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This tutorial will teach you how to use various techniques to restoring your
time-ravaged images.

Why restore old photos?
Time can destroy our memories. The reason to restoring a photo is the same
reason you hold on to you memories. Sometimes these memories need a little
help to stay new and fresh in our minds.

Rule #1: Never use your original file to work
on in PhotoShop. Duplicate your image in a New layer and work on the copy.
This way if you make a mistake you can always
start again.

Step 1: Applying Color Balance

Open your image in Photoshop and make sure that your layers palette is visible. If it isn’t, choose Window>Layers or hit F7. The first thing you’re going to want to do is duplicate the background layer of the image, by hitting Ctrl-J. You will now have two layers in your layers palette. Double-click Layer 1 and rename it Color Balance.

With the Color Balance layer selected (1) in your layers palette, choose Image>Adjustments>Color Balance (2).From here you can adjust what colors need to be intensified and de-saturated. Color setting on this photo should be set: Color Levels: small00, +30, +100 (just eye what looks best to you)

You should now see the original colors to your photo coming back. Now on to
step 2

Step 2: Restoring Detail

Again create a new layer by hitting Ctrl-J. Double-click the new layer and rename it Overlay.

With the Overlay layer selected (1) in your layers palette, choose Image>Adjustments >De-saturate. (2) Then go the layer window and change the layer from “Normal” to “Overlay” and set the opacity to 30%. (3) Then hit Ctrl-E on the Overlay layer to merge the layers.

Now that we have restored the colors it is now time to move on to the earthy
tomes and shadings. To step 3

Step 3: Curves

Again create a new layer by hitting Ctrl-J. Double-click the new layer and rename it Curves.

With the Curves layer selected (1) in your layers palette, choose Image>Adjustments>Curves. (2) In this window change the input to 109 output to 96 (close to what the image shows) (3) Then hit Ctrl-E on the Curves layer to merge the layers.

All the colors and tone have been restored and replaced. Though we are not
done the goal is near.

Step 4: Gaussian Blur

The gaussian blur is going to take the years of adhesive damage off the photo and give back it smooth look. Create a new layer by hitting Ctrl-J. Double-click the new layer and rename it Gaussian Blur.

With the Gaussian Blur layer selected (1) in your layers palette, choose Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur. (2) In this window change the radius to between 0.6 – 1.0 (use your best judgment) and set the layer opacity to 80%. (3) Then hit Ctrl-E on the Gaussian Blur layer to merge the layers.

With the Gaussian blur in place only three steps remain.

Step 5: High Pass

The High Pass filter is the best way to restore the richness of color and definition to your photo. Create a new layer by hitting Ctrl-J. Double-click the new layer and rename it High Pass.

With the High Pass layer selected (1) in your layers palette, choose Filter>Other>High Pass. (2) In this window change the radius to between 40.0 – 50.0 (use your best judgment) and set the layer opacity to 400. (3) Then hit Ctrl-E on the High Pass layer to merge the layers.

Step 6: Brightness and Sharpen

Create a new layer by hitting Ctrl-J. Double-click the new layer and rename it Brightness/Contrast.

With the Brightness/Contrast layer selected (1) in your layers palette, choose Image>Adjustments >Brightness/Contrast. (2) In this window set the brightness to +30 and the contrast to +10(use your best judgment) and set the layer opacity to 400. (1) in your layers palette, choose Filter>Sharpen>Sharpen. (3) Hit Ctrl-F to do this twice. (4) Then hit Ctrl-E on the Brightness/Contrast layer to merge the layers.

The last step is to remove all the color splotches that do not belong and
add a border.

Step 7: Clone and Stamp Tool

The Clone and stamp tools are the most valuable resource when restoring a photo tears and ink stains can be removed fairly easy. So let’s get started, create a new layer by hitting Ctrl-J. Double-click the new layer and rename it Clone.

With the Clone layer selected (1) in your layers palette, choose Clone Stamper from your bruch palette. (2) Atl-click to select a good section of the image near the part you want to replace. (3) Then left click over the damaged section to clone the good over and the new section will blend automatically. (4) Continue step 1 - 3 till the damaged areas are replaced.

And you are done. Below is my original and the restored photo.

Posted on Tuesday, July 31st, 2007 at 2:21 pm in Photo Effects.