Restoration using Dreamy Software

[deedeeO]

Hi,
Here is another restoration where after all the fixings, I applied a dreamy effect to the photo....the background is really dreamy and the subjects are slightly dreamy...taking off a little of the blend. The frame was modified from the original photo...I love this frame and now I have it as a template!!!
Let me know what you think about the dreamy effect on this photo...does it take away from the restorative value, too much...feedback is appreciated.
Thanks!!!

Before:
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1iKay23q7bbTH074I3R360UfuK2T2_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1iKay23q7bbTH074I3R360UfuK2T2)

After:
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1ygK8KV5mveb55gpnhL6EQimCb1TM7_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1ygK8KV5mveb55gpnhL6EQimCb1TM7)

[karen donnybrook]

Denise,

I like the overall effect. The main thing is - do you like it?. If you do that is all that matters.

The younger girl looks like a baby doll, doesn't she?

Karen :)

[Wendy]

Karen ...

I was just thinking the same thing about the baby .... in fact I went back for a closer look :)

Wendy

[uniqcrafts]

I like the over all effect, but for me I thought the older girl looked cross eyed. I don't see a zoom but it's close enough I think where she shouldn't be looking cross eyed. Anyone else think so, or is it just me?

[PJSmith]

I think it makes the new image more authentic.

On one of my images, I typed a caption in the white border (with the teletype font, I think?) because my Dad used to type titles/captions on his photos with his typewriter and I wanted to have that "old" look.

P.S. Don't see that font listed, but just discovered "ST Old Typewriter", which I will definitely use in the future.

[deedeeO]

Thanks, and I do like the effect. The baby doll is my mother and the older girl is my Aunt. And yes, I tried to open the eyes a bit because she is squinting, and that is something that I can fix again. Thanks for the suggestion. They do look a little funny. This is my second time around fixing eyes, so back to the boards (everything is saved in psd, so no biggy:):)).

[deedeeO]

I think it makes the new image more authentic.

On one of my images, I typed a caption in the white border (with the teletype font, I think?) because my Dad used to type titles/captions on his photos with his typewriter and I wanted to have that "old" look.

P.S. Don't see that font listed, but just discovered "ST Old Typewriter", which I will definitely use in the future.
As long as it was close, that is all that matters!!
My grandmother wrote on all her pictures, so this font was close to her cursive handwritting and I just thought it was elegant... and it is one of my favorites:)

[deedeeO]

I attempted to fix the eyes, but maybe I made her look like she is wearing eye liner now...lol:( Here are the two sets of eyes close up.... I used a combo of color dodging and burning with some brushing to shape them.... I guess this is part of the hardships of restoration:confused:...thanks for feed back...

original set of eyes:
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1epTw4jccpntB7394f8pMKRJuEYM1s1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1epTw4jccpntB7394f8pMKRJuEYM1s1)

set of eyes after more editing:
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1VYzVv4LdoJahT2Ymwb3oY59hcP8T_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1VYzVv4LdoJahT2Ymwb3oY59hcP8T)

[uniqcrafts]

Good job! I think the re-attempt looks better. Eyes are so difficult to do.

[Pauline]

Hi Denise. Nice job on the restoration but HER left eye doesn't look right.

Because she is squinting it changes the look of her whole face. If you squint in front of a mirror you will see that your cheeks will rise a bit also, everything works together. In her case what I might try is to use liquify and 'gently' pull the eye down, just a bit. If you over do it, it will look unnatural. To do this I would take a selection of the eyes and cheeks and put it on a new layer. That way you have more control and you can toggle the layer off and on afterwards and see if it looks natural. If you use liquify and a large brush you should be able to move the cheeks just slightly. I don't think you can't get rid of that squinting look completely so just try a gentle opening.

[deedeeO]

Oh, I totally forgot about the liquidfy feature. I will try it. I have so many layers going on this current psd, it won't be hard to create different looks to choose the best option for her eyes. If all else fails, just do nothing and leave as is, right? Thanks for the suggestion Pauline..
BTW...my husband's opinion, "her eyes look CRAZY, just CRAZY" LOL!!:twisted:

[Pauline]

:D Okay, I admit the eyes did look a little crazy in the first attempt. :D
I just remembered liquify because of the piece I did on aging. Don't use that filter often but it can be a great one! Make sure you use the right tool though and don't select the bulge one! :eek: Oh and also large soft brush and gentle gentle. :D

[deedeeO]

Well, I attempted the liquidfy, but it just was not doing it. I was creating a monster rather than a work of art. Soooooo, I took the original eyes.....increased the levels high enough so that I could see more details of the eyes....and literally took pixel per pixel and did color dodging and burning and came up with this. This photo has a bit more shadowing; however, it looks more natural and I think it is a keeper. I'll work on the shadowing once the caffeine wears off and the kids are not demanding every minute of my attention. Here are the three photos side by side....
Thanks Pauline for carrying me through this:)

First Edit:
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1zF40IUxaPeNRavwkK79O4g5jdE_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1zF40IUxaPeNRavwkK79O4g5jdE)

Second Edit:
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1hEZfYIypLiOnIVR0PI3GSDzOA1390_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1hEZfYIypLiOnIVR0PI3GSDzOA1390)

Third Edit:
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1dgIhvSO1T1RCmzmNlyGncKaOWvIA_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1dgIhvSO1T1RCmzmNlyGncKaOWvIA)

[Pauline]

Denise your welcome. That turned out great. The liquify doesn't always work and it really does require patience and a soft touch or it can distort things way too much. Part of the problem too is that I think her head is tilted down and she is looking upwards. I'm sure you noticed that as you take fantastic photos.