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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: Tickettyboo on Thursday 06 August 20 13:55 BST (UK)

Title: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Tickettyboo on Thursday 06 August 20 13:55 BST (UK)
A contact asked me if I could help - errmm sorry, no, not got the skills ! I did say I would ask in here though.

Unsure if is big enough/ high enough res to enable the skilled folk to improve it but its all she has and no access to the original to re-scan.

All she knows at the mo is that it was labelled Kathleen and comes from the UK. I'd guess WW2 time?

If anyone has the time/inclination to try it would be appreciated but we both understand it may not be possible.

Boo


Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Ian Nelson on Thursday 06 August 20 19:34 BST (UK)
Maybe some of the other Restorers have an App for rescuing the picture from the ' noise ' which is quite large in its specks and they will have a better ' flesh ' replacement, but here's a wee starter,
 
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: DanNC on Thursday 06 August 20 20:22 BST (UK)
I could only do so much with it, but it's getting there anyway. Maybe someone else can have more luck with it.   :)
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Ian Nelson on Thursday 06 August 20 20:25 BST (UK)
Blurring and hueing have smoothed it although there is a loss of fine detail, heyho!
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Tickettyboo on Thursday 06 August 20 20:26 BST (UK)
Hello Ian
Given that you had what even I realised was a small and not too high a resolution image, I am really appreciative of your time and expertise and, even with what you describe as 'noise' it makes her look more 'real' :-)  Thank you!
I'll send it to Meg and I am sure she will also appreciate it.
 
Boo
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Tickettyboo on Thursday 06 August 20 20:30 BST (UK)
I could only do so much with it, but it's getting there anyway. Maybe someone else can have more luck with it.   :)

Oh Dan! given the limitations of the image that is a super improvement :-)

Thank you, I am always very grateful for the kindness, skills and expertise of those who know so much more than I.

She was pretty, hopefully my contact will track her down and be able to show others. I always want to know the story behind these faces from the past.

Boo
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Tickettyboo on Thursday 06 August 20 20:32 BST (UK)
Blurring and hueing have smoothed it although there is a loss of fine detail, heyho!

I'll google the terms 'blurring and hueing'  lol (I did say this is on a long list of skills I don't have!) but though her features aren't so clear the colour does add something to the image.
Thanks again

Boo
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Trishanne on Thursday 06 August 20 21:17 BST (UK)
A try from me
Pat
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: jim1 on Thursday 06 August 20 21:27 BST (UK)
gave it a go
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Tickettyboo on Thursday 06 August 20 21:30 BST (UK)
A try from me
Pat

Many thanks Pat. I am really interested to see all the different versions (and, I assume, techniques) you all use.
So much knowledge and experience in here!  I watch this board a LOT and am constantly amazed at the skills and kindness shown to help others.

Boo
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Tickettyboo on Thursday 06 August 20 21:34 BST (UK)
Many thanks Jim.

Again, your time and skills are much appreciated, my friend will be amazed at how many strangers are willing to share their time and expertise.

Boo

Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: tomkin on Thursday 06 August 20 22:06 BST (UK)
 A B&W from me :D :D
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: tomkin on Thursday 06 August 20 22:35 BST (UK)

  And a colour
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Ian Nelson on Thursday 06 August 20 23:45 BST (UK)
Boo, sorting the blemishes and worst of the ' noise' is stage one of repairing ... and afterwards comes the 2nd stage as mentioned in the examples in this strip cartoon, cheers, Ian
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: McGroger on Friday 07 August 20 00:41 BST (UK)
My try. :)
Peter
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: ichthys on Friday 07 August 20 02:58 BST (UK)
 :)
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Tickettyboo on Friday 07 August 20 08:13 BST (UK)
A B&W from me :D :D

  And a colour

Thank you so much tomkin :-)
Its like photographic archaeology! All of the improved images have started with a situation where the original was buried under dirt and blemishes, hidden deep in a bad scan of a very old image and I can only imagine how slowly and painstakingly they have been 'dug up' to reveal them.

and thanks for the colour version too. May I ask if the colours - such as the blue of the dress - were stored way down in the original and you have managed to magically bring them out or if you have coloured this by using shades you know are correct ?

Boo
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Tickettyboo on Friday 07 August 20 08:15 BST (UK)
Boo, sorting the blemishes and worst of the ' noise' is stage one of repairing ... and afterwards comes the 2nd stage as mentioned in the examples in this strip cartoon, cheers, Ian

Thanks Ian, kind of you to take the time to explain to the uniniated :-)
From my point of view its all just magic!

Boo
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Tickettyboo on Friday 07 August 20 08:16 BST (UK)
My try. :)
Peter

Hello Peter
Another super improvement and I really do appreciate the time and effort that go into every one.

Boo
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Tickettyboo on Friday 07 August 20 08:18 BST (UK)
:)

Many thanks ichthys, that too is an amazing result and I am so grateful.

Boo
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: McGroger on Friday 07 August 20 09:33 BST (UK)
Boo, just wanted to give thanks back to you for the lovely responses you give to all restorers.
Peter
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: tomkin on Friday 07 August 20 10:29 BST (UK)

  "May I ask if the colours - such as the blue of the dress - were stored way down in the original and you have managed to magically bring them out or if you have coloured this by using shades you know are correct ?"

         Hand coloured, and all colours are a pure guess ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Tickettyboo on Friday 07 August 20 11:38 BST (UK)

  "May I ask if the colours - such as the blue of the dress - were stored way down in the original and you have managed to magically bring them out or if you have coloured this by using shades you know are correct ?"

         Hand coloured, and all colours are a pure guess ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Thanks for indulging my curiosity, I am even more impressed with the workmanship now :-)

As for the guess a preliminary hunt round the web indicates that your guess was a good one :-)

Boo

Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Treetotal on Wednesday 12 August 20 12:19 BST (UK)
Ho Boo...A late one from me.
Carol
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Tickettyboo on Wednesday 12 August 20 13:14 BST (UK)
Hi Carol

Never too late, its kind of you to do this and I really appreciate your time and skill.

That's another super improvement. Its strange, they are all really good but have subtle differences that make it impossible to say which one we would prefer.

Now, if ever any of you acquire the skills to do these sort of improvements on living faces I have a few lines that could do with erasing  . . .   :-)

Thanks again

Boo
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Treetotal on Wednesday 12 August 20 13:19 BST (UK)
You are welcome  :D It looks like she was a VAD nurse with two Efficiency Stripes...this site is very informative, I have used it many times for exhibitions:

http://www.scarletfinders.co.uk/157.html

Carol
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Tickettyboo on Wednesday 12 August 20 13:37 BST (UK)
Thanks Carol, I will pass that site and your info along.

Boo
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Crumblie on Wednesday 12 August 20 13:51 BST (UK)
I am not sure about the stripes being for efficiency, to me they look more like proper rank stripes as in Corporal which would date it to probably after WW2.
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Treetotal on Wednesday 12 August 20 13:52 BST (UK)
Here is a colour version from me too.
Carol
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Treetotal on Wednesday 12 August 20 13:57 BST (UK)
I am not sure about the stripes being for efficiency, to me they look more like proper rank stripes as in Corporal which would date it to probably after WW2.

I'm not...just using info form Here, I thought the headress style was WW1 era? maybe length of service stripes...we can't know the colour of the stripes from the original except that they are not red....just trying to help that's all but not my area:

During the autumn of 1917, a series of 'stripes' were introduced for VADs to wear on the sleeve of their dresses, and there were different colours to signify different things.  White stripes were issued to denote length of service for VADs working for the Joint War Committee, and red stripes to VADs under contract to the War Office to denote that they had been certificated as 'efficient' by their Matron and Commanding Officer. Late in the war, JWC nurses could also be awarded efficiency stripes which were blue in colour. In this photo, taken at a British Military Hospital in Calais in early 1919, two of the nurses have two red 'efficiency' stripes - a sign that they had at least two years continuous service in military hospitals, and had proved to be competent workers.

http://www.scarletfinders.co.uk/157.html

I will stick to restoring I think ::) ;D ;D ;D

Carol
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Treetotal on Wednesday 12 August 20 14:04 BST (UK)
One with a slightly different tone and added texture...I'll go away now  ;D ;D ;D
Carol
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Tickettyboo on Wednesday 12 August 20 14:14 BST (UK)
I am not sure about the stripes being for efficiency, to me they look more like proper rank stripes as in Corporal which would date it to probably after WW2.

Thanks , will bear that in mind. All possibilities to be explored.

Boo
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Tickettyboo on Wednesday 12 August 20 14:23 BST (UK)
One with a slightly different tone and added texture...I'll go away now  ;D ;D ;D
Carol

Thanks for both colour versions they are lovely :-)

Boo

Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: jc26red on Wednesday 12 August 20 22:36 BST (UK)
gave it a go but not done one for a while... years actually!
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Tickettyboo on Thursday 13 August 20 10:38 BST (UK)
gave it a go but not done one for a while... years actually!

Though it may be years since you have done a restore you certainly haven't forgotten how
 :-)

Thank you, its much appreciated

Boo

Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Treetotal on Thursday 13 August 20 13:25 BST (UK)
gave it a go but not done one for a while... years actually!

Nice one Jenny...good to see you on the board  :D
Carol
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: jc26red on Thursday 13 August 20 15:53 BST (UK)
Thanks Carol. I think I need to practice more again. ;D

Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Treetotal on Thursday 13 August 20 16:02 BST (UK)
Well you maybe a bit rusty but you haven't lost your touch ;)
Carol
Title: Re: is it possible to improve this please of Nurse Kathleen?
Post by: Tickettyboo on Thursday 13 August 20 23:00 BST (UK)
Thanks Carol. I think I need to practice more again. ;D

Thank you again (sorry I  almost missed this one so a bit tardy with my thanks for your time and work)

Boo