Historic Photo Restoration
A photographic print generally known as a photo is the positive of an image printed on a paper sheet, coated with a surface of silver nitrate and gelatin mixture. The image is created due to the responsiveness of silver nitrate to light. The main reason for imperfections in old prints vary from fading of the photo to physical damage. However, photo restoration techniques using Photoshop elements can be used to improve a photo. Image editing tools are used to reduce the flaws and fix other imperfections in old photos and make them look like a new and original photo.
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Removing Edge Imperfections
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The most common imperfections in old photos are physical damage, occurring along the edges of the photographs. If these areas are not essential to the photo, crop the edges to remove these imperfections. However, if edges are an essential part of the original look of the photograph, then use different photo restoration techniques to improve the quality of the photograph.
Dust Removal
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As time passes and the photograph continues to get exposed to the environment, dust particles and particulate matters like animal fur, cloth fibers, etc. tend to stick to the surface of the photograph, making the original image look spotted and blurry. Image restoration can be carried out using the Photoshop editing tools like patch, clone stamp, healing brush, blur, burn/dodge, feather, magic wand, dust and scratches, noise filter, sponge, etc.
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Restoring Original Shade
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Old pictures often fade due to the reaction of air pollutants and sunlight, with the silver and paper backing. However, image restoration can be carried out by creating levels adjustment layers. The individual color levels are adjusted using the tonal values of the color channels (red, blue and green).
Repairing Damaged Parts
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Imperfections in old photos may occur due to careless handling or improper conservation of the photograph, resulting in cracks, scratches, tears, holes, added texts or stamps. The extent of image restoration depends mainly on the kind of damage done. Often, repairs are done using one or a combination of two to three different photo restoration techniques. Usually, the damaged portion on a photograph is replaced with the undamaged portion of the same spot (taken from an undamaged copy of the same photograph), using the copy/paste option. After this, use the healing brush or clone stamp tool to provide an even tone to the image or to cover up small damaged areas on the photograph.
Sharpening the Image
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Image sharpening is required to make blurred or hazy spots on a photo look clear and sharp. The haziness appears when certain pixels in an image are too far apart. Use the "Unsharp mask" filter and crop tool to push together two adjoining pixels.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Road / vintade photo / made with photoshop from my own resources image by Taiga from Fotolia.com
