Rongnongno Loc: FL

Color Restoration

This is what I am currently working on as a challenge

I have been reading countless internet pages, watched videos from the wow! to the absurd and finally realized that the Restoration is a complex affair that is basically a specialty. Still I want to learn how do achieve a minimal acceptable Restoration.

First off I was looking for a way to create a layer using a complementary color. This did work some but I struggled with finding the right color. I knew there were some plug-in that acted like a color wheel. I found a few that were all good but I still find them empiric. I gave up on that.

Totally by chance, reading an article in the printed press, I was exposed to color bias through the eyes of a painter. That made me search using a different tack and immediately found two things, the first being that I was an ass for not exploiting Adobe resources, a partial answer is there and the two others are so simple...

First step to color restoration is to find the color bias and negate it. The precess used is not really evident but it works adequately. I still have to work some kinks like what blending to chose and the luminosity but that will not take too long.

First off
open a file to restore
Do not make any adjustment if you open as RAW
Switch the image color mode to 16 bits

Create a background duplicate (CTRL-J)
Rename it. I use color bias correction.
Create a layer group, call it whatever. I use 'color bias'.
Place the background copy into the layer group. Note it will be destroyed.
Select blending mode to color
Create a level adjustment layer
Check each channel to see WHERE the color bias lies. The difference between the channels should jump out to your eyes.
Select the 'offending' channel.
Use the sliders on both sides -sometime you need only one slider- so that it reaches out the first active area of the histogram.
Right there you will notice a dramatic change
If you want to eye-ball the skin tone right ahead but I would not suggest it, just yet as what you are really doing is finding the gray tone and we are not yet done with this.

Merge layers Rename the result. I use Step 1 channel correction.
Make a new layer copy, select it.
Select filter, blur, average
You now get a single color
Press CTRL-I to invert it.
This creates it exact inverse in the color wheel, no guessing.
Select blend mode Color
Using the opacity slider, move it all the way to the left
Slide the cursor to the right slowly (or use the keypad arrows) until you achieve a result that pleases you.
Compare the images to check if you like the result.
Create an adjustment level
Find the white point

This is a far as I have gone at the moment.
Note that I created actions as I go along so that it speeds up my process.

Please comment.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Tip in finding a white spot...

I use this process to find white:
I create a brightness / contrast layer
Dial down the brightness to -100
Whatever is left white is usually so
Using the magnifier I zero onto the area I will select
I select the level layer (in this case)
I select the 'highlight' probe and click on the white area created
I zoom out, check the results after brightness / contrast layer
If satisfied I select the brightness layer and delete it.

Pure white just like that, no guessing.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Damned I don't want you to eat the damned thing!!! :shock:

:oops: :oops: :oops:


:thumbdown: on spelling

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Samples

Old ektachrome


After corrections used here

charryl Loc: New Mexico, USA

Thanks for this post! Extremely useful and helpful. I knew all the information but had never put it together. Thank you, thank you.

chikid68 Loc: Tennesse USA

great information especially since I have a lot of old family photos that will really benefit from restoration .