Question: Restoring Old Photos

Wheatfield · 05-18-2010, 05:03 PM

Originally posted by kxr4trids

If they are all flat (low contrast) like the one you posted, and they all have black text, you can select just the text using the wand or color range tools. Then lighten it, expand a couple pixels, and gaussian blur it until it blends with the background, then adjust overall image contrast. It's not perfect but it's a heck of a lot quicker than cloning. CS5 might have a tool to deal with this, but I haven't had a chance to play with it yet.

hm. apparently forum no longer supports inline image posting, linked to imageshack.
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/8748/tempmal.jpg

Good point, I wonder what content aware fill would do with that.

Wheatfield · 05-19-2010, 07:34 AM

A buddy of mine took a whirl at it with content aware fill in CS5.
He didn't take much time and only took out one name, but this might be something to look into.

twokatmew · 05-20-2010, 06:35 AM

Originally posted by kxr4trids

If they are all flat (low contrast) like the one you posted, and they all have black text, you can select just the text using the wand or color range tools. Then lighten it, expand a couple pixels, and gaussian blur it until it blends with the background, then adjust overall image contrast. It's not perfect but it's a heck of a lot quicker than cloning. CS5 might have a tool to deal with this, but I haven't had a chance to play with it yet.

hm. apparently forum no longer supports inline image posting, linked to imageshack.
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/8748/tempmal.jpg

Thanks for the tip, kxr! That technique does lighten the text considerably. Interesting you couldn't post your photo directly though. I managed it OK....

twokatmew · 05-20-2010, 06:37 AM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

A buddy of mine took a whirl at it with content aware fill in CS5.
He didn't take much time and only took out one name, but this might be something to look into.

Hmm, seems I should look into CS5. I just downloaded the trial.

Thanks!!

THAN THE SWORD · 05-25-2010, 07:19 PM

Yes, the originals would be best.

But nobody has asked about the files.

Does your brother have the files from the drug store or whoever scanned them? If so you could avoid a lot of PP and just work on the contrast of the photos themselves.

Just a thought.

(I messed around with the picture you posted and got decent results with just duplicating a layer and changing the blending method to multiple and then duplicating that layer once or twice)

twokatmew · 05-25-2010, 07:34 PM

Originally posted by THAN THE SWORD

Yes, the originals would be best.

But nobody has asked about the files.

Does your brother have the files from the drug store or whoever scanned them? If so you could avoid a lot of PP and just work on the contrast of the photos themselves.

Just a thought.

(I messed around with the picture you posted and got decent results with just duplicating a layer and changing the blending method to multiple and then duplicating that layer once or twice)

I asked my brother about that, and unfortunately he failed to make copies of the scan files. He just added that hideous text to the original files and saved them.

Oh the pain, the pain....

05-19-2010, 07:34 AM	#17
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	A buddy of mine took a whirl at it with content aware fill in CS5. He didn't take much time and only took out one name, but this might be something to look into. Last edited by Wheatfield; 02-05-2011 at 08:44 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Restoring an old friend: 50mm f2	ismaelg	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	17	12-02-2009 07:04 AM
Restoring Municipal Streetcars	xs400	Post Your Photos!	8	08-16-2009 05:52 PM
Legal question regarding rights of photos	designinme_1976	General Talk	15	07-16-2009 05:22 PM
Restoring Old Cameras	vinzer	Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras	27	03-08-2009 07:10 PM
Selling photos question.	jbrowning	General Talk	4	11-30-2007 05:13 PM

05-18-2010, 05:03 PM	#16
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	Originally posted by kxr4trids If they are all flat (low contrast) like the one you posted, and they all have black text, you can select just the text using the wand or color range tools. Then lighten it, expand a couple pixels, and gaussian blur it until it blends with the background, then adjust overall image contrast. It's not perfect but it's a heck of a lot quicker than cloning. CS5 might have a tool to deal with this, but I haven't had a chance to play with it yet. hm. apparently forum no longer supports inline image posting, linked to imageshack. http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/8748/tempmal.jpg Good point, I wonder what content aware fill would do with that.

05-20-2010, 06:35 AM	#18
twokatmew Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Lansing, MI Photos: Albums Posts: 509 Original Poster	Originally posted by kxr4trids If they are all flat (low contrast) like the one you posted, and they all have black text, you can select just the text using the wand or color range tools. Then lighten it, expand a couple pixels, and gaussian blur it until it blends with the background, then adjust overall image contrast. It's not perfect but it's a heck of a lot quicker than cloning. CS5 might have a tool to deal with this, but I haven't had a chance to play with it yet. hm. apparently forum no longer supports inline image posting, linked to imageshack. http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/8748/tempmal.jpg Thanks for the tip, kxr! That technique does lighten the text considerably. Interesting you couldn't post your photo directly though. I managed it OK....

05-20-2010, 06:37 AM	#19
twokatmew Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Lansing, MI Photos: Albums Posts: 509 Original Poster	Originally posted by Wheatfield A buddy of mine took a whirl at it with content aware fill in CS5. He didn't take much time and only took out one name, but this might be something to look into. Hmm, seems I should look into CS5. I just downloaded the trial. Thanks!!

05-25-2010, 07:19 PM	#20
THAN THE SWORD Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: TEXASS Photos: Gallery Posts: 151	Yes, the originals would be best. But nobody has asked about the files. Does your brother have the files from the drug store or whoever scanned them? If so you could avoid a lot of PP and just work on the contrast of the photos themselves. Just a thought. (I messed around with the picture you posted and got decent results with just duplicating a layer and changing the blending method to multiple and then duplicating that layer once or twice)

05-25-2010, 07:34 PM	#21
twokatmew Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Lansing, MI Photos: Albums Posts: 509 Original Poster	Originally posted by THAN THE SWORD Yes, the originals would be best. But nobody has asked about the files. Does your brother have the files from the drug store or whoever scanned them? If so you could avoid a lot of PP and just work on the contrast of the photos themselves. Just a thought. (I messed around with the picture you posted and got decent results with just duplicating a layer and changing the blending method to multiple and then duplicating that layer once or twice) I asked my brother about that, and unfortunately he failed to make copies of the scan files. He just added that hideous text to the original files and saved them. Oh the pain, the pain....