, but when it does it effectively smooths the grainy-ness while using the edge sharpening after to restore it an make it look sharp and focused. Anyway, just a suggestion you might play around with. But in any case, I think your restoration looks great. [thumbsup]
Quote from: Speeddog on February 07, 2014, 09:49:08 AM
I think you've got it, perhaps even a bit better than original.
~~~SNIP~~~
That was from looking at it on my phone.
From my laptop, it looks less extreme, I'd say the one you 'refurbished' was spot on. [beer]
Thanks! I don't mind the grain too much, the type of film likely led to it, the original print is grainy too. It was taken through the windshield on top of everything else.
FYI - The white hood belongs to a 1968 Chevelle 396SS with a 4-on-the0-floor!
JM
(http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o508/jobo12/Automobile/68Chevelle-2_zps0d055817.jpg) (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/jobo12/media/Automobile/68Chevelle-2_zps0d055817.jpg.html)
random pic.
Call me crazy but i really like the oxidized yellowish look.
Try to convert to black and white after scanning, that sometimes looks really good also.
Heres a tutorial on adjusting white balance.
http://www.graphicconnectionkc.com/color-cast.html (http://www.graphicconnectionkc.com/color-cast.html)
nice job jm [thumbsup]
The cleaned up image looks killer!
[thumbsup]
Thanks! Glad they look good! Here's another one from the Painted Desert in 1972:
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3726/12398110883_090e9cde17_o.jpg)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7335/12398419484_09e08658c5_o.jpg)
JM
Quote from: the_Journeyman on February 07, 2014, 11:38:47 AM
Thanks! I don't mind the grain too much, the type of film likely led to it, the original print is grainy too. It was taken through the windshield on top of everything else.
FYI - The white hood belongs to a 1968 Chevelle 396SS with a 4-on-the0-floor!
JM
and never missed a gas station. [laugh]
very cool ride just the same. [thumbsup]
Quote from: red baron on February 09, 2014, 08:05:30 AM
and never missed a gas station. [laugh]
No kidding! I was thinking about what it would cost to drive that thing cross country these days!!!
JM
I restored the whole album for them. Here's another example.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7421/12416752753_23466d0a49_o.jpg)
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5520/12416752473_61260d6644_o.jpg)
JM
Wow, very cool.
Quote from: the_Journeyman on February 09, 2014, 12:21:17 PM
I restored the whole album for them. Here's another example.
~~~SNIP~~
JM
You're a good kid. [beer]
[thumbsup]
The restored pics look awesome, but call me crazy, there is something very cool about old faded low quality pics. 8)
I'm keeping the old album intact for that reason. Simply giving them the new one so they can see their trip in color once again!
JM
Quote from: the_Journeyman on February 10, 2014, 01:43:29 PM
I'm keeping the old album intact for that reason. Simply giving them the new one so they can see their trip in color once again!
JM
[thumbsup]
So what did you do to them exactly? Could be good to know for future reference....
I balanced/adjusted levels with an adjustment layer. Usually followed some manual tweaking of any combination of the following: saturation, brightness, contrast, color balance, exposure, temperature etc. I could also use the spot healing tool for scratches and such that were either on the original negative or on the print I scanned.
It's not a one or two click process. It requires a bit of guesswork and patience.
JM