How to Fix Torn Photos in Adobe Photoshop

When an old photograph becomes torn, we no longer need to search for the original negative to print a new picture. Adobe Photoshop can be used to repair it. This is especially helpful for old family historical photographs, where no negatives are available. This will also work for photographs originally created from a digital file, and the file has since been deleted or lost.

Instructions

1. 

   Scan the torn photograph to create a digital file, such as a JPEG. When you lay the photograph on the scanner glass, position the paper so the seam of the tear fits together as closely as possible.

2. 

   Open the digital file you created in Photoshop. After a quick look at our sample photograph, it doesn't seem to have a tear. This indicates the seam was pressed together when scanned.

3. 

   Zoom in to view the torn area. Although the image appears to be corrected, the tear is still visible if you look closely. Before printing the photograph, you want to edit the area. To zoom in, click on the "Zoom Tool" located in the vertical tool bar to the left of the screen. When the magnifying glass has a "+," it will zoom in. If it has a "-," it will zoom out.

4. 

   Choose the "Patch Tool" from the vertical tool bar to the left of the screen. To choose, move the cursor over the "Patch Tool" link and left click with your mouse.

5. 

   Circle an area of the torn section. Repair the tear, one section at a time. Draw a circle around an area of the tear that is a similar color to either side of the tear. Notice the cursor now looks like the "Patch Tool" which you selected in the Step 4. To draw around the torn area, hold the left mouse button down as you move around the area. Release the mouse button when you reach the starting point. A dotted line will appear around the area you are editing.

6. 

   Place the cursor in the middle of the encircled area. Press the left button of the mouse down, and drag the encircled area to the right or left. The idea is to move it to an area of a similar color and look.

7. 

   Release the button and the editing lines will vanish. The area you originally encircled has been repaired. Move onto the next torn area, and repeat until the tear has completely vanished.

8. 

   Save the digital image by using "Save As" and giving the file a new name. This will allow you to keep the original image along with the edited version.

References

• Photoshop