It has been a long time since I posted anything on the Forum. So now this is a test to see if I figured out how to do it again. If I do this right you will see the image I have selected from the "Hard to Restore" gallery. I understand I'm supposed to show my work in progress so I will try to do that.
(https://i.postimg.cc/mh7QFWq9/Hernandez-W-19-07-5x7.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/mh7QFWq9)
Hi Rbm and welcome back. You picked a doozy. We're here to lend extra eyes if you want. Look forward to seeing your work. Good luck!
RBm, hang in there as these photos are not the norm. Post your work and we will help.
I started on this restore by making rough edge masks of all the detail that will need to be worked on. Dress, suit, arm, legs, shoes, heads. I then plan to refine the mask edges and use those masks to confine my cloning, patching, painting, etc. Each item will be on its own layer. At least that is what "usually" works for me.
(https://i.postimg.cc/8sSKj45Z/Hernandez-W-19-07-5x7-v1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/8sSKj45Z)
Look at that WIP, starting to take shape already!
Rbm, I wonder if his left leg is as wide as you made it? Maybe the pants are flares and that is what you see or perhaps part of it may have been shadow only?
(I know, this no help really >:D)
You are right Hannie. I included the shadow from his pants in my initial mask. That's been changed.
Rbm, you have a very interesting process. Would love to see more of your progress.
Mary
Here is my latest WIP. I have a companion photo that I'm using for the heads of each person. It's not all that great but at least it shows more detail than my base image.
(https://i.postimg.cc/8jzn7DCN/Hernandez-W-19-07-5x7-v3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/8jzn7DCN)
The lady's chin seems a bit smaller/narrower to me than what you have?
Here is my latest WIP. Hey Hannie. I reworked her chin. Is this version more like what you were looking for?
(https://i.postimg.cc/3yV0D60L/Hernandez-W-19-07-5x7-v4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/3yV0D60L)
Much better Rbm!
This is such a difficult restore, you could place the original photo as a layer over your restore and click it "on"and "off" to check what is right or wrong. For instance, I can see a little area on the (our) left side of her neck towards her hair that does not look right.
Hey Hannie. I reworked the lady's face using the HernandezW_19_07 image. Before I was using the companion photo HernandezW_19_06. Does this version show the neck and chin in a way more like what you were wanting to see? And I corrected that little area on the (our) left side of her neck towards her hair.
(https://i.postimg.cc/S2GVBghr/Hernandez-W-19-07-5x7-v5a.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/S2GVBghr)
Still WIP. Struggling ... as usual ... with faces.
(https://i.postimg.cc/0zsnPHXz/Hernandez-W-19-07-5x7-v6e.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0zsnPHXz)
(https://i.postimg.cc/62KPp60H/Hernandez-W-19-07-5x7.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/62KPp60H)
(https://i.postimg.cc/jw6GHn20/Hernandez-W-19-07-5x7-Done.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/jw6GHn20)
RBM, it looks good in areas where you had some information, but honestly the guys face is a real challenge. I don't know if you could shade more of his face so it wouldn't look painted. Also, and this is a minor pic, but I wouldn't clone so much of her hair, but maybe use brush strokes to even things out. For all the rest you have done a great job. BTW this is beyond "Hard to Restore."