Hi Everyone,
I just got a call from Nanda Sparks in Joplin, MO. She is the one we restored pictures of hers that were damaged in the Joplin tornado. She called to see if we were still restoring and I told her we were closing operations. She asked if we would be interested in restoring some photos that are probably more damaged from age rather than a disaster. These photos, which may number less than 15 are to be used in a showing for "Black History of the Ozarks."
These photos will be scanned by the Joplin history museum and uploaded to me by email. Since we no longer have use of PhotoShelter, I will post the photos together on a sheet and number them and you may email me your request--add like 1st, 2nd, 3rd choices. I realize not many photos at first, but something I think you all will enjoy. Once we restore them, I will upload back to Nanda she will have them printed and a digital copy for the families as well.
Probably won't start until next week before you see anything posted.
Looking forward to doing this for a good cause.
Margie
Hi Margie.. finally got in.. helps to use the correct password :)
Looking forward to working on a picture or two.. hope I can remember how to do it!!
Lynnya
Hi Lynna,
Glad to see you got in and your are not the only one who has used the wrong password. :)
Hopefully we will get enough photos for everyone.
Margie
Hi Everyone,
The photos were sent by email today and in the wrong format--PDF and the file size huge! Plus, some other things needed corrected, so once that is done will let you all know.
Thanks,
Margie
Thanks Margie.
Yea Margie
Hi Everyone,
The long awaited photos have arrived. I have a screen shot where you can choose a photo and please give me your 1st, 2nd, 3rd choice as I imagine there will be several request for the same photo. There were 13 photos in all and maybe more to come. You will notice that #3 has #13 in its place--that is because yours truly picked out of the candy box first.
Several more instructions:
1. Keep in RGB and do not change the size as these will be dropped in printable size later.
2. Keep file size as Quality 10.
3. We want these as B/W but still in RGB. I would suggest that you do a Levels or Curves Adjustment first, and then next when happy with the results go under Adjustments and pick the icon for Black/White (this will still keep in same color mode).
4. Do NOT Sharpen as that will be done by Quality Control if needed.
5. HAVE FUN!
Send me an email at:
[email protected] with your request photo's number, and when done, send back the same way.
Thanks
(https://i.postimg.cc/rsgzB0cK/Screen-1.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/WzGVqQtr/Screen-2.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Number 13 has been taken.
Number 1 and 12 have been taken.
Can anyone make out the date? I think it's
Lincoln School = 1946 = Joplin MO
WIP (https://i.postimg.cc/0QXSxS0p/13ADJ.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xJH83c7C)
ORG (https://i.postimg.cc/9FX98TvX/13.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/CdtddZh9)
Great start, Candice!
Good ways to go, Margie. Maybe you can ask the person your in contact with for the date.
I saw a photo of the school in the 20s and then it did not have the added building on the side.
Cars looked different in the 303 than what the photo shows.
In the 50s cars looked much more modern.
I think you are right Candy, 1946, the cars definitely look like they're from the 40s.
Margie my image is crooked can I straighten it? or no..
Lynnya, yes you may straighten, but keep the same size. I should have caught that. If you have any problems where it will cut off any person or hard to keep same size, let me know. The original had a border which might make it easier to straighten without losing anything.
Candice and Hannie, one of the school photos has 1940 as the date. I will check with the museum, but won't hear back till next week.
Margie
Quote from: Hannie on February 10, 2024, 05:36:50 PMI saw a photo of the school in the 20s and then it did not have the added building on the side.
Cars looked different in the 303 than what the photo shows.
In the 50s cars looked much more modern.
I think you are right Candy, 1946, the cars definitely look like they're from the 40s.
Thank you very much, Hannie! I was leaning that way but wanted a second set of eyes.
#6 & #11 have been taken.
Hi all.. nice to be working again.. here is my wip so far.. what can you see that needs changing, doing.
(https://i.postimg.cc/28pp0fDr/wip.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LhV0sw5b)
orig.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Y9cNJ8qG/12-copy.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/VSRbtqtm)
Hi Lynnya. It looks fine to me. However I thought it was a little dark. So I ran your restore through Photoshop/Adjustments/Shadows-Highlights and lightened up the shadows some and I thought that was an improvement.
Thanks Phil.. I did wonder about the dark as well.. I'll try that.
how's this,..still too dark?
(https://i.postimg.cc/DfRsCJXN/wip2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/V5BdvN49)
I think the second one looks much better. Without zooming in I can't see how the faces look, but sometimes I'll add an adjustment layer and lighten, slightly, some of the really dark faces.
Alternatively, I'll get the overall image looking bright enough and then add an adjustment layer to darken, slightly, any part that's looking too blown out.
Thanks Jo Ann..I'll try that. Nice to hear from you :)
Lynnya,
I think this looks great! I agree with Jo Ann. A lot of times I will add a duplicate layer and if I want lighter I will make choose Screen as the layer, and then I lower the opacity and next do a layer mask to hide all. I will then paint back in with a soft brush what I want lighter. I really like what you have done and except for maybe some you feel too dark, I would be careful to only lighten enough to see their features.
A little lighter.. I used screen on faces and then on pic as a whole then masked out the very white areas..
(https://i.postimg.cc/ydY44G4f/wip3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Mc4r1dGR)
Well I downloaded the picture and used auto levels in photoshop and it lightened the image a little more, but I don't want to get overly nitpicky just fyi. Nice job
😀
Hi Phil thanks.. I did the same but it brought the blacks up rather harshly so I left it.. see what Margie thinks..
I think it looks great and ready to send back.
Thanks Margie I will then.
These photos have been spoken for: 1,5,6,7,12, & 13. The others are available.
I've gotten rusty and somethings are coming back to me and one I liked was in Katrin Eismann's book of restoration. This is a neat little trick to make your photos pop. When you are satisfied with your work and have flatten your image, duplicate the layer and go over to Channels and do a Ctrl right click on the RGB layer--that will load the luminosity--then do a Ctrl J to put it on its own layer. In the box above, change from Normal to Soft Light. That may be just what you need or you may change the Opacity.Or you may decide you like it without.
Lynna, I tried it with yours and see what you think?
Margie
Quote from: Lynnya on February 11, 2024, 04:17:54 PMA little lighter.. I used screen on faces and then on pic as a whole then masked out the very white areas..
(https://i.postimg.cc/ydY44G4f/wip3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Mc4r1dGR)
Beautiful!!
Here is the one I am working on. I have lost my touch as well. Margie's suggestion on the previous photo for example I completely forgot about that. Oh well.
(https://i.postimg.cc/4NJZ22t6/temp-Image-Csqp-L4.avif) (https://postimg.cc/4nFrm5Wy)
(https://i.postimg.cc/zDw8jYLD/temp-Image-SY2-Ox-E.avif) (https://postimg.cc/gr0Cz5q1)
Looks like you got all the damage. FWIW here are a couple of things I noticed
The tops of the bushes seem a little light.
Maybe a little adjustment needed on the girl's left foot - it's blending into the grass. Sometimes a very soft shading (via an adjustment layer) under the toes can help make it clearer when the detail is gone in the original.
The man's left shoe looks unusual - I don't really understand what I'm seeing. I did a search for 1940s baseball shoes and found some had two-tone designs - possibly that's why the odd colors?
The hands were quite a puzzle too - I assume both of them have gloves on their left hands? And that the fingers on top are her right hand on top of his? A little light shading to separate the hands/gloves might help.
What a lovely photo
So much fun to be back in the saddle. Good tip Margie I'll try that.. good tips also Jo Ann.. it's great that we can post and get feedback to improve our wips. Thanks for kind comment Candy. Looking forward to seeing your final Phil.
Margie I'm lost... gone brain dead.. I tried doing what you said and I'm not getting anywhere. Can you elaborate.. senility steps in...
Input please.. do we think this lady is wearing gloves.. maybe to church? has a hat.. what do you think.
(https://i.postimg.cc/kGpRGtLZ/momandchild.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/H8bkPjY4)
Hi Lynne. I think she has no gloves and she is holding a hat.
(https://i.postimg.cc/26RCv6Xz/temp-Image0l8-GLj.avif) (https://postimages.org/)
Here is the latest from my photo. I did darken up the bushes some and outlined her left foot and right to separate them slightly from the background. I did nothing to the hands although the gentleman's fingertips seem to be whiter than I would expect. perhaps it's the sun but I did not darken them. Thanks Jo Ann
(https://i.postimg.cc/SsX0RpGW/temp-Image-UKy-HFR.avif) (https://postimg.cc/47T22qqd)
Quote from: Lynnya on February 12, 2024, 11:11:55 AMInput please.. do we think this lady is wearing gloves.. maybe to church? has a hat.. what do you think.
I think there are no gloves - the whiter part further up her arm is a part of the damage - if you look at the arm closer to her shoulder, it's pretty close to the hand color. I see no fabric seam, folds, anything around her fingers...
The hat's pretty clear; even though she's holding the brim, it looks like there might be some other fabric object in her hand - possibly a pair of gloves?
Yeah.. I agree, thanks JoAnn... I think I'm going to have to bury her feet in the grass.. I think she has bare feel (the child) I could probably create some feet .. what do you think..The rest of it is pretty easy.
I think that the child has shoes - I made her some from Mom's shoes (cloning at a slight angle and 90% size then darkening the visible foot part as Mom was wearing tights).
Even if she did have bare feet, making shoes is easier than making feet :)
(https://i.postimg.cc/9QsxpDVC/momandchild-shoes.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
where are these photos???
Margie has them, then we got some, then we sent em back to Margie..
JoAnn.. I went with no shoes.. didn't see your post. Here's what I have so far..
(https://i.postimg.cc/SxXQsLnq/momandchild.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/gxWbtZyB)
(https://i.postimg.cc/MTwzdhdK/nearfinal.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/R3Pr0pkj)
Be on the lookout for #13. I sent it back this afternoon.
I think you're nearly there. Some of the contrast seems a bit too much - darks very very dark even though the original was shot with harsh light and thus lots of strong shadows.
Two things stood out with the people. I think the woman's smile is extended a little too far on either side - your shape is right but I think you widened it a tad more than the original.
The little girl's expression looks different from the original to me. I did a little cloning on just that part (and I can share what I did with you as a layer of edits in the original tones plus a bunch of adjustment layers; if you like).
My version is on the left, yours on the right. See what you think
(https://i.postimg.cc/MG72V4HY/momandchild-face-compare.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Yeah I think you are right.. I did add a contrast at the last minute...let me work on it.
this is the latest.. will work on it more in a couple of days if needed.. or if it's needed.
(https://i.postimg.cc/bYRk508Y/newfinal.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/qgzNh3zW)
That looks great - both the faces look right to me.
Lynna, look great to me too!
Thanks guys. Thanks for your help Jo Ann.. I appreciate it. They've gone home.
What #pictures haven't been taken?
Quote from: Lynnya on February 12, 2024, 07:16:30 PMthis is the latest.. will work on it more in a couple of days if needed.. or if it's needed.
(https://i.postimg.cc/bYRk508Y/newfinal.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/qgzNh3zW)
Looks great, Lynna!
This is off topic but I just scanned this image and I was disappointed in the texture artifacts. I started to look around for a fft filter, but then tried Photoshops Neural filter that uses AI to improve photos. So after doing levels on all three colors I tried the filter and this is what I got. I know this is too sharp and stuff and I probably over cooked the filter but wow.
(https://i.postimg.cc/T3ZdqVTb/temp-Image8pa32m.avif) (https://postimg.cc/Hr91T7cW)
(https://i.postimg.cc/CxZMqPpY/temp-Image-Ahq-JS9.avif) (https://postimg.cc/jDbrVhjk)
I've been using this (free) Pattern Suppressor for Photoshop when an FFT filter is needed. I used to use Affinity Photo for that as it has one built in. Based on the test images I ran through I was getting better results with the Pattern Suppressor (it's actions linked to plugins).
I've also experimented a bit with Photoshop's various Neural Filters and I'm not thrilled with the results in many cases. Certainly dialing back on the settings can get something more realistic, but it tends towards making everything too smooth and rather plastic looking.
I had hopes for the Dust & Scratches slider in the Neural Filter (I think that's in Photo Restoration which is Beta), but it either leaves too many scratches or removes things in the image that aren't damage. One example was removing an electrical cord where it crossed the floor, but it left the plug on the wall; in the same image it removed a bunch of the tinsel from the Christmas tree. If they can improve object recognition, the filter will probably get better.
I have found Photoshop's remove tool to be a great help in removing damage - again, it has some areas of images where it struggles and leaves a mess, but in the areas where it works, it gives very clean results.
Thanks Jo Ann.
Inclosed is what I am working on now 2 photos and original and my current progress. Take a look if you wish to see if there is something to be fixed or more to do. Thanks
(https://i.postimg.cc/jqG4x6g3/temp-Imaged-MKe-Qz.avif) (https://postimg.cc/bd9tLnj1)
(https://i.postimg.cc/6QjCDC40/temp-Imagej1r-VHE.avif) (https://postimg.cc/2qWqWbwb)
Overall looking really good. There were a few things I noticed
-On the far right, for the boy sitting on the grass, there's a strange line (looks like a clone gone off piste) down his leg and into the grass.
-Top right I can still see parts of the creases that are mostly cloned out
-Center right, the woman standing, third from the right, has a stripe of wayward clone on her arm & dress (there wasn't any damage there)
-The woman seated, center, in a dark dress, where you cloned out a white area on her bodice, had (I think) a flower pinned to her dress. It doesn't look like damage to me
-To the right of that woman (woman in a flowery dress), you cloned out a couple lines over the woman's hand that I think were the chains of a piece of jewelry she was holding. It might be a rosary, but the beads are all bunched up.
-Last row, two heads to the right of the man standing up, there's a woman's hair and part of her dress with some tear/crease damage.
-Little girl seated in the grass, second from left, has some cloning damage on her shoulder
-From the left, go to the 5th man seated and then to the woman behind him in a polka-dot pinafore dress. You cloned out a dark area that I think is the shadow from the gathered fabric in her dress
-In the grass areas at the bottom edge (where I think you cloned over the out of focus areas) there are some repeating patterns. Just disrupting them a little will make them blend in
Jo Ann Thanks you so much for taking the time to identify areas that needed fixing. It helped me a lot.
Nice job Phil.. Jo Ann's tips will take it over the top!
Morning all.. I thought this one would be really easy?? this is my second attempt to revive this image. I mostly just sit and stare at it.. any help would be appreciated in getting these two home.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Yq5SPjJQ/4-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/mtSRzZZr)
(https://i.postimg.cc/y60pRG7B/4wip.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/w3Tk80tb)
I don't think you can squeeze more info out of this photo.
That's a tough one. I think the issue is that the background shouldn't be light - it should be dark. Think of how a flash picture looks when taken on a dark night.
I did a very quick-and-dirty version of what I think this needs on the original (and I can share the PSD file if you'd like, but the masks are not finish-quality!)
The only other approach might be to vignette it, but Margie'd have to say OK on something like that
See what you think
(https://i.postimg.cc/xCtkJ3tS/4-suggestion.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/nj9VN7yd)
Thanks Jo Ann.. I think you are right. My first attempt was on those lines and I scrapped it..
Back to the drawing board.
This was my first attempt..
(https://i.postimg.cc/KvZ8PYcL/4darkwip.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/grTpdmZk)
I think attempt #1 is the better approach.
I'd make the people a little lighter (and increase the contrast for them so they don't look washed out) than shown above and probably show more of the wall and rail (whatever it is behind them).
Unscrap your first version :)
I'm going down a rabbit hole...bear in mind this is a very small picture...
(https://i.postimg.cc/1zpQnz5n/4newattempt.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/FfsqwNSN)
I think that looks a ton better than the bright version. Perhaps see if Margie agrees?
Lynn,
I think your final looks great!
Thanks Margie they are on their way to you.
Hi Everyone,
Were almost done with all the photos and I gave Nanda, in Joplin, a sneak screen shot of all your restores and here is her reply:
QuoteOh, Margie! These are amazing!!!! I can't wait to see them up close. Wow!!!
Thank you so much, and please thank the volunteers for me! I'd like to find out if I can donate to your organization or in some way repay you for this! Think about it and let me know!
Can't wait till the museum gets to see them.
Margie
Wonderful - it's lovely to get feedback that we have had an impact.
I'd love it if other museums or history societies or similar groups would use OPR's services in the future...
Me too.. I miss working with OPR and all the gang.
Lynna and JoAnn, I know what you mean. This is and has been the best things I've been part of over the years. It was wonderful to be able to dig into these photos and read on the work being done.
Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on February 20, 2024, 09:52:18 AMWonderful - it's lovely to get feedback that we have had an impact.
I'd love it if other museums or history societies or similar groups would use OPR's services in the future...
My husband and I were saying the same thing. We're here. We've worked together. Great team work helps a lot.
I agree how much fun and so nice to get work together again. I uploaded all 13 completed photos to Nanda today. I will keep you posted on what is going on, but here is what I got back from her today.
QuoteI'm in tears. . . Just to see their beautiful faces, restored, clear, and up close! Thank you, thank you, thank you . .
You've made my day!
She made my day!
Thank you Margie ... for the pics and for sharing the wonderful response.
You make my day!
Thanks Margie for passing that on. To know that this mattered to her is just wonderful.
She (and you) made my day too!