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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: Erato on Wednesday 10 August 05 00:35 BST (UK)

Title: Can this snapshot be cleaned up?
Post by: Erato on Wednesday 10 August 05 00:35 BST (UK)

This is not a sepia tone but rather a cheap snapshot that is yellowed, fly-specked, and stained after years of storage in the tropics (note palm roof in background).  Could someone endeavor to clean it up, please.

Title: Re: Can this snapshot be cleaned up?
Post by: Keith Bateman on Wednesday 10 August 05 01:39 BST (UK)

Hi Erato,

Here's my attempt

Cheers

Keith

Title: Re: Can this snapshot be cleaned up?
Post by: deadants on Wednesday 10 August 05 02:38 BST (UK)

What a great photo. What year was it taken?

Title: Re: Can this snapshot be cleaned up?
Post by: Erato on Wednesday 10 August 05 02:55 BST (UK)

Thanks!  It looks a lot better.  It is a photo of my father and his sisters in Elende, Angola in 1922.

Title: Re: Can this snapshot be cleaned up?
Post by: uk2003 on Wednesday 10 August 05 10:49 BST (UK)

Hi Erato

My turn

Regards
Ken

Title: Re: Can this snapshot be cleaned up?
Post by: Emjaybee on Wednesday 10 August 05 18:45 BST (UK)

I do like my walls upright.  ;D

Title: Re: Can this snapshot be cleaned up?
Post by: Jane Eden on Wednesday 10 August 05 23:49 BST (UK)

Hi

Did you want it sepia or black and white?

Jane

Title: Re: Can this snapshot be cleaned up?
Post by: Jane Eden on Thursday 11 August 05 00:01 BST (UK)

Hi

Heres my black and white

Jane

Title: Re: Can this snapshot be cleaned up?
Post by: vhansen on Thursday 11 August 05 01:16 BST (UK)

This image shows a lot of grain, but if printed at the correct size and perhaps on luster paper, it should look pretty decent.
I was in the mood to color. I have the full size image if you'd like it.

Title: Re: Can this snapshot be cleaned up?
Post by: deadants on Thursday 11 August 05 02:01 BST (UK)

Well that's another mind blower Viki. I ran the noise Ninja filter over your colored version to try and eliminate some of the grain. I'm not sure if it's an improvement.

Title: Re: Can this snapshot be cleaned up?
Post by: vhansen on Thursday 11 August 05 02:31 BST (UK)

Thanks, deadants.
I also tried running this through NeatImage, and I didn't get the results I was hoping for. I don't like any filters that alter the image so that it no longer looks like a photograph. Many filters used to smooth out grain often produce a painterly effect, and I'd rather see a grainy image that one that is altered.

On the bright side, I often print images such as this, and the grain usually isn't half as bad as it looks on screen.

Title: Re: Can this snapshot be cleaned up?
Post by: Erato on Thursday 11 August 05 03:50 BST (UK)

Wow!  Thanks everybody.  I'm blown away by the colorizing.  Yes I'd really like to have the full size image to send to my father so he can see himself tarted up in a pink nightie.  He might not be too happy - he is a retired color film chemist and not enthusiastic about digital photography.

Title: Re: Can this snapshot be cleaned up?
Post by: uk2003 on Thursday 11 August 05 09:44 BST (UK)

That is stunning, once again I tip my hat to Viki & deadants

Title: Re: Can this snapshot be cleaned up?
Post by: vhansen on Thursday 11 August 05 12:20 BST (UK)

Oops, guess I should have gone with yellow.
Erato , send me your email address, and I'll send you the larger file.

Title: Re: Can this snapshot be cleaned up?
Post by: vhansen on Thursday 11 August 05 12:22 BST (UK)

Forgot to attach the fix.

Title: Re: Can this snapshot be cleaned up?
Post by: Rebecca Steele on Thursday 11 August 05 12:48 BST (UK)

What a lovely photo.

vhansen, what a good job you've done with it, I hope you don't mind me asking, but what program did you use to colourise it? As i'd like to do this kind of thing with some of my photos.

Thanks

Chui

Title: Re: Can this snapshot be cleaned up?
Post by: vhansen on Thursday 11 August 05 21:26 BST (UK)

Thanks Chui.
I use Photoshop, but any program that has layers should work.
I must mention though, it's not so much the "program" that makes the coloring, it's knowing how to apply colors, which colors to use, and a willingness to be particular with details.

Title: Re: Can this snapshot be cleaned up?
Post by: Jane Eden on Friday 12 August 05 06:33 BST (UK)

Vicky

Is there a tutorial on how you did this? It is really nice. I like you delicate touch.

Jane

Title: Re: Can this snapshot be cleaned up?
Post by: vhansen on Friday 12 August 05 11:42 BST (UK)

Thanks Jane.
I originally started with this tutorial:
http://www.worth1000.com/tutorial.asp?sid=161015
It's a bit confusing at first, but if you stick with it, you'll get some execellent results.
Vikki

Title: Re: Can this snapshot be cleaned up?
Post by: Jane Eden on Friday 12 August 05 18:10 BST (UK)

Vikki

I have seen that one before and tried it several times, the 2nd time the result was OK but I couldn't follow the logic. It certainly is confusing but if that is the way I will try it again and then try it on another photo.

Maybe if I print it of and study it I will begin to understand what I am actually doing.

Thanks

Jane

Title: Re: Can this snapshot be cleaned up?
Post by: Emjaybee on Friday 12 August 05 20:34 BST (UK)

I'm confused too, one minute I'm getting what I want then nothing. Anybody offer more help for this OAP with delusion of IT knowledge!!!