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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: lubok on Thursday 18 December 08 01:57 GMT (UK)
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Hello
I'm enquiring on behalf of another rellie of my husband's ...
We need to figure out the approximate date of this photo, but I have no idea who it could be (though it is a mystery CLELAND ancestor from Scotland - that's all we know).
If another larger/higher resolution scan is needed I'll ask and see if my rellie can rescan and send me another larger copy.
Many thanks
Rachel
PS: Restoration isn't needed at this stage ;)
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Hi Rachel...well, it's so small and indistinct that it's hard to see, but I'll take a swing at a date of late 1870s, maybe 1880ish.
Please ask for a 300 dpi scan in colour...that might help bring out some detail.
Cheers,
China
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I would go along with China's dating estimate...probably late 70s. If we could have a bigger scan in colour, that would be great :) Also if there's anything on the back of the card, can we have a pic of that too, please?
Prue
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I don't know if this helps bring out the details...
I'd love to have a go at this, preferably in a bigger scan....
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Quick tidy
Dave
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Hi Dave, Paula, Prue and China!
Thanks for all your efforts in helping to date this photograph, and by restoring the photo :)
I've asked my rellie to see if she can rescan it at a higher resolution - hopefully this will be possible!
But I'm sure the information and the retouched photograph will make her smile!
Merry Christmas and thanks again
Rachel
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If you can get a better copy, it will help, if not, I'll put a bit more into what we have.
Cheers
Paula
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i will give it a go
sylvia
http://www.rogerco.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/dozen/image9.htm
image 9 of 10
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Hi everyone! Thanks so much for your efforts, I really appreciate it :)
Maidmarianoops, I couldn't see the right image on your website... not sure what happened there?
I also have a 600dpi version, but it's too big to post on this website.
Best wishes
Rachel
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Rachel, you can resize it...All you have to do is resize your photo down to under the 500kb maximum allowed on RootsChat. Do this in your photo editor (Microsoft Office Picture Manager or whatever you are using). Go into the edit functions, choose resize, shrink it a bit then save the changes and see how big it is now. Repeat until it's small enough.
Don't use the compress feature, though. Resize.
If you're still having trouble, and have read Cazza's scanning tutorial, you can PM somebody for help.
Cheers,
China
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sorry the image is on the blue yonder website
just click and you should get the photo
Sylvia
i think the hairstyle and sleeves are very similar
the ribbon bow looks out of place
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There's got to be a reason for that bow...rosette what ever.
It doesn't look as though it belongs on the dress. I think it looks as though it's put there where it can be seen...wonder why....
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Thanks China for pointing me to the tutorial... I've had a go - is this a better version to work with?
Thanks! :)
PS: I asked my rellie, Grace, about anything being on the back of the photo, and she said "that old picture is firmly stuck to the cardboard and I cannot get it out. There is nothing written on the back of the cardboard. It is brown with age."
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I'm still picking it up as 72 dpi. The restorers on here like a minimum of 300 dpi for a good restore. Don't ask me how you do it, I just splash the paint round.
Good grief, she could do a feller damage with that locket/watch/whatever she's wearing!
It's a smashing picture, and I am determined to have a swipe at it sooner or later.
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Hi Paula
okay.... I think if you're seeing it as 72 dpi, the next best thing is for me to send that scanning tutorial to Grace and see if she can scan it at 300 or 600 dpi... I'm sure I'm resizing it okay, but I don't have the original unfortunately, so will see if Grace can try again :)
wish us luck!
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All the luck in the world, I'm champin' at the bit, a bit... :D
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Hi Lubok PaulaToo China, Dave, marion Prue,
A Very Merry Christmas to you all :D
There is a very nice broach I can just see behind that watch/locket and a length of chain at her waist,
A better scan might reveal some more detail!
Rabbit B :)
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It's a tease, isn't it Rabbit. You can see there is so much there that is just out of focus.
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Hi Rachel...you might want to mention to Grace not to try to remove the photo from the cardboard. Old photos like that one were printed on material so thin that it couldn't survive without backing. It is fixed permanently to the backing by the photographer and there will be nothing on the back of the photo itself. Removing it will tear and ruin it :(
What we meant by "anything on the back" was that many old photos have a design printed on the back of the card backing, with the photographer's name and address and such. The designs underwent changes over the years and the style can provide valuable dating clues, just as the style of clothing can.
The backing may have been brown to start with, as well...colours came and went along with designs. Every little thing can be a clue... :)
Cheers,
China
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It's a tease, isn't it Rabbit. You can see there is so much there that is just out of focus.
Yes PaulaToo,
It certainly is, I would love to get a better look at that broach!
Rabbit B ;)
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It's the props on the right hand side that are driving me nuts, Rabbit.
Can't make top nor bottom of them....
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Merry Christmas everyone! Thank you for your help!
I'm still waiting on a better scan from my rellie.... hopefully it will happen soon :)
It's great that we have a date of the late 1870s, though!
Best wishes
Rachel
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Hi there - I'm not an expert but to me that necklace looks like a watch like the school teachers wore back then. Is it possible she is a teacher (possibly the ribbon signifying that she just graduated??)
Just a thought to ponder!!!
FYI I checked at ancestry.com and there is a Jane Cleland in Sterlingshire born c1855 who was a teacher in 1871. No idea if this is helpful.
Merry Christmas
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Hi karen, good thinking there, it all follows up with that ribbon.
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Hi there - I'm not an expert but to me that necklace looks like a watch like the school teachers wore back then. Is it possible she is a teacher (possibly the ribbon signifying that she just graduated??)
Just a thought to ponder!!!
FYI I checked at ancestry.com and there is a Jane Cleland in Sterlingshire born c1855 who was a teacher in 1871. No idea if this is helpful.
Merry Christmas
Hi karenfrisky,
Welcome to Rootschat and a Merry Christmas to you too,
I am sure that it is a watch, however it is too big to be a ladies watch, [mine is half that size.] there might have been a way that she could pull the chain down to be able to see the dial. She would have to be very short sighted to look at it at that length. If it was extendable, it could account for the extra chain at her waist!
If that is not the case then a watch is not very likely, unless worn as an ornament! They are very attractive and beautifully engraved as a rule.
I think that the bow on the dress is decoration, I have seen one of those similarly placed in a much later picture
Rabbit B :)
PS PaulaToo, I think that the LH side piece of decor, is one of those lovely pieces of furniture with curved arms. :-\
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I don't, Rabbit... I think it's a 'thing.'
Probably a bit o' furniture as you say, but I can't make anything of it, or what is on the floor in front of it.... yet.
I don't like that rosette, whether it's meant to be there or not. Makes her look like 'best heffer in show,' and that's not nice.
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Hello!
Grace, my rellie, had another go... but looking at the size of the image that she emailed me, it doesn't seem like it worked out for her (rescanning it to 600dpi).
I'll attach it anyhow. I fear that Grace has given up, given that she's having problems scanning...
Still, it's great to know that the image was from the 1870s - and thanks for your help on this!
Merry Christmas!
Rachel
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Right, I'll have a go at a colouring on what we've got, for you....
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Here it is....
Not sure which way round the book is, seems to work both ways, so coloured it as the back facing, with a bit of decoration...I have a couple of books, Sunday at Home 1877 that look like that....
Did my best with the props on the right...but they ain't right...if you know what I mean.
The lady herself came up a treat.
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Hi PaulaToo,
What an excellent job you have done on that one! I said I thought that I could see a broach!
Very nice it is too. Now I have been thinking about that rosette, Mum had a dress in the 20's drop waisted with a decoration like that, I reckon that it matches the cuffs!
Fashion as a way of repeating itself and Mum's dress was short and had no cuffs!
Rabbit B :D
PS Having problems with computer or site or both so posting unchecked!
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Well done, Paula! You've done a stirling job! ;)
What photo editing software do you use? I really admire what you and other people can do when it comes to photo restoration!! Amazing! Thank you!
and... Merry Christmas! We'll be celebrating it sooner than you guys in the northern hemisphere
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Hi Rachel.
I'm using the free program GIMP with a lot of help from my Vista Paint.
Rabbit, I can't agree on the rosette.
In none of my illustations do I have them on the side of a dress like that, especially in a different colour.
I remember when I was a little un, Mum gave me a 20s silk dressing gown for the 'dressing up box.' That had a rosette on it, but it was the same cream coloured silk as the rest.
No, it still looks more 'statement' than 'decoration,' to me.
You never know though, anything could have been going on.
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OK PaulaToo,
I bow to your superior knowledge! I shall look it up, but you are most likely right!
Rabbit B ;)
PS It is not exactly a proper rosette is it! At least not like the one that I won as a child with my rabbit. :D that only has two tails!