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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: mystcarrie on Tuesday 07 February 06 17:41 GMT (UK)

Title: Any hope for improvement?
Post by: mystcarrie on Tuesday 07 February 06 17:41 GMT (UK)
I would appreciate any help in improving this photo.
Many thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Any hope for improvement?
Post by: kizmiaz on Tuesday 07 February 06 18:58 GMT (UK)
Hi Mystcarrie

I'm afraid to say this, but this picture may have slipped into the "unrescuable" category. If not, it is very close to the limits of what can reasonably be repaired at home without highly expensive scanning and analysis software and hardware.

As you can see, there is still a picture there, but the damage is quite substantial and will take a lot of manipulation to bring out anything approaching a good result.

If you could rescan the photo part at a higher resolution and larger size there may just be a chance of a repair. No promises though. This is an incredibly difficult repair.

Glen
Title: Re: Any hope for improvement?
Post by: mystcarrie on Tuesday 07 February 06 19:19 GMT (UK)
Hi Glen,

Thanks so much for the giving the photo a try.  What would you recommend as a DPI for rescan?.  The first was scanned at 150 DPI.  I tried 300 and the file was too big to post on this site, unless I crop it down a bit.

Carrie
Title: Re: Any hope for improvement?
Post by: kizmiaz on Tuesday 07 February 06 19:44 GMT (UK)
Hi Carrie

I always try to scan at least 600 dpi for home repairs, but 300 dpi should be adequate here.

If you crop out all of the frame, what size does it come to? If its not significantly more than 300kb, you may be able to reduce it slightly with your photo software, or it may be an idea to try www.yousendit.com (http://www.yousendit.com) where you can post up to 1gb, although that unfortunately would rule me out, since I'm still stuck in dial-up modem land and have trouble with any files over 5 or 6mb.

I'm also "running in" a new mouse since my last old faithfull one finally decided not to play ball after seven long years of (mostly) trusty service, so I don't know how well this new, spangly wireless optical jobbie will cope with the way I work. (Just a couple of ready-made excuses in case I can't do anything with the picture!)

Glen
Title: Re: Any hope for improvement?
Post by: mystcarrie on Tuesday 07 February 06 21:13 GMT (UK)
Glen,

I managed to crop and cut enough to get it under 300KB's at 300DPI.

Keeping my fingers crossed.
Carrie
Title: Re: Any hope for improvement?
Post by: dennford on Tuesday 07 February 06 22:49 GMT (UK)
I'm horrified, but shall try something - even though it will be quite a while before a result, no promises though. One final request, can you rescan it at the same size and resolution but with the pic' turned 90degrees.
                                              Denn
Title: Re: Any hope for improvement?
Post by: kizmiaz on Tuesday 07 February 06 23:56 GMT (UK)
Hi Carrie

That rescan seems to have had just enough info in it to work on. I've been having a bit of a fiddle over the last hour or so, and it looks like there is the beginnings of a picture starting to emerge. This is going to be a long, long, long job, probably several weeks on and off, but I think (my fingers are crossed as well!) that I may possibly be able to get something approaching a picture from this.

There are two very sweet looking kids hiding behind all that grime and I will try my hardest to clean them up. Here is what I've got so far, but this is just a very, very rough first go to see what is there.

Lots, lots more to do, and I'm not at all happy about the older ones face at the moment, but its early days and they will definitely change over the course of time.

I'll keep you posted on progress as and when there is any!

Glen
Title: Re: Any hope for improvement?
Post by: mystcarrie on Wednesday 08 February 06 11:03 GMT (UK)
Denn,

Here you go.  Hope this gives you something to work with.

I'll look forward to hearing from you.

Carrie
Title: Re: Any hope for improvement?
Post by: PrueM on Wednesday 08 February 06 11:07 GMT (UK)
Well, boys (and mystcarrie!), I shall be keeping an eye on this one, that's for sure!  I cannot wait to see what you can come up with!

/sits back with popcorn and waits patiently/

 ;D

Prue
Title: Re: Any hope for improvement?
Post by: mystcarrie on Wednesday 08 February 06 11:15 GMT (UK)
Thanks Glen.
 I can see there may be some hope yet.  My grandfather is hiding in all that grime.  I really appreciate all your efforts, and will look forward to hearing from you.

Carrie

Prue---- 'Pass the popcorn' ~as we wait patiently~   ;)
Title: Re: Any hope for improvement?
Post by: kizmiaz on Wednesday 08 February 06 12:16 GMT (UK)
Hi Carrie

No update at the moment. I'm at work and just having a look while I'm at lunch (I have to say that in case any management see me!).
 
The rotated picture looks like its been done using software to turn it through 90 degrees. It has identical dimensions and the cropping seems to be the same.

I think Denn would like the actual photograph flipped through 90 degrees and rescanned.

I know it sounds odd, but this can add information which otherwise may be missed. This is something I've learned since coming to this forum. It can make quite a difference to the actual scanned image depending on which direction the light from the scanner hits imperfections on the photo, and scratches and marks can almost disappear when scanned at different angles.


I am guessing that your grandfather is the little one in the high chair. The older one definitely looks like a girl, but its difficult to tell since they both appear to be wearing skirts. I think that was the norm for young kids though, wasn't it?

Now I can go for a slightly more boyish face for your grandfather

Glen
Title: Re: Any hope for improvement?
Post by: mystcarrie on Wednesday 08 February 06 12:37 GMT (UK)
OOps, thanks for pointing the rotation thingy out to me.  I'll give it another try...LOL.  It crossed my mind as to why I would have to rescan it in order to flip it. Duh! 

Yes, the little one in the high chair is my grandfather and the older child is his sister.  I have another picture of the family in which one brother is dressed so much like a little girl that, without confirmation, I would be still looking for her! (Him)



Regards!
Title: Re: Any hope for improvement?
Post by: dennford on Wednesday 08 February 06 13:13 GMT (UK)
        Back online. yeh that's what I wanted, as an update there is a reasonable amount of info there - but still a lot of work.

        Here is where I am. Note what I have called the pic! (sorry).

                                                     Denn
Title: Re: Any hope for improvement?
Post by: mystcarrie on Wednesday 08 February 06 14:34 GMT (UK)
Denn,

Nice file name  ;)

Looking good. 

I'll look forward to hearing more.  Greatly appreciated!

Carrie
Title: Re: Any hope for improvement?
Post by: kizmiaz on Wednesday 08 February 06 23:19 GMT (UK)
**Update Number 1**

Okay, I've chickened out a bit and am waiting till I can get a firmer idea in my head for the childrens faces, but I've done some work on the lower part of the picture.

Grandads skirt (?!) is now freshly laundered and looking soft and silky, and great-aunts skirt has also had a spot of Daz (or probably OMO at that time) on it and is as neat as could be expected under the circumstances.

Grandads right boot has emerged, and it looked to me like it has a tab on for pulling it on. Not being even remotely an expert on antique footware (in the under five category) I can only have a wild stab at its appearance, but it looks physically possible to me.

His jacket looks nice and warm with those fur collars and cuffs, and it seems to me that he is wearing a soft cap of some kind.

I must say that so far this has been a lot more enjoyable to do than at first appearances, and Im actually looking forward to working on it at the end of a hard day in front of the computer at work.

More soon...

Glen

Title: Re: Any hope for improvement?
Post by: catherinefine on Wednesday 08 February 06 23:41 GMT (UK)
Absolutely wonderful Glen  ;D ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Any hope for improvement?
Post by: mystcarrie on Thursday 09 February 06 15:10 GMT (UK)
Thats amazing!, and very exciting.  Glad to hear your finding it somewhat enjoyable.  I find the updates quite fascinating.
Keep up the good work.

Looking forward to your next post,
Carrie
Title: Re: Any hope for improvement?
Post by: kizmiaz on Saturday 11 February 06 22:21 GMT (UK)
**Update Number 2**

Sorry, not had much time in the last couple of days to work on this so only a minor bit of an update today.

A bit more general cleaning down the bottom of the picture and a small area on great-aunts arm. Also grandads face is near enough done. Great aunt still looks rather too mean for my liking so I may have to go back to the drawing board with her. I started on her hair, but again it looks too severe. I'm still very much undecided how her hair should look at the sides; whether there should be bunches and ribbons, or whether it should just look a bit fluffy.

The whole thing also looks too much like a drawing to me, but I really have no clue how to make it look more natural and photographic. Ho hum

Glen

Title: Re: Any hope for improvement?
Post by: kizmiaz on Thursday 16 February 06 21:44 GMT (UK)
**Update Number 3**

Well, here is as much as I've been able to wrestle out of this picture. It was a real struggle!

I am not overly happy with the general look of the picture. It still looks way too much like a drawing for my liking, but I guess that is more or less what it actually is now. Most, if not all, of the original photo has been covered up or blended away to get rid of the marks

At least you can now see the composition of the picture, which may not have been readily apparent from its original faded condition.

If you want a larger copy PM me with your e-mail address and I'll send it return post.

Regards

Glen
Title: Re: Any hope for improvement?
Post by: tomkin on Thursday 16 February 06 22:05 GMT (UK)
Looks very good to me,
brilliant work Kizmiaz,
Tomkin
Title: Re: Any hope for improvement?
Post by: PrueM on Thursday 16 February 06 22:34 GMT (UK)
Glen, you've excelled yourself :o :o :o
Well done, it looks wonderful - 'specially when compared with the original!
Prue
Title: Re: Any hope for improvement?
Post by: mystcarrie on Thursday 16 February 06 22:45 GMT (UK)
Hello Glen!!!!,

You have out done yourself.  Wonderful job.  I can't believe you found those children under all that....................mess!.   I can't express my delight enough!.

Will contact you off list.

Many, Many, many thanks
Carrie
Title: Re: Any hope for improvement?
Post by: dennford on Thursday 16 February 06 23:24 GMT (UK)
Absolutely brilliant Glen!
       It's the true sign of a "Maestro" when everyone else either stops what they are doing or doesn't even start because they are too busy watching your work.

                                                   Denn