Suggestions for how to tackle this restoration problem

[Mary]

I am scanning a lot of pictures of this size type and era and many of them have this blue color - I am trying to work out a procedure so I can get rid of just the blue.

Any suggestions will be appreciated :)

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?pic=1J6qV6ux6hANA92bJSw0ajDYx5Fh90

[imported_admin]

Hi Mary,
Is the blue area on the image before it goes into the scanner or just after it comes out?

If you want a quick fix, you can click on Enhance >Adjust Color, then move the saturation slider all the way to the left. This will give you a black-and-white image. If you want to return it to sepia, click the Colorize box in the lower right corner. Then set the Hue slider to about 34.

If the blue is some sort of chemical reaction, it may have degraded the image. I can't exactly tell from the image, but it looks like there may be some loss of detail in the areas that were once blue.

Maybe someone else can help you with a more thorough fix.

Good luck!

[Mary]

Thank you Jan!!

The blue is there before it goes in the scanner and it must be chemical because when I remove the color there is just a smooth grey area - no texture to speak of. I have been doing as you suggested and then cloning in texture. It is very tedious but I can't think of any other way.

Thanks again

[Wendy]

Hi Mary,

Well I have done quite a bit of restoration but I have never seen anything like that ...

I downloaded the image but as it was fairly small it wasn't possible to see it in detail ... when you remove the blue is there no detail in those areas of the image at all or is it just a lighter colour than the surounding area?

If its a lighter colour then it is fixable but if there is no detail then patching , cloning etc are the only things I can think of. If you want me to take a look at it ... send me a private message and I will send you my email address.

Wendy

[Robmoore]

I've encountered that blue patchy color when I've scanned photos without removing them from the frame and glass. I think it's a reflection of the bulb in the scanner. I've had reasonably good luck removing it by using the change color command on a highly magnified view so I can color the various shades of blue back to the original colors.

Rob

[Mary]

Robmoore

I am still fussing with this problem so I read your post with great interest. Unfortunately these pictures were not in any frames and the blue is evident even before I scan. I think it must be some kind of chemical degradation or other reaction to something in storage.

I do a little every day and make some progress - that way I don't get too frustrated or end up hating the project.

[Robmoore]

How old are the photos? I have some 150 year old photographs that have turned completely blue but still show a lot of detail. I wonder if it's the same degradation process...

Rob

[Mary]

Good Morning Rob

Some dates handwritten on the backs are 1902, 1908 nothing older than 1909.

When I remove the blue color using Hue and Saturation the remaining areas are very flat and very very little texture.

I found a new book on restoration so I hope to pick up some new tricks and techniques.

[Robmoore]

Hi Mary,

You may be out of luck with this. There's only so much that PSE can do. If the information's not there it can't restore it... :(

Let me know how it goes. BTW, I'm looking for a really good book on Old photo restoration so if you find one, please let us know!

Rob

[Wendy]

Rob,

In my opinion the best book around for Photo Restoration is Photoshop Restoration and Retouching by Katrin Eismann.

She is brilliant ...


Wendy

[Robmoore]

Hi Wendy,

I'll have to give that one a try. I think I saw it at Fry's the other day but there were so MANY books about PSE that I wasn't sure which one to buy and didn't have time to browse them all.

Thanks,
Rob

[TonyW]

Rob,

In my opinion the best book around for Photo Restoration is Photoshop Restoration and Retouching by Katrin Eismann.

She is brilliant ...


Wendy

My copy just arrived and I've just started browsing it - it looks excellent. Thanks for the recommendation Wendy 8)

[Wendy]

Hi Tony,

I'm sure you will be please with the book ... I'm still finding out new things from it :)

Wendy