Need help with old photo

[judystowell]

Happy Monday everyone,
Over the weekend we found an old wedding photo of my in-laws. The lower left corner hasa big bright spot, almost like there was something reflecting onto the picture/scene. It's in B&W. With my limited knowledge, I've tried "playing" with it, but haven't come up with anything I like. I did try doing an oval around the couple, & blurring the background, but I'd like to "fix" the problem rather than trying to mask or hide it. I tried the clone tool but there are too many surfaces to change (foliage in the background, pants legs in the front).

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Judy

[msbrad]

Judy,
Can you post the picture to help us make some suggestions?
Generally what I've been doing is, duplicate the layer, make general adjustments first. Then make a new blank layer above where I start with
the healing brush, small bits at a time, or the clone, with a lowered opacity for blending. Sometimes, it works to marquee a "good" section (feathered) and move it over the bad spot.
Happy to help if I can.
m

[Wendy]

Hi Judy ,.....

Yes I agree with Michelle ... it would be a lots easier to help if we could see what the problem is :)

Wendy

[judystowell]

OK, here's the photo:

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/18zyIwMDjk9UChYJNCuPSOCRm5glBX_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=18zyIwMDjk9UChYJNCuPSOCRm5glBX)

Thanks.

Judy

[msbrad]

Hi Judy,
I think its do-able. do your basic clean up first.
Then everthing on its own layer.
I would copy/paste the bushes over that faded area,
and do the same with your father in law's pant legs.

I'll give it a quick play, and let you know.
m

[msbrad]

Judy, I made the following adjustments first.
ctrl +j the background layer
then levels adjusments
then increased contrast by 10
the other layers tell what I put on each one.


http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1g8zFPTOhVqbbOO4cDwED9Clrpm81_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1g8zFPTOhVqbbOO4cDwED9Clrpm81)
Hope that helps some.
m

[smiles]

Michelle, that looks great!

[jdvalentino]

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1zzHlnT793ABOnyuWank7fsZZRgPa0

I cloned most of it and then used the new black/white filter in CS3 and the brightness filter which has been improved.

[Daviskw]

Good work all... you all posted why I was working and did very good jobs... I have little to add but thought I would post anyway.

The only advice I have is being careful about adding contrast unless you mask it to a particular area. You may begin to loose some detail if you add too much.

I just cloned where possible... I did use the darken and lighten settings on the clone tool where needed.

Butch

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1221adPob9XJ1O1B29hyzEFXd6AYb_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1221adPob9XJ1O1B29hyzEFXd6AYb)

[Wendy]

Oh some very nice work on the image ... welld one !!

... and isn't that dress beautiful :) :)

Wendy