Restoring old photos: I do photo restoration for our small local museum and have Nik software that I use with PSE 11. However, I wonder if any of you have suggestions for other...

balexander101 Loc: Occoquan VA

I do photo restoration for our small local museum and have Nik software that I use with PSE 11. However, I wonder if any of you have suggestions for other software packages that might have specialized tools?

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I checked the "watch" button for this topic.

After watching a few YouTubes, I tried putting some color back in a scanned 46 year old wedding photo. My success was limited! I have a book full of photos left.

Photoman74 Loc: Conroe Tx

PSE is a short version of PS.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

balexander101 wrote:

I do photo restoration for our small local museum and have Nik software that I use with PSE 11. However, I wonder if any of you have suggestions for other software packages that might have specialized tools?

Almost 10 years ago I got involved with doing photo restoration. This was through the luck of finding a really well written book on the subject and a local camera store which showed an interest in my new skills. It was also what got me involved with using Photoshop. Here's a link to the very first restoration project the camera store gave me.

http://www.malarz.com/services/as/index.html

This was subsequently published in the next edition of the same book that gave me the foundation and knowledge to even think about doing something like this. I'm not saying other applications wouldn't have worked as well, but I started with PS and have stayed with it through CS6. However, that's where I'm staying, as I am not joining them in the cloud.
--Bob

HangtownGal Loc: Placerville CA

rmalarz wrote:

Almost 10 years ago I got involved with doing phot... (show quote)

One heck of a first project!!! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

HangtownGal wrote:

One heck of a first project!!! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Thanks for the compliment. I wrote to the author of the book I read before starting this project. Well, almost read, I had 3 chapters left to go.

All in all it took 3 weeks, and 32 layers to complete. I sent the author a note regarding the work reading the book allowed me to accomplish. That was when 9 months later I was asked to submit that for possible publication in the next edition. It was included.
--Bob

Bill Houghton Loc: New York area

rmalarz wrote:

Thanks for the compliment. I wrote to the author of the book I read before starting this project. Well, almost read, I had 3 chapters left to go.

All in all it took 3 weeks, and 32 layers to complete. I sent the author a note regarding the work reading the book allowed me to accomplish. That was when 9 months later I was asked to submit that for possible publication in the next edition. It was included.
--Bob

I hate to tell you rmalara, that not photo restoration, that's photo Resurrection. And tell me how you knew he was in a Kolar tub not and American Standard.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Bill Houghton wrote:

I hate to tell you rmalara, that not photo restoration, that's photo Resurrection. And tell me how you knew he was in a Kolar tub not and American Standard.

Thanks for the compliment. I hadn't thought of it in that manner. Perhaps resurrection is more appropriate.

Actually, I didn't know and to this day still don't. The important thing was the client was thrilled with the results.
-Bob

Here's another one I did just as an exercise. It was sent to me by one of the authors of the edition of the book in which the bathtub photo appeared.

http://www.malarz.com/services/sailor/index.html

--Bob

HangtownGal Loc: Placerville CA

rmalarz wrote:

Thanks for the compliment. I hadn't thought of it in that manner. Perhaps resurrection is more appropriate.

Actually, I didn't know and to this day still don't. The important thing was the client was thrilled with the results.
-Bob

Here's another one I did just as an exercise. It was sent to me by one of the authors of the edition of the book in which the bathtub photo appeared.

http://www.malarz.com/services/sailor/index.html

--Bob

Your work is quite impressive. And looks like you spend a lot of time on each photo. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

HangtownGal wrote:

Your work is quite impressive. And looks like you spend a lot of time on each photo. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Thanks again. I appreciate your compliment. The sailor didn't take near as long as the bathtub photo. The bathtub was a matter of a few hours each day for about 3 weeks. Remember it was also the first one I tried. The sailor photo was a matter of several hours. A few before I had left for work and the remaining when I returned home. However, they are hours of intense concentration.
--Bob

balexander101 Loc: Occoquan VA

Your work is amazing Malarz! I would love to read the book you used to get started...would you mind giving me the book's title and author?

Clauz Loc: MA

Here is one book that I can recommend for you. There are probably new editions out, but this person is great.
Photoshop Restoration and retouching by KATRIN EISMANN.
I bought min in Barnes and Nobrl, but Im sure you can get it on Amazon also.
Clauz

balexander101 Loc: Occoquan VA

Thank you so much Clauz!

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

balexander101 wrote:

Your work is amazing Malarz! I would love to read the book you used to get started...would you mind giving me the book's title and author?

It was the very book that Clauz recommended. "Photoshop Restoration and Retouching" Katrin Eismann with Wayne Palmer. ISBN 0-321-31627-4.
--Bob

balexander101 Loc: Occoquan VA

Thank you for a quick reply!