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Restoring old photos question
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Feb 19, 2019 10:53:39   #
GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI
 
Anvil wrote:
I did this by scanning the photos, using the best resolution my scanner could give me. Then, I'd use Lightroom to work on them. I was surprised how much detail I could coax out of those old photos, especially the old black and white ones. Sometimes, if the photo was an old color shot from the 60s, the shot would have that typical, annoying red color cast. Usually, I'd be able to remove that, in Lightroom, but, once in a while, I found the photo looked better when converting to black and white. I know I could have done much more in Photoshop, but I had quite a few pictures to edit, and I didn't want to spend too much time on one photo.
I did this by scanning the photos, using the best ... (show quote)


This is exactly what I did and I was very happy with the results!!

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Feb 19, 2019 10:54:34   #
Gort55 Loc: Northern Colorado
 
lwhitlow wrote:
I am looking at restoring some old family photos and looking for suggestions as the best way to do this. I have a Canon EOS 5D Mark III camera with a 100mm lens. Is it better to scan the photos into the computer to work on it or is it better to photograph the photos to put into the computer to work on. Any tips and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am planning on using PS for the PP, but listening to any other suggestions, also. If you know of any websites, etc. that would help with the steps for this process that would be greatly appreciated. My knowledge of PS is not great, but slowly improving with use. Thank you in advance.
I am looking at restoring some old family photos a... (show quote)


May I suggest a great book on the subject? Adobe Restoration and Retouching, Eisman, Palmer & Dunbar
It not only shows you how to restore/retouch old photos, but introduces you to the many tools that Photoshop offers.

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Feb 19, 2019 10:55:54   #
GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI
 
DirtFarmer wrote:
I suspect you'll get better resolution with a scanner than a camera.
The scanner will not have aspect problems since it's got a flat plate for the photo (no keystone problems to correct).
The only real problem is if your photos are in an album and are not removable.

If you have large photos to restore (8x10 or larger) the camera is probably the better choice.

Much of the restoration can be done in Lightroom if the photos are not too faded, cracked, or otherwise damaged. The advantage there is that you can add keywords and identify individuals in the photo which will be saved in the metadata. Photoshop will be useful if you want to add more documentation to the photo (overlay names, places, and/or events).

You might consider something like the below examples for group shots. The outlines were created by edge detection on the photo. Details in the faces were erased and replaced with the index numbers. The text was generated separately. All of this was combined in Photoshop. The names were blurred for privacy but just for this example.
I suspect you'll get better resolution with a scan... (show quote)


Love this idea!

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Feb 19, 2019 12:15:31   #
nadelewitz Loc: Ithaca NY
 
Why are people using the term "restoring" when what you all are talking about is digitizing a continuous-tone print?

Digitizing isn't "restoring". It's copying and saving in a completely different form.

"Restoring" is what's done by museum conservators and others to try to repair an aged or damaged print.

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Feb 19, 2019 12:18:50   #
DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA
 
nadelewitz wrote:
Why are people using the term "restoring" when what you all are talking about is digitizing a continuous-tone print?

Digitizing isn't "restoring". It's copying and saving in a completely different form.

"Restoring" is what's done by museum conservators and others to try to repair an aged or damaged print.


Digitization is frequently the first step in home restoration of damaged images.

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Feb 19, 2019 12:23:05   #
chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA
 
lwhitlow wrote:
Thank you very much for your input. I use LR a lot, too and am more familiar with that than PS, so may use it instead.


I've done alot of this-type work and find PS invaluable, especially the healing brush and its colleagues, like the patch tool, under that set of tools (plenty of YouTube vids on the different tools). It is *much* better than Lightroom's version (...and, hey, maybe you don't have to switch between them for every photo, right?!). The process to move between the two programs is as simple as a right click and select where you want to edit...then make sure to save the results into a PSD (which will go to the original folder, you may never have another use for it!) and then go back to LR and there it is in your filmstrip. VERY handy! I usually scan, but have had to photograph at times, you want the best results you can get so highest res camera is optimum, scan at 6400 dpi but it'll take awhile (I'll drop it to 3200 depending on the subject matter on occasion). Much luck to you, this is very rewarding work!

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Feb 19, 2019 12:25:53   #
nadelewitz Loc: Ithaca NY
 
DirtFarmer wrote:
Digitization is frequently the first step in home restoration of damaged images.


Like I said, digitizing is not restoring. It's changing the nature of the medium entirely.

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Feb 19, 2019 12:47:33   #
John Maher Loc: Northern Virginia
 
What is the max resolution of a photograph? Somewhere, I read that there was nothing to be gained by scanning a photo image beyond 600 DPI . This has nothing to do with the size of the photo, but rather the resolution of the image on the paper.

With a slide or negative, I understand one can go much higher.

I am just getting started and use an Epson V550.

Does anyone have a reference validating the 600 DPI max for scanning photograph (paper) images?

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Feb 19, 2019 12:48:44   #
chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA
 
John Maher wrote:
What is the max resolution of a photograph? Somewhere, I read that there was nothing to be gained by scanning a photo image beyond 600 DPI . This has nothing to do with the size of the photo, but rather the resolution of the image on the paper.

With a slide or negative, I understand one can go much higher.

I am just getting started and use an Epson V550.

Does anyone have a reference validating the 600 DPI max for scanning photograph (paper) images?


...I'd be interested in the feedback, too!

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Feb 19, 2019 13:15:02   #
coolhanduke Loc: Redondo Beach, CA
 
I owned a photo lab for almost 20 years and have done hundreds of restorations.

Scanning the photos with a fairly good scanner would be your best solution because the photo would lay flat and there would be no reflections to deal with like with a copy stand and digital camera.

I have an Epson V750 Pro. you want to be able to scan at 300 dpi at least. Some scanner software offers auto color correction to save you a lot of work.

I have a Mac and use a plug-in called Macphun creative kit. Its a cloning tool that does a great job of cloning out cracks and spots.

Feel free to message me if you would like more info.

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Feb 19, 2019 13:19:32   #
nadelewitz Loc: Ithaca NY
 
John Maher wrote:
What is the max resolution of a photograph? Somewhere, I read that there was nothing to be gained by scanning a photo image beyond 600 DPI . This has nothing to do with the size of the photo, but rather the resolution of the image on the paper.

With a slide or negative, I understand one can go much higher.

I am just getting started and use an Epson V550.

Does anyone have a reference validating the 600 DPI max for scanning photograph (paper) images?


I just experienced something interesting. My first effort at scanning a black & white 8x10 print at 600dpi with my Canon Pixma MG5420 and printing on the same (inkjet) to 8x10.

The original print and the inkjet output are indistinguishable! I expected to see pixels, but the inkjet print under a magnifier looks the same as the grain of the original.

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Feb 19, 2019 13:41:13   #
lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA
 
lwhitlow wrote:
I am looking at restoring some old family photos and looking for suggestions as the best way to do this. I have a Canon EOS 5D Mark III camera with a 100mm lens. Is it better to scan the photos into the computer to work on it or is it better to photograph the photos to put into the computer to work on. Any tips and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am planning on using PS for the PP, but listening to any other suggestions, also. If you know of any websites, etc. that would help with the steps for this process that would be greatly appreciated. My knowledge of PS is not great, but slowly improving with use. Thank you in advance.
I am looking at restoring some old family photos a... (show quote)


I've done it both ways, by scanner and by copying with a camera. I've also copied negatives and slides by scanner and also using a camera on tripod with a light box. A 100mm lens for a FF sounds good, especially if it were a macro lens.

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Feb 19, 2019 13:55:26   #
Maik723
 
lwhitlow wrote:
I am looking at restoring some old family photos and looking for suggestions as the best way to do this. I have a Canon EOS 5D Mark III camera with a 100mm lens. Is it better to scan the photos into the computer to work on it or is it better to photograph the photos to put into the computer to work on. Any tips and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am planning on using PS for the PP, but listening to any other suggestions, also. If you know of any websites, etc. that would help with the steps for this process that would be greatly appreciated. My knowledge of PS is not great, but slowly improving with use. Thank you in advance.
I am looking at restoring some old family photos a... (show quote)


Scan is the best way. I have an Epson Surecolor 550. Perfect for scanning photos to restore. However, I use import into LR to do initial editing, then import into Affinity Photo to refine editing to professional taste. Then save back to LR as tiff and print.

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Feb 19, 2019 14:56:51   #
lwhitlow
 
fetzler wrote:
I have done both. With a camera use a copy stand with even light. A scanner will also work well and may provide more pixels. For black and white photos that are sepia or faded to yellow select the blue channel you could use a dark blue filter as well. The filter is very dark and you will need a black cloth over your head to see. You will need a right angle finder or an articulated screen. Indeed consider a field monitor.

For large works (e.g. Paintings), I have used an easel that allows the front to be vertical. THe challenge is to get everything straight. Your lens should be dead center and level. Use a macro lens the 40 &60 mm micro Nikkors would be great. You can make a "panorama" of a large painting by moving the camera or painting. This is difficult to do precisely.
I have done both. With a camera use a copy stand ... (show quote)


Thank you for your information.

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Feb 19, 2019 14:58:46   #
lwhitlow
 
Gort55 wrote:
May I suggest a great book on the subject? Adobe Restoration and Retouching, Eisman, Palmer & Dunbar
It not only shows you how to restore/retouch old photos, but introduces you to the many tools that Photoshop offers.


Thank you, I will definitely look into the book!!

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