RootsChat.Com
Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: sandie on Monday 28 March 05 14:42 BST (UK)
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I wanted to post a copy of a photo I'm trying to repair in order to ask all you experts for some advice. The trouble is, when I reduce the file to less than 500 it goes all 'blocky' so I can't attach - any ideas how I get my picture small enough to send?
As you can probably tell, I'm not very good with computers!
Regards
Sandie
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Hi sandie,
First off, what software are you using to change the size of your photo's? Second can you scan the photo to a high resolution, 300dpi or greater?
Here's a link to a tutorial for resizing images. http://www.ibdhost.com/help/optimize/
deadants
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When I got my scanner I got a very simple program with it to fix photographs. I've played with it for a while and I can do a reasonable good job. If you have a scanner explore the functions on the disk that came with it. Mine is called Photoimpression 4 - takes a lot of memory - but is sort of idiot proof. I am not computer literate either (every day is a learning curve for me). Also sending photographs - my hotmail account gave me a free program for this and it makes it easy to do.
By the way my house is now cluttered with blown up old photos of my family - I need more walls!
Frances
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deadant & Frances
Thank you both for your responses.
The software I was using yesterday was paint.net that I had down loaded in order to work on the photograph. The reason for this is our computer has been very poorly, it got a virus, and we had to strip it back. Unfortunately my son hasn't yet reinstalled our picture software or scanner yet so I was using the photograph we had saved on a disc.
I think I'll just have to wait for him to come home before I proceed which I'm hoping will be tomorrow - why are our off springs always there when you don't want them, but never when you do? This is all becoming far too complicated for me.
Regards
Sandie
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That's a conincidence - I've got a daughter like that - she's the one who encouraged me to get a computer. Found me a program when my computer was sick, cleans it up when she stays. She tells me all this stuff and I sit there and think "Good grief whats she saying?"
Hope you computer gets better soon.
Frances
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At last!!
I still haven't got a scanner that feels like playing, but my son has reduced the photos I had saved and I HOPE I have attached them!
As you can see from the second pic. I have 'tried' to repair it, but I'm not very good as you can also see. Can anyone give me any tips on how to repair the part where the solders are? I get the shakes just thinking about it.
Regards
Sandie
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well sandie, you have done all the easy work first. This is a good start. I think the soldiers being fairly uniform, we may have to copy a fully intact soldiers and paste over the damaged areas. This of course brings up an issue of historical accuracy. Historians don't like people tampering with historical evidence such as photos, but as they are for your own personal use you can always put a note that explains that the photo has been restored and the original photo is still in it's unaltered state in an album etc.
I will have a close look at the damaged areas of your photo today sometime and see how I go.
deadants
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Here's my attempt at restoring the lines through the ranks. A fair bit of jiggery pokery was used here. lots of copying and pasting of soldiers. The overall effect isn't too bad, but if you blow it up you can see a few pixels are not quite right. But that's probably being too fastidious.
Was this photo taken in India or Africa? It's a great photo either way.
deadants
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Hi Sandie,
As you may have guessed many of the programs that come with computers arent up to the restore capability as those done by deadants. You did a great job with what you have, but as ants says cutting and pasting etc. does require a program that allows you to create duplicate and blank layers.
Its fun so keep up the good work, remember the higher resolution you scan with the better the printed photo will look.
Rule of thumb, if the picture is as small as a slide positive then scan at about 1000 to 1200, if it is 3 x 5 about 600 to 800 will do any larger then 600 will do nicely.
If you need help when deadants is busy drop me a pm and I would be glad to assist you.
Tallted
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Since image sizes are described in pixels and photo prints in inches, you have to convert from pixels to inches. To do so, you divide the image's dimension in pixels by the resolution of the device in pixels per inch (ppi). For example, to convert the dimensions for a 1500 x 1200 image being printed at 300 ppi you divide as follows:
Width: 1500 pixels ÷ 300 ppi = 5"
Height: 1200 pixels ÷ 300 ppi = 4"
The result is a 5" x 4" print. However, if the output device prints 600 ppi, the result changes to a 2.5" x 2" print as follows:
Width: 1500 pixels ÷ 600 ppi = 2.5"
Height: 1200 pixels ÷ 600 ppi = 2"
A 640 x 480 image displays or prints on devices with different dots per inch. At 72 ppi it's 8.9" x 6.7", at 300 ppi it's 2.1" by 1.6", and at 1500 ppi, it's only 0.43" x 0.32"—smaller than a stamp.
Check this link out if you want to know a bit more about scanning and file sizes.
http://www.scantips.com/no72dpi.html
deadants
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Sorry folks just had to have a go myself
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Deadants, Tallted & Kenhar
Thank you all so much for your help and advice.
Deadants & Kenhar I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the pictures. I called my husband straight away to have a look - I usually bann everyone from the room when I'm on Rootschat - he was truly taken aback, they're fantastic. I can't see myself ever being able to achieve something like that.
I did try to take in the info., but I'm afraid it sailed straight over the top of my head.
As for the picture itself, it's a photo of my father-in-law's regiment taken in India. We don't know exactly when though, we know he went there in 1919 and believe he returned in 1928, but we can't find his records so it could be anytime between those dates.
Thank you all again.
Regards
Sandie
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Good job kenhar, you fixed that skyline up beautifully. I wasn't really happy with my skyline but I was concentrating on the soldiers. Between us all we have a pretty neat job on this one.
deadants
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Got Bored had to do something
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That's what I call showing off! I've got to admit though, looking great.
My husband's family couldn't believe the last picture I sent them, don't know what they'd say if I sent them a colour copy.
I have tried to colour photos, but I just cannot get to grips with it at all - not that it would help at the moment because now my printer has died as well. I think someone's trying to tell me something.
Back to the point, the picture looks great.
Sandie
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It's amazing how a splash of colour brings an antique photo to life. The leaves on the big tree on the right could do with a bit of toning down as it seems a bit fluroecent.
Overall it's not to bad. Maybe you could do a gradient fill for the sky.
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Hi deadants
Thanks for the comments I do agree with you about the trees, but also the picture contains a few other areas that work could have been better, like the legs area most of that is still in greyscale, and some of the distant trees have grey halos.
But it is still a great feeling to be able to do this type of work, sat at my pc, at home for a couple of hours, from what the picture was originally to this version I am well pleased.
I would hate to think what it would cost to get it done by a professional - LONG LIVE ROOTSCHAT - AND THE PEOPLE WILLING TO HELP OTHERS FOR FREE ;D
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Hi Ken,
Have you read my reply to your other post yet? http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,55380.msg223046.html#msg223046