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OPR Workshop Information Exchange => General Techniques => Topic started by: WillS on August 07, 2007, 05:35:32 AM

Title: Red Eye, remove or not?
Post by: WillS on August 07, 2007, 05:35:32 AM
Hello All,

I have searched through all of the posts and have not seen this question before.
I am working on my first photo and feel somewhat confident that it is ready to upload.
I have two subjects in this photo that both have "red eye" from a flash.
I understand that we are restoring images for people to preserve their memories,
but every part of me wants to fix that red eye. So what is the consensus or mandate on this?

This was a fairly easy photo to enhance and I did not have to restore any part of their faces or bodies.
Also 100% confident (because I did it already on another copy) of completely natural looking eye.

Should I upload both, or is that not a good idea?

Thanks, Will
Title: Re: Red Eye, remove or not?
Post by: Hannie on August 07, 2007, 06:08:36 AM
Hi Will,

Welcome to the forum!
About the red eyes, I feel you can heap them together with e.g. tone and contrast, nobody thinks twice about improving those.
There are some wonderful and helpful people on this forum, it is still a little early but I'm sure there will be more reactions to your question later today!

Hannie
Title: Re: Red Eye, remove or not?
Post by: Lorraine on August 07, 2007, 09:01:42 AM
Hi Will,

I think you should upload both versions.

Lorraine
Title: Re: Red Eye, remove or not?
Post by: glennab on August 07, 2007, 09:17:09 AM
Greetings, Will

Welcome to the forum!  I'd say get rid of the red eye.  It's a small enhancement that I don't think will do anything but improve the image without doing anything drastic.

Good to have you with us.

Glenna
Title: Re: Red Eye, remove or not?
Post by: Tess (Tassie D) on August 07, 2007, 08:37:46 PM
Welcome Will. I agree with the others about the red eye. It's only fixing the natural colour?

Tess
Title: Re: Red Eye, remove or not?
Post by: WillS on August 08, 2007, 08:33:19 AM
Wow, what great feedback. Thank you all so much.


Like I said this was a photo with little distress, and after reading your comments it was clear that the Red Eye had to go.

(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1002/1103574842_ca955203d7_o.jpg)





Thanks again,

Will
Title: Re: Red Eye, remove or not?
Post by: kiska on August 08, 2007, 08:57:13 AM
Ya done good, Will!
Title: Re: Red Eye, remove or not?
Post by: glennab on August 08, 2007, 09:00:37 AM
Good morning Will

I guarantee the owners will be grateful that you made the kids' eyes look natural.

You are worthy for the simple reason that you're willing to give yourself to this project.  We're all at different levels of expertise -- I'm self-taught, too.  No art background, only having done a few family restorations.  I'm a graphic designer so I'm relatively comfortable with Photoshop, but I had no idea what I DIDN'T know until I started working on the restorations for OPR.

Just know that many of the volunteers are aces at looking over others' restorations-in-progres and giving feedback that will get you through rough spots without making you feel inadequate.  For a group of people who are spread all over the world, this is a pretty tight group.  Helping and encouraging each other gets us further along faster, and gives us some great friends in the process.

Have a wonderful day!

Glenna
Title: Re: Red Eye, remove or not?
Post by: cmpentecost on August 08, 2007, 10:57:05 AM
Much better.  Thanks Will!

Christine
Title: Re: Red Eye, remove or not?
Post by: Ausimax on August 09, 2007, 01:55:22 AM
Hi,

In cases like this photo I have removed the "red eye", I figure these are probably the only photos they have left and if a poor original can be improved I'm sure they would welcome it, then again I'm probably wrong.

Max
Title: Re: Red Eye, remove or not?
Post by: klassylady25 on August 09, 2007, 09:44:26 AM
Red eye removal would be something that most people would want "poofed".  No matter who made the picture it's not attractive.  Looks so much better gone.  Good work Max!  You've come so far from your first works.  I just love it!
Title: Re: Red Eye, remove or not?
Post by: cmpentecost on August 09, 2007, 11:07:01 PM
I agree with Candice.  Red eye is something no one wants in a photo.  Even today's newer digital cameras have red-eye removal tools.  While we want to maintain the integrity of the original photo, I think removing the red eye can only enhance the photo.  It's not like we're creating something that isn't there.  It's just a small improvement to the overall photo.

Christine