Hi all. I'm going to post three images here: the original, the image I was able to pull up using LAB mode and some other tricks that I'm not sure I could duplicate if my life depended on it, and my work in progress. I was going to try to get a little further before I posted, but I realize that there are so many things that I can't identify and can't remember how to do that I'd better get my experts on this before my mind either explodes or implodes. There are so many questions that I figured I would take a small break while fresh eyes go over this.
Here are my main issues:
Other than the older lady, the faces are only discernible in the B&W version. I can't remember how to colorize, so you're seeing the repaired young woman's face in B&W. I'd at least like to get feedback on my repair of her face. And I would appreciate it if someone would remind me how to get the color back. It totally eludes me.
At the left are several shapes, and I have no idea what they are. Is this one of those "repair them and don't worry about what they are" scenarios, or can someone identify them?
Does anyone recognize the purple object on the older woman's lap? There are also red splotches to her left (our right). Do they look like damage, or something specific in the photo?
I couldn't see a tube going to her nose on our right, but I've never seen an oxygen supplier that only has one tube. Should I try to add one to the other side?
The young woman's bolero has a bluish cast in places. It almost looks diaphanous and I'm not sure if the blue is the color of her dress showing through or if it's a blue cast that I should eliminate.
I can't tell what the pendant looks like on the chain around her neck. Suggestions?
Do you think the little girl's dress is multi-hued or one color that has been splotched by damage?
ORIGINAL
(http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n222/glennab-fla/OPR%202012%20To%20Post/BettassoOriginal-ToPost.jpg)
LAB "EXTRUSION"
(http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n222/glennab-fla/OPR%202012%20To%20Post/Bettasso-LAB-ToPost.jpg)
WORK IN PROGRESS
(http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n222/glennab-fla/OPR%202012%20To%20Post/BettassoJ-In-Progress-To-Post.jpg)
I'll leave the questions at that for the moment, but I'd appreciate any observations, critique, whatever you want to throw at me to help me complete this bear. If you see anything in the background of the LAB version, please let me know. I see two rectangles that could be windows or framed objects of some sort. Otherwise there's nothing in the background that I can identify other than the doorway that I've already re-created.
I know the WIP looks pretty flat. Once it's completed I'll work on shading and add grain.
Thanks so much.
GK
My observation.... you're either nuts for taking it or brave!! :loveit:
Holy mackerel! You're right. There is something in the woman's lap and it looks like a Siamese kitten. I think the red spots are damage and the little girl is wearing an aqua T-shirt and beige pants. You're also right about the oxygen tube.
You are a brave soul to attempt this one. It's the most difficult one I've seen yet.
Bambi
Glenna wrote: It appears that Flickr has instructions to embed html for your photo that will allow it to be shown on a page.
INDEED YOU CAN NOW POST FROM FLICKR. I use flickr all the time but didn't know this had changed.
Once uploaded, click on the picture you want to share. When the photo opens up grab the : Grab the HTML/BBCode
Simple and sweet.
hehe You are like me grabbing the crazy ones eh?
Good for you!
Ok, here I go. The grandmothers sweater/sweatshirt, with a white collared shirt underneath. I believe that is a Siamese cat on the front.
The young girls dress/shirt to me appears to me light blue color possibly solid.
The older girls sweater I think is just a thin off white that shows her dark dress underneath in some areas.
As far as where they are it looks to be a typical living room and the top of the shapes they are just framed art. The shapes are what seems to be damage.
Now the two colored walls are because it is an open floor plan design and the angle makes it appear as the same room however, they are at a corner wall in one area and the background differ color wall by the picture frames on the wall is further away is another room.
I hope that helps.
Well GK, I think this one will keep you off the streets and out of trouble for a long, long time. ;) This is really going to take some time with all the damage. Yes, the older woman is on oxygen and it looks like the damage took away some of the detail. I would add tubing to the other side.
I think there is a Siamese on the lady's lap, but I not sure it if is a real one or part of her sweater. If you look close there looks like a design of a cat's face next to it. However, there is so little detail I would ignore it.
I think I would leave the necklace off as I can't see enough detail to even guess the design.
I would not colorize this photo, but rather work on healing little by little on their faces from the original. The green and red channel will give you some idea of the detail. Right now the older woman doesn't look the same and about 40 years younger with smooth skin, which is not true. Also, her eyes and the amount of white showing in yours isn't true either. I would color correct the original and work more with a version similar to Candice's. By going back this way you will be able to keep some of the textures in their skin and not have a painted look. The older woman has noticeable wrinkles on her skin and lips.
The background is a real challenge since parts of it will be guess work at best. What I would do is bring the wall all the way down on your left. On your right, do the door and trim and as you make your way to the left side I would increase the shadows and not try to add anything, because it will be guesswork.
For the little girl on your right, she is going to be the hardest---good luck!
Kudos for taking this one!
Margie
Thank you so much, everyone, for your great feedback. I knew I'd have some re-working to do, but I wanted opinions first. Candy, I can't believe how much more detail you got in Elements. I tried all my tricks and couldn't get that much. The reason I went with the LAB version was because the little girl looked very clownish, and I wanted to see if I could pull out something that looked like a face. LAB was the only way I could get anything but the fat lower lip. I'll have to use her and the older girl's faces as templates rather than actually repairing the B&W. I know there's a way to colorize them, but I just can't remember how to do it.
As soon as you mentioned the cat, I could see it. I suspect it's part of her sweater or sweatshirt - whatever she's wearing. Even if I can just get the impression of the face and ears, the rest can just fade into the rest of the sweater.
Candy, what is a cannula?
Margie, I had to re-do the older lady's hand for the same reason I'll have to do her face again. It's really tough getting the damage out, still keeping the wrinkles. I knew going into to this that it'd be a monster and that I'd have to do several areas more than once before I was happy with them. I'm going to keep the background pretty simple - the frames and perhaps some very vague shapes if I see any as I work my way from left to right.
You've all given me great information with which to continue. And yes, those of you who questioned the state of my sanity (Candy, Bambi, T) for taking this one - I love these tough ones. Even though I'm one of the first members of OPR, I've probably done fewer than anyone else, because these stinkers are my favorites, so they take a long, long time to finish. I've even had to return several as unrestorable. But I at least like to give them a try.
Once again, thanks all of you for taking the time to give me the information I need to push forward. It may be a while before you see the next iteration, but there should be much more progress.
I'll check once in a while to see if anyone else has more observations or comments. (I believe my dearth of rational decision making has been established with my choice of this stinker!)
Cheers and hugs!
GK
Wow, Glenna, what have you been thinking???
I have nothing to offer you here. I think this qualifies as a non-restore. The mess is on all the channels. The only thing I was able to figure out is, that the little girl is wearing a short sleeved sweater over her t-shirt. Same style as the young woman's white sweater. And it's definitely a Siamese cat on the old woman's sweater.
This is what I came up with:
(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l26/gpecht/BettassoOriginal-ToPos2t.jpg)
I would not even worry about the background.
Gerlinde, thanks for trying to pull up more information for me. (The cat is really visible!) This could be a non-restorable, but I wanted to at least try. I'm not ready to give up yet. The little girl's face may be the maker or breaker, but there was just enough there to pique the "I can do this" moron part of my brain, so I'm going to keep at it for a while. What's awesome about these really tough ones is that I learn so much while I'm sloughing through them. Even the ones that in the end couldn't be restored are worth trying - I always think of the people for whom we're doing them.
Here are a few versions from me doing a simple playing around.
This 1st was with doing the levels on the red channel.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a381/Ladyofthelost/OPR/Untitled-1ac.jpg)
This is with me super imposing red guide lines over the young girls face based off of generic measurements to start with when I would draw a portrait by hand in art. It may or may not help and I thought could not hurt to at least show you. The outline behind her is what I see on the wall as art possibly hanging. The Siamese cat I believe is just a design on her sweatshirt btw. oh forgot to say I think the young girls face is warped from damage and she seems to be wearing a turquoise bolero over her light blue t-shirt. I wonder if the family remembers what she is wearing or any info on the room? Any possible other photos of her face that can help?
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a381/Ladyofthelost/OPR/Untitled-1a.jpg)
Here it is with making the image in a negative form. Sometimes it is interesting to see what shapes may show through this way.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a381/Ladyofthelost/OPR/Untitled-1negative2.png)
GK, Gerlinde is right about this being close to a nonrestore, but as often happens it is a photo that holds a lot of meaning and in this case is the only one of a very special family member. The older woman pictured is the owner's great grandmother and the only one left of her. She is sitting in a wheel chair and she is on oxygen. There are no reference photos to help with this, but the owner was only concerned with the great grandmother. I told her about the girl on your right that is really beyond restoring. While I understand you desire to continue on her, I wouldn't and here is why. Her eyes, nose, and mouth have been so distorted her that anything you do will be a guess and never true to how she looked.
What we discussed next is to have the photo as a portrait on Granny only. There is no need to play with the walls and the doorway. This is a case where I am going to allow something that was not in the original to be used and that means a nice backdrop or a way to blur out the background without drawing attention to it. If you want to include the girl behind that is OK too, but the owner stressed that she is more interested in Granny only.
Hope that helps.
Margie
TMHAYLE,
You posted just before I did and that is why I didn't comment on your post. Yes, for the color correction on the first example. I forgot to mention that yes, the Siamese cat is a design on the sweater. As to what the rest of them are wearing, it was too long ago for the owner to recall.
It's great all the help trying to uncovering what might give clues as to what the photos should look like, but in this case what the owner wants is a photo of her great grandmother.
Margie
Margie, that is a huge help. Thanks for the information. The little girl was my biggest concern. The young woman is a possible to restore, and I've already done a lot of work on her, but I know for sure that I can get the great-grandmother. I'll have to work a little on repairing her face without losing the elderly look, but that can be done. Should I crop and enlarge to get the same dimensions (I have onOne's enlargement software, which does a great job (it was called Genuine Fractals at one time), but I'm not sure how well it would work on a damaged image like this one. I'd be willing to try, to feature the older woman), so there isn't so much dead space. If I do that and include the younger woman, it could be a vertical photo, rather than a horizontal. Or I could just do the great-grandmother. I'm okay with either. Please advise about the size and proportions. You just gave me a huge reprieve! I'll wait for your input.
GK, keep the same dimension--4 x 6--for now and QC can decide how they wanted it handled. I don't want to crop at the point and don't want to do an enlargement later because I want to keep what detail we have. This way by leaving as it, we can decide later.
Thanks,
Margie
Hi again Margie
I tried a couple of things before I read your last post, so I'm going to show you the three images I did just down and dirty - no clean up; just backgrounds and the people. Even though you said you wanted the photo with no cropping, I'd already done a crop, so I wanted you to see how the detail is still there, and the photo is the same size: 4x6. I'm not sure about a background. Should it just be plain, or something with a little more interest to it? Here are my attempts.
(http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n222/glennab-fla/OPR%202012%20To%20Post/BettassoJ_13_3_4x6-2-GrayBkgd.jpg)
(http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n222/glennab-fla/OPR%202012%20To%20Post/BettassoJ_13_3_4x6-2-ColorBkgd.jpg)
(http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n222/glennab-fla/OPR%202012%20To%20Post/BettassoJ_13_3_JustGram.jpg)
I'll await your final answer and then will proceed. Thanks so much for taking time to give me some guidance on this one.
GK
GK, I like #3 with Granny by herself, but also one with the girl behind. I don't care for the #2 only because of the two toned background. I know this is just a beginning, but want the people and the background to look good together---also not flat on the background. On this photo I would allow a studio type backdrop, but it has to look natural and no detail. You can create one from scratch.
Margie
Margie, that's what I needed to know. Thanks for the guidance. I'll start working on it tomorrow.
GK
Oh what good news then and I do like that grandmother all on her own. I cannot wait to see what becomes of this! ok off now to work on mine for the rest of the evening. Good Luck!
Thanks, T. I'll need all the luck I can get!
Margie can punish me now. :wow: :knuppel:
(http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c5/tassie_devil/OPR/Vig1.jpg)
Tess, :wow: :knuppel:
OK, just kidding. Not a bad idea, only get rid of the inside stuff around granny. When I saw your title, I just knew I was going to see a vignette and have to take you out! ::) If possible I would like to see more of Granny and her hands.
I think there will be some creative ideas on this one.
Margie
I have been playing with this picture to see if I could do anything ....hmmm well here is the result of my playing...(http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/1092/gran2.jpg)
of course she still has a long way to go...you sure know how to pick em!
Crikey, this forum was nice and peaceful till GK came back.
Now I need to log in hourly to keep up and am embarrassed to post my simple questions :'(
Do like the way Margie's arm is being twisted :up2:
Athol
Jesterjeni, have fun with this one, but try to keep Granny true to the original.
Athol, feel free to ask any simple questions you might have, just don't ask me to give them the "smell test." ;)
Margie
Margie, I hadn't intended to hand this one off, but it appears that decisions have been made on it that I wasn't aware of until I just logged on. I thought we were still going to leave the young woman in the photo before we decided what to do with the great-grandmother. So I've been working back and forth on both - mostly on great grandma. I gave the photo a much more subtle background with just a little bit of highlight, as we'd discussed. I also didn't realize that we were going to dispense with the wheelchair. Please let me know. I don't want to waste a lot of time on this if someone else has taken it over.
Athol, I've always considered it my primary duty at OPR to keep things stirred up. I don't want any of you to get bored. You had a reprieve when my brain went haywire, but your peace and quiet is over! Crikey your own self!
Hugs!
GK
GK, This one is still yours and the others were playing with it for ideas, but it has not been handed off. Plus, you have the full resolution of the original. I want as much detail of Granny--including wheelchair, although not much showing there. I also want the background to be more subtle and I do not want a cutout out look between Granny and the background.
Thanks,
Margie
Margie - okey dokey. I'll continue to concentrate on Great Grandma and give you her first. Then if you decide you want the young woman, I'll see what I can do with her. The face will be a pain, but not impossible.
GK
Oh no....I was just seeing what it would look like on a different background....it is seriously cut out ....I left it like that on purpose...I am not trying to take over the picture by no means...If you feel that way I am truly sorry...
Jesterjeni, I never thought you or Tess were taking over, but instead having some creative fun. I ask for some suggestions and it was interesting to see what could be done. What GK had shown for her first ideas won't work either with the flat background. This will taking some playing around with and everyone is most welcome to give their input.
Thanks,
Margie
JJ - no apologies necessary at all. I haven't said much about it, but my long absence from the forum was because of serious brain issues that caused me to often have cognizance problems. That's gradually going away, thankfully. I may question what's going on more than I did before, because I have to be sure I understand what's happening.
Margie, my first posts with the backgrounds were, as I said, down and dirty - no finesse at all with the blending of the figures into the background, and I had yet to find something interesting to add to the flat gray behind them. They were just to get feedback on our basic look and who we'd include in the image (especially to reassure you that great-gram could be enlarged without loss of quality, if we decided to go with just her, which I would recommend).
I appreciate so much what all of you have done to help me get through this monster (I probably shouldn't have taken it). But I really wanted to work on it because it's been in the galleries for so long, and I thought I was ready to take one on. I seem to be handling it okay, thanks to a lot of help from my friends (you're all so awesome to take the time to "play" with this image)! I got quite a bit done today and now am taking a break to watch some old TV shows on netflix. Tomorrow morning I'll be at it again, and as soon as I have enough done to feel comfortable with it, I'll post it again.
Bless
GK
BTW, Madame Prez, please, pleeze, do NOT take anybody out, vignettes notwithstanding. I thought we were a non-violent organization.
I hope your back to 100% soon!
I have seen your other posts! you have that nothings impossible attitude,
I find it quite refreshing and encouraging!
being able to unmuck anything salvageable in this picture is an art in itself! I am looking forward to seeing your result!
I have a quick question for anyone who's willing to look at a photo I've already posted (I'm getting close to a look at one with much more progress). The cat on the shirt is bothering me and something just popped into my head. No matter how I try to clean it up, the lay of the purple just doesn't make any sense for the shape of a cat - even though we've established that it is, indeed, a cat. Is it possible that there's a fold in the shirt because the lady's sitting, and that would make the back and part of the tail of the cat be wrapped in an overlap of the front of the cat? There's so little detail on the right of her shirt as we see her, yet the purple is quite distinct. That explanation of the shape of the purple is the only thing that makes sense. I tried just reshaping the cat to fit between her arms and it looks strange to me. Because of all the in the purple it's hard to tell what I'm looking at.
(http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n222/glennab-fla/Glennas%20Photos%202012/BettassoJ_13_3_4x6-0602ToPost.jpg)
GK
I'm not sure if this has been suggested earlier -- could there be another cat (or something) beside the main cat? Perhaps, the uncertain area of purple could be eliminated, unless the puzzle is solved.
btw: I am enjoying watching your progress with this nightmare of a challenge.
that cats tail could be tucked underneath it...
I am inclined to think BJTX is correct.
The cat doesn't appear to be particularly long haired so that amount of area for a tail doesn't work. Most cats seem to wrap their tail around them when sitting and will have it up if smooging or having their back scratched.
If the family has no recollection of the shirt then perhaps a search for cat sitting images will at least give you an outline that looks realistic.
Like the restoration of her hand and her face is coming along, looking forward to the next episode GK's disaster. ^-^
Athol
I thought the closest purple object with what looks to be a jewel of some kind at the end might be the tail tucked around it, and that the cat might have it's rear up the way they do when they want to be scratched, but that didn't make sense for a shirt. Most people, unless they have cats, aren't aware of that position, and it isn't particularly attractive - plus when they do that, the tail is up in the air. The shades of purple are all over the place, interspersed with black, and they give no real indication of positioning or shading. I don't want to lose the cat, because if this lady is like my mom was, she probably loved having images of things she liked on her shirts, so I feel that the cat is important. I do think it's a short hair, because there isn't much around the face.
Athol, I love the word "smooging." Will have to add that to my vocabulary. I'm glad you're all enjoying my pain. My hubby keeps coming in, watching me struggle, and asking me "what the heck were you thinking?" at about the same time I'm contemplating that very thing, especially when I realized that I also had to create an ear!
Something I discovered is that enlarging a damaged photo, even with an excellent program like onOne's just enhances the muck. It works perfectly on a pristine photo, but on an especially bad one the spots and other muck becomes more defined and more difficult to get rid of. I'm keeping just the great-grandmother, because she's the most important person in the photo, and the young woman's face was going to put me over the edge. But I'm realizing that by enlarging her, I have more work to do to make her skin look aged, yet clean. I'm still glad I did it, because the result will be a better composition, but it'll require more care with the wrinkles and skin texture. Not my strong point if I don't have anything from which to patch and/or heal. More to come in the next few days, when I figure out Ms. Kitty and the skin.
Any thoughts on the background? She'll be blended to the background better once I get her completed I have her masked, and I'll use that to finesse the final.
GK
Perhaps the wall and door jam from the original might be the way to go, suitably softened and darkened. Is the thing to her RHS a tree? If so it could also add some reality to what was a candid snap and not a studio portrait.
My wife asked me to pass on condolences to your husband ;)
Athol
Athol, Margie suggested a studio background, because nothing was really identifiable in the image. Since the owner was most concerned about her great-grandmother, Margie said if I wanted to just concentrate on her, I could go that route. Since gram is masked, I can always replace the background, since mine is a bit unconventional. I mainly want to get her skin to look properly elderly but not covered with spots. That's what I'm concentrating on - and have already redone once. I created her ear using a template (I keep a folder of ears, hands, hair, etc to use as guides), and am trying to find a head of hair like hers to look at so I can give it a little definition rather than having just a big cloud of white.
Lots still to do. I'll pass your wife's condolences on to IM. I know he'll appreciate it. Every once in a while he sticks his head around the corner, either shakes his head or says "what were you thinking?," and then goes on his way. He refuses to believe that I love doing these monsters. The worser (?) the better.
Cheers
GK
GK, I'm not opposed to what Athol is suggesting, but it also will have some problems when you take the girl out behind. Unless they they are all in the shadows with the exception of Granny. I would however, not leave the background with a diamond pattern that you have now. Since you are not finished, wasn't going to say much about the background. It's defiantly improving. :up:
Margie
Margie, I'm going to need more input about the background, then. I'm getting close to reposting great-grandma with just the background that's shown in the last iteration. The last thing you suggested was a "studio background" with just great-grandma. I can change the background to be more of the cloudy studio look, since she's masked.
Otherwise I'll have to go back and re-do much of the background that for the most part is unidentifiable if you want to add back some of the rest of the photo. All we'll get is part of the younger woman's dress and a bunch of muck from the side where the little girl is - possibly some color from her dress. If g-g is the primary subject, then a bunch of distracting unidentifiable blobs in the background seem to me to be counterproductive.We also have the issue of the different colored walls. If we make g-g much smaller, then she's going to get lost in all the debris. I don't think there are any trees in the background, as Athol suggested, as it appears to be an indoor shot.
I'll do whatever you want, but I'd appreciate if you'd be specific and consistent so I can finish this. Most of her is completed. I'm trying to get her face cleaned up without losing the wrinkles and figure out a way to make her hair look like something other than a big furry cloud (if that is possible).
After that, all I need is a specific description of what you want in the background, and whether you want g-g at the size she is. And if anyone else wants to weigh in on the cat and whether the lady's shirt is folded (IM's opinion is that it is, and that's why the cat's shape seems so odd). At this point, I've just winged it and painted in a cat as best I can in a typical crouched relaxed position with the tail wrapped around the body.
Appreciate feedback and further instructions, and I should be able to post another, closer to completion version in the next couple of days.
GK
Hi GK,
QuoteMargie, I'm going to need more input about the background, then. I'm getting close to reposting great-grandma with just the background that's shown in the last iteration. The last thing you suggested was a "studio background" with just great-grandma. I can change the background to be more of the cloudy studio look, since she's masked.
That is true and I felt that would be the easiest and I still do. However, what you have now does not look like any studio background with the diamond pattern---doesn't mean there couldn't be one out there. It puts me in mind of the pattern of a chain link fence.
QuoteI'll do whatever you want, but I'd appreciate if you'd be specific and consistent so I can finish this. Most of her is completed. I'm trying to get her face cleaned up without losing the wrinkles and figure out a way to make her hair look like something other than a big furry cloud (if that is possible).
OK, I will try to be specific and consistent---continue on with trying to have the background look like a studio backdrop. I'm not sure what you mean about making Granny smaller as I don't recollect asking for that?
QuoteAnd if anyone else wants to weigh in on the cat and whether the lady's shirt is folded (IM's opinion is that it is, and that's why the cat's shape seems so odd). At this point, I've just winged it and painted in a cat as best I can in a typical crouched relaxed position with the tail wrapped around the body
Considering how bad the damage, I agree you will have to wing it. I'm not sure the cat is crouched, but rather sitting, but doesn't matter. However, if you look at the photo---the original before any work was done and look at the red channel at 300% I think you will see that it looks like a collage of cats. Right next to the Siamese is a tabby's head and you can see the eyes and nose. No, I don't want you to mess with that, but whether the sweater has folds or not is not going to matter since so much is damage. This is where you can use your judgment and it will work fine.
Margie
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z10/hayesbucket/cat_collage.jpg)
Or maybe this is like looking at clouds and seeing animals.
Re Margie's suggestion about the tabby. Could that be a tabby paw rather than the tail of the siamese beneath the cats?
(I hope I am not confusing the situation more) :)
An afterthought - perhaps it would be helpful to enlarge the red or lightness channel & use curves or levels to enhance it for further interpretation.
Good luck with it all
Betty
Margie and Betty
Thanks for the extra input. I think I have a good idea of what to do now. Margie, I'm sorry to question you so closely, but you're aware, I think, of why that's happening. It's not you. I still get confused at times. I may have gotten back into this a little too early. But darn it, I missed my OPR!
I think I'll try Betty's suggestion and check channels just one more time - only because, as I said earlier, if this lady is like my mother was, she loved the art on her shirts, and I hate to be too far off of what was there. If I can't do any better than what I already have, I'll just clean up the edges and hope that it's okay.
I'll post it again as soon as I can, and if it's okay, I'll send it to Bambi for the final approval.
I really appreciate your sticking with me on this one. It's a bear!
GK
Glenna, Of course it's OK for you to send it to Bambi for the final approval---your distributor will always be the one to do the final review before it goes on to Quality Control. That should stop any confusion on the final leg.
Thanks,
Margie
Margie, I know that Bambi will have the final say on this one, but it's been great having input from the "committee" when I've been looking for fresh eyes and advice. I always appreciate that when I have one that's this damaged. I looked at it for days and didn't see the cat until several people on this thread recognized what it was. Sharp eyes and brains that work - that's what I need and get on the forum. Awesome! Thanks again, everyone.
I also realized that I've been looking in magazines and in the photo sources online to find good, clear wrinkles to use for the damaged side of her face. For cryin' out loud, I'm wearing a perfectly good set of them. All I need is a mirror!
News at 11 - or whenever!
GK
This is an FYI post. I'm not placing it here it for critique, as I've already sent it to Bambi. If she thinks more can be done to it, it will have to go to someone with better eyes and a steadier hand than mine. I couldn't figure out the cats. All things considered, I'm happy that I got this far. I was about to completely give up, but I wanted to see how much I could do. Someone else may be able to take it further. If so, I'm willing to share my .psd file(s) if you don't want to start from the beginning. Here's my final version:
(http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n222/glennab-fla/BettassoJ_13_3_4x6-DONE.jpg)
GK
i played a little with the room to see what I could do....it was just for my own amusement..and then I used a face modeling program to reconstruct the little girls face...i know grandma has already went home...but i thought i would share anyhow
(http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/2067/clless2.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/834/clless2.jpg/)
Glenna, a lot of time & hard work went into your restoration. I know it must be a relief to have finally completed it.
Jesterjeni - looks like you had a bit of fun, even adding a little art work for the wall - lol !
Would you please share some info about the 'face modeling' program, which you used. I'm totally unfamiliar with it.
thanks,
betty
:up:
Betty, I certainly was glad to have gotten as far as I did, between creating her ear and her interesting head of hair. I spent several hours trying to pull cats out of her shirt, but I couldn't get any real shapes. I hated to give up on that part. The only other option I could see with the background was to keep her at the same size but to put back in the portions of the two girls that would have been beside her at that size, and I didn't think that would have looked right.
JJ, I often do what you did and try to carry another volunteer's restoration a little further, even though I know it's gone back to the distributor - just to learn a little more. As I said, I'll let Bambi have the "final answer" on where she goes from what I did. And I do have a lot of the original background that was there already cleaned up, so if that's the way she decides to go, I can get the psd file to whoever works on it.
I still wonder what the heck I was thinking!
GK
You were a bold woman to take this one. You really did bring out a great deal of things that weren't there. :hug: