How to Digitally Restore Old Photos or Paintings

Do you have old or defaced photographs “hanging” around?

The cost of taking these to a professional restorer could be huge!

It is not as difficult as you might think, to do the work yourself, using a scanner and computer photo editing program.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer
• Scanner
• Printer
• Photo Editing Software
• Patience
• A Steady Hand

1. TAKE THE TIME TO LEARN about the “tools” available in your scanner and photo editing program.
   
   PRACTICE BASIC PROCEDURES and techniques, particularly the clone function of your editing program, as well as paintbrush and the all important “undo” feature.
   
   LEARN HOW TO PAINT COLORS specific to your photo with a “shift” and “left click” function.

2. SCAN YOUR ARTWORK.
   
   For your first try, work with a PHOTO SIZE that can be easily scanned on a typical home computer scanner.
   
   SCAN IN THE HIGHEST RESOLUTION your scanner provides, and in color. Preview the scan to make sure you have the entire photo within the borders. Adjust settings and placement as necessary.

3. SAVE THE SCAN into your computer in bitmap or jpeg format.

4. 
   Two examples showing original photo and repair. *See magnification below

   BEGIN EDITING by “cloning out,” or replacing the deteriorated sections of your artwork.
   
   Cloning is the segment of the editing process that requires the most time, care, and precise attention to detail. To see results right away, begin with the most glaring problems and gradually refine. As with the other tool functions of good editing software, the clone brush can be adjusted to various stages of opacity. This feature enables you to copy exactly, which leaves a sharp contrast for the edges of the selection; or less dense, with a hazy, more gently blending effect. If you choose the softer effect, you can come back with a small paintbrush tool and fill in individual pixels with specific matching color.

5. 
   Magnification shows blemishes near lips that are not visible in scan

   Magnify your picture until you can see a close-up of the damaged area. *Notice in this photo the flaws on the cheek that are not visible in the above smaller picture.

6. Resize and shape a clone brush to the smallest to be easily workable, using the fewest “pixels” possible.
   
   Experiment with square or round brushes and different size brushes.
   
   Work with one small area at a time, refining and restoring until the modified element resembles the nearby pixels.

7. SAVE OFTEN, renaming each version for quick identification.

8. WORK WITH EACH AREA, until your desired result is achieved.
   
   Repeat the magnification and reduction of your photo as you work, to view results as a whole and in close-up.

9. For borders with a heavy black background, (for example, scanning an oval shaped photograph onto a rectangular canvas), use an enlarged clone brush to copy the visible background you want to reproduce.
   
   Or use a spray brush to fill that background area, blending into the edges of your subject, (tricky).
   
   Or simply cut your finished photo in the original shape to eliminate the black border.

10. Print the restored artwork on your home printer, using your printer’s best settings, and high quality photo paper; or take a saved copy to your local printer.
    
    The results will be well worth your time and effort.
    
    WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO LOSE?

Tips & Warnings

• I use Paint Shop Pro for editing, but any good photo editing software will do. Make sure you purchase software that has multiple functions and ratings for user friendliness.
• Practice, Practice, Practice.
• Save the original scan with a unique name, and store in a safe place on your computer. Save a practice copy with a different name and do not worry about messing it up.
• Paintings can be restored in the same way.
• If your painting (or photo) is too large for your scanner, scan in sections. Then resize and copy each onto a blank canvas using the photo editing software. You can edit out where the edges come together.

[callylilly]

on 5/3/2009 Great tips on How to Digitally Restore Old Photos. It is very rewarding.

[jujudy]

on 5/3/2009 Great article. I have had the very rewarding opportunity to restore some old family photographs using PhotoShop. It takes time, but it is well worth it. 5*

[greatnews]

on 5/1/2009 Great article on How to Digitally Restore Old Photos or Paintings! 5 *'s