Help needed with basic concepts of photo repairs

[McGroger]

Hi, Zaph. There's no easy way. Learn how to use the tools and practise, practise, practise.

I often compare it with carpentry: there are different tools and different brands of tools. You don't really know what they can do until you've used them a lot.

Rootschat is great because you can go back over years of restores and see what restorers have achieved then have a go yourself and use your tools to see what you can achieve.

You'll often find that you can do a job just as well with two different tools. Think of carpentry: is a nail better than a screw? Your choice of tools and how you use them will gradually become your "style".

Peter

[bluedooo]

I would try YouTube, loads of videos explaining how to tackle various types of repair. Take small steps to begin with, and build your skills slowly.

[Zaphod99]

Thanks.  I am inspired to give it a try. (McGroger, your tool analogy was good. It reminds me of "measure with a micrometer, mark with chalk, cut with an axe).

Ian, I now see that" blurring over a crease on a plain background "is actually called clone stamp.

Zaph

[Ian Nelson]

Just found out... with paint.net when you select an area with the Clone Tool, the Copied area moves with the Pasted area and this means you have to constantly change your 'Area to be Copied'. ( unless there's a way to change that which I have yet to discover)
However, in GIMP ( which I'm practising - ( new version now available for download)). the Area to be Copied can stay fixed which allows you to Paste as often as you like without having to Re-Select an Area to be Copied.  Yet, you can hold down the Mouse switch and they move as a pair as in Paint.net.
One up for GIMP.
Don't believe all the HELP tutorials though ... I tried one which says you have to have a Separate Layer for each colour to be Overlaid.  I wasted 2 hours I'll never get back ...