Ballpoint Pen on Face

[Mom's Fotos]

Hi folks! I'm a TOTAL NEWBIE at Photoshop and bought it specifically to clean up old family photos. The one attached has ballpoint pen scribbled on a face as well as other, smaller places. How do I correct this? I'm looking for the best place to educate myself on using my "tools" and to correct problems such as this one. Help...anyone? :o

[ljameso1]

That will be a challenge. I would try using the clone tool to clone in skin from another child's face.

[nu2scene]

This is a though one. I increased the magnification a lot, and then did a dodge and burn on the boys face. I tried to fade the pen ink to balance his face out a bit. Then I sampled some color off the boy's face below him, and painted that onto his face using a color blend mode layer. Not sure it came out all that great however.

Here's my attempt anyway.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1PGYh9PLaEVrV8xEBHp0W0Vyyn04lO1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1PGYh9PLaEVrV8xEBHp0W0Vyyn04lO1)

[Diana]

Looks pretty good, Rob.

Yes, this was a challenge. For one thing, the other little faces have a lot of hot spots from the flash so there wasn't much color to sample from. I tried to bring back some of the color in the other faces, then sampled that color to clone over the ink scribbles on the boy behind. Also adjusted the overall color and upsized it a bit.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1rs0wwFs4k76ZUyj1XWA29Eoe4QQpB0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1rs0wwFs4k76ZUyj1XWA29Eoe4QQpB0)

MomsFotos, you should be able to get an acceptable 6x4 print from the above Pixentral posting, or even perhaps a 7x5 if you crop a little off the right side.

After it loads in Pixentral, right click on it and from the menu select "Save Picture As" and save it to your computer if you wish to print it.

Diana

[frank abramonte]

Mom's Fotos:

I agree with Diana this is a challenge. The photo itself is overall not very good.
There is very little one can copy to recreate the boys face to eliminate the ball point markings.
What I did was to copy the face of the tallest boy, but kept the eyes of the one with the markings. I adjusted the eyes to match the face with a curves adjustment.
I then used a gamma adjustment on the entire photo, followed by 2 highlight/contrast adjustments, one of which was on the boy with the white shirt. This brought some detail into his face and shirt.
There may have been an additional adjustment, but I don't really remember.
An experienced color retoucher can probably do better then this.
The image is 12.861 x 8.889 72 dpi which should give you a 6 x 4 print at 150 dpi.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1RXWXAgwtomrqf6AuMkW5mCPGE44Hw0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1RXWXAgwtomrqf6AuMkW5mCPGE44Hw0)

[Ritage]

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1db9hNlbUstRWukCe26pxB9vYebR1H1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1db9hNlbUstRWukCe26pxB9vYebR1H1)

I have found that it helps to "get the red out" first. Adjusted the color with a mixture of Hue/Sat, Color Balance and Color Variation to something more neutral. At that point the wall behind the tree was close to the major tone of most faces and I used it to clone and/or paint (with brush set to color and reduced opacity) all bluish and blown out spots.

Then I lowered the brightness of the image, added a layer mask and painted over only the overly white areas of clothing.
Then another Color Variation until I liked the overall tone. This, of course, is a matter of taste.

It could be done more precisely by taking more time for the painting. A larger resolution also might help. I was mostly interested in the sequence of the process, because I have lately been struggling with a number of very old images with bad discoloration.

Hope this helps.
Rita

[Daviskw]

All good renditions...but fun is fun...so here is my attempt.

The Christmas lights are sort of hokie...but what the heck.

Butch

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1ULM6h98k0sYB5RAJJ4e9Bw5Jt5bD0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1ULM6h98k0sYB5RAJJ4e9Bw5Jt5bD0)

[Ritage]

Butch,

what do you do to tone down large white areas?

I always find that one of the greatest problems, especially on B&W images. One thing I've tried is to just paint them with an off-white color on a new layer, but I've never been totally happy with any method.

I like your rendition.
Rita

[frank abramonte]

Butch, you win.

[Daviskw]

Thanks Ritage

I'm afraid there is no good way... if the area is blown all you can do is clone or manually add detail.

Sometimes I will use a healing brush and set the source on an area that is not blown. This will transfer the luminosity but not color if the area is blown. Then you can use a color layer to add color.

I often use that technique on a face with large areas of blown highlights. I temporarily change to B&W by either desaturating a duplicate layer or a B&W adjustment layer... then add grey to match surrounding luminosity on a separate layer. I then delete the temporary B&W layer and use the healing brush to transfer the pores. Finally a layer set to color... sample good adjacent color and paint over the grey... New skin

Butch

[Daviskw]

Thanks frank...but I'm not so sure that is true..lol

[Tom K]

One thing that you might try is to add an levels adjustment layer then
below the histogram you will see the output sliders.. the one on the right
represents 255 (white) if you move the down to 245 or so then the maximum white will be toned down... Tom :)

[Ritage]

Butch,

I'll experiment with that at the next opportunity. Have tried the healing brush before, but not with those extra steps you describe.

And I agree, you won!

Tom,

Is that what those output sliders are for? I'm ashamed to say, I never knew!
Will try that, too.

Thanks to both of you. Rita

[Mom's Fotos]

WOW!! You people are amazing. As a newcomer to Photoshop and to the "Village", I'm blown away by your willingness to help and take on a challenge. I'm relieved to know that several found this picture to be a challenge as I was so frustrated with my limited abilities. Now I feel justified that it was a difficult project to begin with. Perhaps I'll move on to simpler things and develop some skills. I appreciate the advice although I admit I didn't understand all of it. However, thanks again for you help everyone!! :D