A Fun Project for Us!

[Candice]

Be on the lookout for #13.  I sent it back this afternoon.

[Jo Ann Snover]

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

[Lynnya]

Yeah I think you are right.. I did add a contrast at the last minute...let me work on it.

[Lynnya]

this is the latest.. will work on it more in a couple of days if needed.. or if it's needed.

[Jo Ann Snover]

That looks great - both the faces look right to me.

[Mhayes]

Lynna, look great to me too!

[Lynnya]

Thanks guys. Thanks for your help Jo Ann.. I appreciate it. They've gone home.

[Candice]

What #pictures haven't been taken?

[Candice]

this is the latest.. will work on it more in a couple of days if needed.. or if it's needed.

Looks great, Lynna!

[philbach]

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.

[Jo Ann Snover]

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.

[philbach]

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

[Jo Ann Snover]

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

[philbach]

Jo Ann Thanks you so much for taking the time to identify areas that needed fixing.  It helped me a lot. 

[Lynnya]

Nice job Phil.. Jo Ann's tips will take it over the top!