sweet baby girl

[Oldfaded]

I think its a case of taste, I like the background darker to contrast the light baby. just my taste is all.
So do you want me to lighten it ? I think your version will work just fine and we can put this one to rest, what do you think?
Im happy cause I learned a different way to do a background. :)

[Oldfaded]

I just got out of the shower, and have java at hand. I had an idea to try. Let me see what I can do and then we can figure to send it back or not.
Im a realist, and if I cant do it then someone else can, and I feel they should get done and done WELL as fast as possible. I know ID want to see them again.
so give me one more shot, and if its not what your looking for we shall call it a day ok?  :up2:

[Hannie]

Kate, have as many shots as you like!  :)

It is not a matter of taste, what I tried to do had nothing to with adjusting the background to my liking but rather to look as close to the original as possible.  Hence my question about the dark area, is it damage or shadow?

Hannie

[Oldfaded]

I dont know darlin'.
To me when I looks like a dark background and the left was damaged and washed out.
Thats why I figure its a preference of weather you want to see light or dark. I have no clue or info on what the original was so I can only guess. and from what Im seeing my guesses are different....hahahaha. used to that...lol
I know that those type photos I have myself from Sears back in the eighties, or it would seem to me. and I do remember seeing a background like yours, that is why I figure to just call it a day and use your fix cause it does look very good! :)
again hun, let me giver her the old try again and we will see what to do, as I said I really dont want to hold up production here. :)))
later gater!!

[Mhayes]

Hannie, I think yours comes closer to looking like the original. I like the baby's color of skin better now that would go with her fair complexion. I do think her her hair is more of a reddish than brown and on her shoe closes to the edge, perhaps more of a cream.

Margie

[Oldfaded]

Yay!! Margie saves the day!!!! ME TOO!! I totally agree!
I cant make it work here, not getting the results I am seeing in my minds eye. :)

[Mhayes]

Here is the tutorial I was looking for done by Mary Schonher in 2008. The photos have been pulled so the link is not helpful, but her instructions are.

I want to share with you a technique that I use to restore the background. Looking at your photo, yes, it's a messy background, but one that can and should be saved. Look at the good areas between the damage. Working in full screen mode at 200 to 300% and using the healing brush set to "replace" with a hardness at 57% and spacing at 40%. I use an appropriate size brush for the area I'm working on and I pan out often to watch my progress and to make sure I'm getting the dark, medium and light areas if at all possible. This might sound weird but here's what I do. I put my cursor in a good area and begin making small, tight, circular motions, much like a scribble. I continue in this manner not worrying about any hard edges just concentrating on some color variation. This goes quite fast after you do it a couple of times, I don't think I spent more than 6 minutes on the sample I sent you. OK, after you have an area large enough to work with, change the healing brush to the "normal" setting. Using the same circular motion, place your cursor in a darker area to choose that color but then work it into your lighter areas, then do the opposite, placing the picker into the light area then blend into the dark area. Back and forth and before you know it you have a restored background. Watch around the main subject at this point, the healing brush hates too much contrast. If you restore the background your picture will have a more natural and softer look. Please let me know if you have questions, I'm not that good at explanations............ This technique also works for blending areas of the face and just about anywhere....I know it sounds strange but just try it.....Mary

Margie

[Oldfaded]

 :loveit: Thank you very much! I will give it a try :)

[Oldfaded]

nope. Im only getting the same I have been all along. tried a few different ways and still am winding up with the dark.
Im not coming even close the background that Hannie did. Not a clue of why. I can do it by replacing it. but thats not what your looking for.
so I am so sorry but I give. :)

[Hannie]

Got your upload Kate and it looks great!

I layered my version over yours to get a more even background but retain the more vibrant colors of your restore.  What do you think?

Hannie

[Oldfaded]

NICE!!! We do good work... haha   :loveit: