How to Improve Reading a Headstone Photograph

[cmatyckas]

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I could read what was written on an old headstone?  The attached photos were sent from Ireland; part of the headstone is very worn, with some of the inscription hard to read.

Has anyone had success with photo enhancing software or is there a company specializing in this?

Thank you.

Caren Matyckas

[jim1]

Try inverting the image.

jim

[cmatyckas]

Do you mean turning the picture into a negative?

[jim1]

Yep.
Unfortunately this is a poor quality picture & is very pixellated close in.

jim

[jim1]

Here's the full monty.

[cmatyckas]

Jim,

Thank you!  I'm not very computer savy and could not have inverted the image so quickly.

It looks to me as if over the years water permiated into the limestone, turning to ice in the winter time, and by expansion, softening and partially forcing off the top layer of stone.

I'll work with your images.

Many thanks.

Caren

[Sinann]

That's lichen. Could you get the person who took the photos to have another go, wetting the headstone first , that can help sometimes.
What graveyard is it? maybe it's online.

[cmatyckas]

The Converys are buried at the Old Graveyard, Lavey Parish, Co Derry, Ireland; here's the link:
http://www.laveyparish.com/o26,4.htm

[petbro]

Hi Caren

Just a note: Sometimes you'll find the full inscription recorded in the church/cemetery's Burial Register with the Memorial Permit.

I had a similar problem with a headstone dated 1901 and was lucky to find the above solution proved fruitful when i visited the cemetery office.

Peter