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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: Tor6869 on Monday 27 October 08 12:13 GMT (UK)

Title: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: Tor6869 on Monday 27 October 08 12:13 GMT (UK)
I know this picture is in a very bad state, but would it be at all possible for some of you very talented people to have a go at repairing it for me. It was rescued from a house fire, but is the only one that exists.

Thank you all   :)
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: Niksmum on Monday 27 October 08 15:25 GMT (UK)
my attempt

Irene
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: Emjaybee on Monday 27 October 08 16:14 GMT (UK)
I might as well .......
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: billkent on Tuesday 28 October 08 21:45 GMT (UK)
Couldn't figure out what the two white bulges were, assumed it was fire damage.

Bill
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: puterman on Tuesday 28 October 08 21:50 GMT (UK)
I would like to have a go at this, but it may be a few days before I can get it back to you. David.
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: chinakay on Tuesday 28 October 08 22:19 GMT (UK)
I assumed those white things were Shakespeare sleeves, or whatever they're called...

China
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: Tricia_2 on Wednesday 29 October 08 01:44 GMT (UK)
How sad!
This version isn't great, but I'll post it, just in case it's of use:
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: On Sharp Blind on Wednesday 29 October 08 10:59 GMT (UK)
Thanks all, great job......i know it was pretty bad.
Oh btw......i believe they were sleeves too.
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: Tricia_2 on Wednesday 29 October 08 11:21 GMT (UK)
I'll try a re-sized version, to see if it looks any clearer
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: puterman on Wednesday 29 October 08 23:51 GMT (UK)
Just wanted to let you know that this is going to be a couple of weeks. It is very slow going and I can only spemd 4 or 4 hours a day on it. Attached a small sample of how it is going.
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: willow154 on Thursday 30 October 08 00:16 GMT (UK)
Hi Puterman,
It looks very promising - how nice of you and the others to repair it :) I am sure it is greatly appreciated. Look forward to seeing the end result.
Nice to have you join rootschat; I hope you enjoy it as much as I do - I'm sure you'll be a great asset.
Paulene :)
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: Tricia_2 on Thursday 30 October 08 02:30 GMT (UK)
Yes, that does look very promising.

I really will have to learn how to use my photo-editing packages to their best advantage. :)
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: Tor6869 on Thursday 30 October 08 13:07 GMT (UK)
Thany you so much puterman for your time and effort.....it will be very much appreciated  :)
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: puterman on Thursday 30 October 08 13:17 GMT (UK)
It's my pleasure. I enjoy a challenge!

You could answer on thing perhaps? Did you recover the photo, and if so do you know if there was another on top? The reason I am asking is because the brown damage mark on the left hand side of the porch (facing it) does not appear to match the shadows, or anything else, in the photo. I think I can just make out a feint line of the l/h side of the entrance so I propose to rebuild this along that line. As for the bush, I really could not do anything with that so I hope you don't mind but I have replaced it with part of a hedge from my garden shrunk down to about 1/3 the size and toned down to try and match the photo.

Just keep this topic marked as it could be a few weeks before I get this finished - it is very time consuming.

Regards, David
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: PaulaToo on Thursday 30 October 08 13:36 GMT (UK)
I take my hat off to you, puterman. Welcome to the Restorations department, I can see you will be well entertained here.

Well, I'm having a go, but it isn't coming out too well. I keep trying different ways and then chucking them out. Each time seems to get a bit better, but 'things' seem to keep coming out of the darkness that I don't understand, so I have to start trying to work it out.

I'll manage something...eventually....but it isn't going to be all that good...
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: puterman on Thursday 30 October 08 13:45 GMT (UK)
Hi Paula, what software are you using? If it has layers try cloning the original photo, set the opcaity to 50% and the blend mode to 50%. This can help removing some of the 'clutter'. Viewing as a greyscale can also help determine shapes.
Quote
I'll manage something...eventually....but it isn't going to be all that good...
I am sure you will get there...eventually...and it will be fine!

All the best with it. David
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: puterman on Thursday 30 October 08 13:47 GMT (UK)
Quote
opcaity

And that might even be opacity!!
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: PaulaToo on Thursday 30 October 08 15:48 GMT (UK)
I'm still learning, puterman, which is the main reason why I like the difficult ones now and then. Your brain goes to sleep if you just do the easy ones, and at my age, my brain needs a kick start every now and then.
Thanks for the tip about the layers.
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: Rabbit B on Thursday 30 October 08 22:40 GMT (UK)
Hi Tor6869,

Welcome to rootschat.  Dreadful things fires, I have seen a couple and don't want to see another, you are lucky to have saved this one. I am so glad that you did, my friend lost everything in her house fire.

I am sure that the clever people on the restoration thread of which PaulaToo is one, will do a good job for you.  I shall watch with  great interest.

Hi China, Willow154, I remember those sort of sleeves, I had a blouse with sleeve like that.  All the rage not that long ago in the 60/70's! Copies of course.  ::)

Still have them in my wardrobe, they make good costumes for dressing up!

Rabbit B  ;D
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: PaulaToo on Thursday 30 October 08 23:32 GMT (UK)
Ooo the Tom Jones blouses, to go with the Tom Jones bow for your hair.... simple times, but they were fun...
That was Tom Jones the film (I've gone all shivery thinking of it. Pull yourself together woman!) not Tom the singer......
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: Rabbit B on Thursday 30 October 08 23:42 GMT (UK)
err Sooory PaulaToo,

I am not a Tom Jones fan!  I liked rock n'roll, quite the raver in those days! How about you?

Rabbit B  ;D
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: PaulaToo on Friday 31 October 08 00:09 GMT (UK)
Me neither, Rabbit, I'm more into Verdi and Tchaikovsky, was referring to Tom Jones the film of the book by Henry Fielding..........
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: chinakay on Friday 31 October 08 00:59 GMT (UK)
Here he is, with his sleeves :D
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: PaulaToo on Friday 31 October 08 10:27 GMT (UK)
OH M GOSH!
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: billkent on Friday 31 October 08 10:50 GMT (UK)
Stop it China!!....Paula's gone all weak at the knees. ;) ;)
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: PaulaToo on Friday 31 October 08 10:54 GMT (UK)
Mmmmwaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 ;D Got to go shopping, see you later............
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: Rabbit B on Friday 31 October 08 11:52 GMT (UK)
Thank you China,

For having filled a gap in my education!  I have to admit that this is one I have not heard of!

Paula, I am into the classical stuff as well, but I had not heard of this Tom Jones!  Or the writer!

TTFN I am off shopping as well.

Rabbit B   ;)
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: Tor6869 on Friday 31 October 08 12:54 GMT (UK)
Thanks for the effort all......in answer to your question puterman.....there probably was other photos on top of it, but there was a wooden cross beam splitting the left hand side of the porch, with a larger piece of glass being on top.......If that makes sense  :)
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: PaulaToo on Friday 31 October 08 16:47 GMT (UK)
Not brilliant, but this it what I can see...
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: puterman on Friday 31 October 08 21:18 GMT (UK)
Very good Paula, you must let me into the secret of how you did the hands so well. Like the oval - great idea. David.
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: PaulaToo on Friday 31 October 08 21:30 GMT (UK)
Not very clever, but it works, puterman. I blew the picture up 300% could just about see the lines there, so I picked the darkest colour in the line with the dropper, and enhanced where the lines were faded, then blurred in with the blur tool to make it look less stark...
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: puterman on Friday 31 October 08 21:35 GMT (UK)
Ah, a technique I do use, but not always successfully. It seems to have worked very well for you. At present I am in at 600 - 1500% rebuilding the faces. David.
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: PaulaToo on Friday 31 October 08 21:39 GMT (UK)
Sounds good...Must admit I'm longing to see this one.
Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: Rabbit B on Friday 31 October 08 22:55 GMT (UK)
Hi Folks,

Lovely restore PaulaToo, it was certainly a difficult one to do.  But you have come up trumps as always!

I am sure that Tor6869 will be thrilled to bits with it!

Take a bow that girl! ;D

Rabbit B  ;)

Title: Re: Rescued from fire, in need of repair
Post by: Tor6869 on Monday 03 November 08 16:37 GMT (UK)
great work all.......keep up the good work  :)