Old photo retouch HELP!!!

[SCRAPPYGIRL]

Can anyone tell me how to make this photo look better. I'm mainly interested in the little girl on the left (in white dress). She will be celebrating her 60th birthday in August and I am want to use this photo of her on her party invitation. (BTW-the one on the right is yours truly).



[img=http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/3229/lindacarolatzoo6ga.jpg] (http://imageshack.us)

[kayser]

Carol- your link isn't working! (I'm sure someone else will help but I want to see your picture as a little girl!)

[SCRAPPYGIRL]

sorry that didn't work. Lets try this one

[img=http://img318.imageshack.us/img318/7214/lindacarolatzoo6hu.th.jpg] (http://img318.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lindacarolatzoo6hu.jpg)

[Wendy]

Carol ...

Is that the full sized image or did you scale it down ?

If you do have a larger one then it may be better to post it ...

Wendy

[SCRAPPYGIRL]

Wendy,
Yes I did scale it a bit. I'll re-scan and post again.

[Wendy]

Thank Carol ...

I'll take a look at it :)

Wendy

[SCRAPPYGIRL]

Wendy,
Here it is with being cropped

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/5918/lindacarolatzoo25jp.th.jpg (http://img76.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lindacarolatzoo25jp.jpg)

[Wendy]

Hi Carol ...

Ummm ... its very small.

What resolution did you scan it at ?? :)

Wendy

[SCRAPPYGIRL]

I scanned at 600dpi

[Wendy]

Hi Carol ...

Did you resize it using save for web or is this one straight from the scanner ? :)

Wendy

[SCRAPPYGIRL]

I did resize to save for web, because I thought it would be to large- the deminsions before I resized were:
W- 897
H - 1362
% - 100

Under the picture said the following
JPEG
875.9k
312sec@28.8kbps

[SCRAPPYGIRL]

Here it is just as scanned - without resizing for web

http://img447.imageshack.us/img447/8731/lindacarolatzoo39ys.th.jpg (http://img447.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lindacarolatzoo39ys.jpg)

[Wendy]

Hi Carol ...

If you still have that version then try posing it ... that should have a little more detail in it and it may be possible to do something with it :)

Wendy

[Hamlet 77]

Can I mention here that recently any links that are on imageshack are creating a number of pop ups and links that my computer firewall and antispam etc does not like very much.

I would like to know a) If other forum members are having the same 'fun' with imageshack and b) Why is it doing it if imageshack is so innocent.

[Wendy]

Hamlet ...

I don't use Image Shack because of that ... I tend to use Pixentral. No pop ups from there :)

Wendy

[SCRAPPYGIRL]

Wendy,
I think we were posting at the same time earlier. Anyway - here is the photo without any resizing what-so-ever

http://img447.imageshack.us/img447/8731/lindacarolatzoo39ys.th.jpg (http://img447.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lindacarolatzoo39ys.jpg)

[Wendy]

Hi Carol ...

I suspect that the original photograph is low resolution too so there isn't going to be a great deal you can do .. but have straightened it up, adjusted the levels and removed a few spots:

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1R0yDXkM6aHncn5hIVXKOM8nuAEgsX

I left it full sized it you want to download it ... I did have a thought that maybe if you use the Wedding Template tutorial on it with a few suitable words. That may look good .. and its certainly worth experimenting with it :)

Wendy

[Hamlet 77]

Wendy,

that brings me on to my other whinge... does anyone else find that pixentral takes an absolute age to load a page, I know my computer is old (ish) but I have never had any link or page that takes so long to load as pixentral.

[Wendy]

Hamlet ...

Its either pop up or slow loading ... we can't win :eek: :D :D :D

Wendy

[SCRAPPYGIRL]

Thanks Wendy,
I'll see what I can do with it

[Wendy]

Hi Carol ...

Do let us see your image when it is finished :)

Wendy

[crljean]

Sorry I can't help. Just wanted to say I love the photo. Ah, for those days when we wore little plaid dresses with ruffles instead of belly shirts and tattoos! (Shows my age, I guess.)

[Wendy]

Jean ...

The dresses were just so much nicer :)

Wendy

[Daviskw]

Hello Carol

I did this very fast and I know the colors are wrong but I wanted to give you an idea that a little colorizing can increase the appearance of detail anyway.

Butch

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/479/royvernon11nv.th.jpg (http://img511.imageshack.us/my.php?image=royvernon11nv.jpg)

[Mac User]

Butch, that is so cute! You're so good at all of this.

[Wendy]

Hi Butch ...

Oh that is nice !! You have done a great job on it and it really does enhance it.

Funny thing is that I've just finished a tut on colourising images using gradients maps. When I get back from holiday on the 28th I will send it in for posting :)

Wendy

[SCRAPPYGIRL]

Butch,
Wow thanks for this. Can you tell me how you did it?

No one will ever know if the colors are correct or not. My sister and I don't even remember having the photo taken and any one else who would know the dress colors, are now with our Lord. That being said, I think the colors you have used are quite lovely and it sure does make the photo stand out.

Thanks again for all your help!

[Daviskw]

Hi Carol

I used gradient mapping to colorize. Wendy is going to post a tutorial on using gradient maps. I think she will do a much better job explaining then me.

But let me just get started a little. Gradient mapping sounds complicated but it is really easy.

One way to colorize is to pick a flesh tone, open a blank layer set to the color mode and paint over the black and white picture. This works pretty good but often does not represent the different shades of flesh tone in shaded areas. Now if you picked three tones, one for highlights, one for shadows and one for the mid tones and tried to paint on blank layers set to color mode it would end up a mess. This is where a gradient map works well. You set the foreground to a light tone then background to a shadow and after you open the Gradient Map adjustment layer, set to color mode, you add the mid tone in the middle of the gradient. This will apply all three tones according to the luminosity values in the face of the black and white picture. Then you invert the mask and paint the tone on the face.

Grass often has yellow, light green and dark green. You can set up a gradient map with those colors and colorized grass looks real and vibrant.

I used maps for the clothes, grass, dirt,hair, and flesh tones.

This process needs a step by step tutorial and I can’t wait to see Wendy’s

Butch

[Stringbean]

[QUOTE=Daviskw]Hello Carol

I did this very fast and I know the colors are wrong but I wanted to give you an idea that a little colorizing can increase the appearance of detail anyway.

Butch

Butch, I’m curious to know how you coloured the faces of the little girls. I have a couple of very old faded pictures that would benefit if I changed them to colour but I hesitate to tackle this because I’m not sure how to do skin tones.

[Daviskw]

Hi there

I try to find pictures of the same people if I can. If not then the same family. If that is not possible then any picture with good flesh tones. Then I sample them and use the gradient mapping or just the blank layer set to color mode. Or a solid color adjustment layer.

One thing to remember, when you first start colorizing the color may not look right. But once you get the picture filled with color around the faces it looks much better. I use adjustment layer when I can so I can adjust the tone later.

Butch

[Stringbean]

Thank you Butch. I will have to check up how to sample flesh tones and also the gradient map. :)

[wendy kelly budd]

Butch,
I've been trying to follow the instructions on using a gradient to colorize and I get lost at "you add the mid tone in the middle of the gradient." in the instructions. Can you tell me where/how to add a mid tone in the middle?

Wendy,
I noticed you posted links to tut's, but I didn't see the promised follow up. Any chance you could get one soon?

Thanks to both of you. I started colorizing a wedding photo of my mom, using the long way. It was a fun project. However, it was also therapeutic. My mom passed away a month ago and taking the time to work on a photo of her somehow connected me to her. As I worked on the photo, I thought of her life at that time. I noticed for the first time, the hope & happiness in her eyes. Aren't our old family photos the very best photos? No wonder that the most grabbed item in a fire is that box of old photos.

Well, sorry I went on about this. But thank you both.

[Shari]

That is a lovely story Wendy. My Mom passed away a year and a half ago and left a token for each of us children. With mine I bought my first digital camera. Mom always took polaroids and kept up family albums which were always sitting out for one to browse through. I knew she would be happy I bought the camera and I am always thinking of her and talking to her when I work on photos. Of course this little hobby has turned into a lot of pleasure - finding this site and constantly learning. My Mom loved nature and flowers and I just wish I had been able to send her some of my cards - although I know she does see them.
Shari

[Daviskw]

Hi WendyKB

Say I want to colorize the field in example #1 with green grass and yellow flower heads. It would be very hard to do one layer and color at a time but with a gradient map it can be done easily.

http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/6205/meadow18nu.th.jpg (http://img113.imageshack.us/my.php?image=meadow18nu.jpg)
click Example #1


A gradient map will apply colors in the gradient according to the luminosity in the black and white picture. Looking at the picture the flower heads are the brightest in the field almost white and the grass shadows the darkest. So I want a yellow for brightest values and a dark green for the shadow values. That would do but to make things more realistic I will choose a third color, a mid green. I could add as many colors as I want but three will do most of the time.

Here are the colors I decided on;

Background box color Yellow…R 233, G 225, B 64

Foreground box color Dark Green…R 28, G 47, B 16

The third color I just write down the value and we will enter it later
Third color…Mid Green…R 155, G 168, B 80

Now with the Yellow and Dark green in the color boxes I open a Gradient Map Adjustment layer setting the mode to color. If the field is too dark then the colors need to be reversed, click the reverse check box in the gradient dialog box. Now that does not look too bad the whole picture is colored but we will use the mask in a minute to apply only where we want. But to use the third color click on the gradient bar in the dialog box, this brings up the editor.

Click below the gradient bar approximately at the center. Then click on the color box, this will bring up the color picker. Enter the Mid green values in the RGB boxes. Then click OK twice to apply the gradient.

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/9796/meadow22ug.th.jpg (http://img352.imageshack.us/my.php?image=meadow22ug.jpg)
click Example #2

Now we will invert the mask by pressing <Ctrl ><I> to fill the mask with black and hide the gradient adjustment.

Now set the foreground color to white, choose a brush and paint in the meadow colors.

http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/2061/meadow35jw.th.jpg (http://img113.imageshack.us/my.php?image=meadow35jw.jpg)
click Example #3

Where the field colors in the black and white picture are bright, like the flower heads, a yellow will be assigned. Where the colors are dark, a dark green will be assigned. Then mid green will fill in between.

You can adjust the color stops along the gradient if needed to change the color assignments. I moved the mid point color towards the right to separate the yellow flower heads more.

If needed group a levels or Hue/saturation layer to the gradient map adjustment layer to fine tune the colors.

The ability to add more than one color and to adjust them after placement is the advantage of using gradient maps.

You can use as many maps as needed when the picture will benefit.

Butch

[wendy kelly budd]

Butch,
Thanks, I've worked on your photo for quite a while. I need more practice, but it's very rewarding! Question: when I "Click below the gradient bar aproximately at the center." it adds a Stop point, is that okay?

[wendy kelly budd]

Shari,
Thanks for your words. Buying a digital camera was a perfect way to carry on Mom's traditions. I just took a walk through your Gallery. I know your mom is smiling. Please tell me you have been working in PSE for longer than just 1 1/2 years? You have some excellent shots! The tulips are stunning.

Are the children your kids? They are georgous!

[Daviskw]

Hi WendyKB

Yes, the adding of a stop is as it should be. After the stop is added you need to click on the color box to assign the third color to it. The stop indicates the point on the gradient where the assigned color for that stop is at its maximum. If you click on the stop you will see little diamonds on either side. They indicate the point at which the transition starts from one color to another. You can also move the diamonds to adjust color.

Sometimes I miss a stop box when adjusting and accidentally make another stop. If that should happened just click and drag the extra stop off the board.

Butch

[Shari]

Hi Wendy, Thanks. The photos of the children were taken when we went on a cruise through the Panama Canal last October. I love taking photos of children and I was not fortunate enough to have any of my own. Wendy I have really only been trying techniques and working this programme for the past six months or so. I did join and then I didn't get around to really using it. When I did start - it is soooo addictive. I am here every spare moment. My work is easy stuff. There are some people who are self-taught with very professional looking work after a short time. (Robyn, Terry, Nancy, Diana - just to name a few). A lot of what I read here is way over my head. I am just now starting to understand some of the steps I take. I actually just tried the mask for the first time today. I do have a very good book - I just don't take the time to sit down and read it. When we got back from our cruise I did get the Pro-Show slide show software and made a 40 minute slide show of our trip with music. Now that was fun and easy. Sorry I am babbling. Looking forward to seeing your work.
Shari