old tintype repair

[Vesta]

Hi,
I have not tried to do this before and could use some suggestions. It really is dark and a lot of stuff going on. I have worked on it for a long time and wanted to get some much needed help from all of you. What about the color, I wanted to keep it pretty much the same? i think i need to place a fold in the shaw on the right..it is too straight. I also need to put a shadow for the bust line she looks to flat in front.

Before

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/13vr8KHeWDY1o4MKLTrmIvRfmHk6kh1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=13vr8KHeWDY1o4MKLTrmIvRfmHk6kh1)
After
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1obhaOWJDfgy87Kv7Hpy8miqA8QSMF_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1obhaOWJDfgy87Kv7Hpy8miqA8QSMF)

[frank abramonte]

A quick fix:
First try duplicating the image and changing the mode to screen.
If not light enough duplicate the new layer once more.
You can continue to do this until your satisfied with the lightness.
At this point you can use brightness/contrast.
You can work on any other improvements you wish to make.

http://i33.tinypic.com/1zpllwy.jpg

[Tina_B]

You have done a great job with this one . I agree that you need to add a fold or make the lines wavey or add a crease. I would also lighten just a little. Old tin type photos are really neat.
Tina B

[Vesta]

Thanks Frank and Tina,
Followed your suggestion to ligthen it Frank and it does look better. Tina, thanks for the comments also; I still get the feeling that it is over done but it was so bad in the beginning and my husbands likes it so that really helps. Thanks
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1a9SYvkXG89hrzjgDuEV6WVXSeroMf0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1a9SYvkXG89hrzjgDuEV6WVXSeroMf0)

[ladybug]

Vesta fantastic job. Looks great.

[efarnstrom]

You really put hours into this, didn't you? I really like the extreme detail work you have done on the shawl and the crease at the arm matches the crease on the other side. Better definition on the chest area as well. Great job! All the tintypes I have copies of are so far gone that I don't think I could do nearly as well as you have.

[Vesta]

Vesta fantastic job. Looks great.
Thanks ladybug

You really put hours into this, didn't you? I really like the extreme detail work you have done on the shawl and the crease at the arm matches the crease on the other side. Better definition on the chest area as well. Great job! All the tintypes I have copies of are so far gone that I don't think I could do nearly as well as you have.

Thank you so much for the encouraging words. I have never done much restoration work at all so it is just flying by the seat of your pants. One thing I thought about as I was working on this is...how automatic it becomes to try different things; dodge and burn are an awesome tools to use in restoration as are mode changes. I would like to see some tintypes that have been restored to see when enough is enough.

[efarnstrom]

Hi,
I just did a quick search on restored tintypes and you can see a number of people are doing it....for $$$.

[frank abramonte]

Vesta, here are two links about tintypes that may be of interest to you.

http://people.maine.com/photos/index.html

http://people.maine.com/photos/tintypes.htm

[frank abramonte]

Vesta, one more on tintypes

http://www.scottphotorestoration.com/Tintype%20Restoration%20Page.htm

[Vesta]

Thanks for the links Frank, I couldn't sleep last night so I got up at 1:45 am and found them. I really liked the one about airbrushing a copy of the original ( not on a computer but on paper). I think when I get some more time I am going to work on the tintype again and see if I can get it to look more original with some background work.

Thanks again

[mljrbg]

Very nicely done. You tintype shows the hours of hard work that you have put in.

Mary Lou