fix this photo

[cats4jan]

Please!

This is my favorite photo of the cousins - the boys on the bottom right are my sons who will be 33 and 32 in October.

This was scanned a few years ago when I didn't know resolution from a hole in the ground and I no longer have a scanner to redo it.

I would like help. I tried to "fix" it today and it's beyond my abilities.

Thanks

PS - note, my son is holding a dog bone in his hands and if you look quickly - you can only imagine what one might think LOL - please remove it.

[Juergen D]

Janice,
Don't you have a friend or neighbor with a scanner? If the image were larger, at a higher resolution, I am sure more could be done. I'm no expert at this, but here is my attempt.

Juergen

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1DXyT0skEmRJYowhKbwaU18LEP11L_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1DXyT0skEmRJYowhKbwaU18LEP11L)

[cats4jan]

Juergen - that came out really nice - I love it.

I just have to get a new scanner - it's been on the wish list for a year already.

Everybody I know have crummy scanners - so, for now - your wonderful work will do. Thanks.

[deedeeO]

Hi Janice,
I had to play too. I cloned out the bone and the blacker background to bring the kids out more. dodged their eyes (using a 1 pixel brush!!! because of the resolution, and also dodged the skin on the back two boys because they were a little underexposed...played around with framing and antiquing (sp?)....
http://MommyandMePhotography.smugmug.com/photos/196854313-S.jpg

http://MommyandMePhotography.smugmug.com/photos/196854186-S.jpg

http://MommyandMePhotography.smugmug.com/photos/196853898-S.jpg

[deedeeO]

I took the first one that I did, enhanced the levels to brighten up everyone and give a little more contrast, and sharpened, like Juergen's (I liked his). Also, before I even began the editing on this photo, I ran it through Noiseware!! I also burned a little of the facial areas on the two front boys because they were a little overexposed.....dodged the girls shirt to brighten her up and little on her face as well...

http://MommyandMePhotography.smugmug.com/photos/196861369-S.jpg

[deedeeO]

Janice,
i also believe that you can take the photo to a walmart or other photo place that processes and get the photo scanned there. Just make sure to ask them to scan it at a high resolution of 600 to 1200ppi and ask for a digital copy. The current resolution on your photo is 150ppi...a little low for restoration purposes.... call first though, I have only heard, but never done...

[cats4jan]

Wow - that photo never looked better. That fireplace was a very multi-colored stone - with lots of dark colors - so it played havoc with the photo. Muting the background really helped.

I came upon this photo while looking for photos to "scrap" and thought it would be fun to email to the "kids." For now, I'm happy to have the smaller less resolution photo fixed up so nicely by "my" experts.

What I don't understand is why the photo - from 1979 - was b/w. Another scan of an old photo from that same year was color.

When I get my scanner - I plan on scanning some more childhood photos and make some new "creations" with them.

You guys are good. No matter how much I try, I can never fix a photo that well.

Again. Thanks.

[cats4jan]

Just noticed you live in Pleasanton. I lived in San Ramon from 1985 to 1990. It was a sad day when we had to return to this climate. Now, it seemed like I've never lived away from here.

I loved the areas around San Ramon - especially Pleasanton - it was a great place to live.