One thing no one touched on is that before starting on a restoration such as this one, scan the image at the best possible setting (contrast, saturation, and hue), and the highest permissible resolution. Make sure the platen is lint free. Use a photo lens cleaning cloth to do so (never use paper towels, including kleenex, or regular hand towels).

300ppi is satisfactory, but 600 or higher is better. The upside to doing so is, it allows more detail reconstruction and repairing, particularly around rips, folds, and tears. The downside is larger resolution files require a lot of memory and processing, so a powerful PC is a must. (A good excuse to have the significant other, or anyone agreeable to your hobbies, purchase a more powerful computer)

Then when you go to print or have a digital photo remade, you'll be glad you did.

PhotoComix,

Great job with the faces. Gives a lot more depth. Almost a 3D feel. Well done!

Wbool63,

As soon as I can I will check out that website you recommended. Many thanx.

Rod,

Thanx for the tips. Good thing I love coffee! I have more photos that I can "experiment" on.....

Mahvin,

Thanx for the scanner advice. I use a Canon MP240 scanner/printer but the software that comes with it limits to 600dpi max. If you know of a program that will scan higher than 600dpi..... Memory or CPU power is not an issue. Normally, I edit with Linux, as I feel Gimp performs better because the system is not burdened by all the "junk" Windows loads at bootup. (IMHO)

Thanx again guys. Looks like I have come to the right place for help. Much appreciated.

Regards

J

Is your scanner running via Sane backend? Some scanners, particularly Canon models, can be extended beyond the standard max of 600 ppi resolution using the backend. My wife's Canon scanner is one such model that benefits from that perk, now scanning at 1200 ppi.

Mahvin,

Not sure. The scanner app in the "Control Panel" does not incorporate dpi adjustment. I will fire up Linux and get back to you.

Regards

J

Mahvin,

Linux has xsane built in and allows up to 1200 dpi.

Regards

J

I love it when our members all team up and offer help. What a great group of members we have here. I love this place.
Johnno you've given good info, too. You've been assimilated. I love it when a plan comes together.

PS I love your avatar. Mr. Spock rocks!

I just had to give it a go. Definitely a 5 hour job. As mentioned before a better scan would be beneficial.
I am unhappy with the person in the middle. I think there is a ribbon in her hair. The blob in her lips are in the original and I did not want to take it away as I think it is part of the original undamaged photo. However if it was my photo I would reduce it. This is done in "bare" Gimp (no plug-ins) .

Great job, wbool!!

I believe there is a ribbon in her hair also, and her hair line goes back farther.On the left side of the image.

Rod has already done an excellent job of restoring it for you. Here is a technique from http://brainbyproduct.wordpress.com/2007/07/09/even-better-healing-without-the-magic-tool/that I have used for blemishes. Basically,

Duplicate layer -> Enhance -> despeckle with parameters (no adaptive, no recursive, black point = -1, white point = 256). For the radius, gentle nudge higher till the largest blemish disappears. Set the layer mode to grain extract. Then copy visible and paste as new layer. Since this image is grayscale, use the clone tool to remove the white spots.

Now, set the middle layer mode to "Normal" and the upper layer mode to "Grain Merge". If you are happy, merge down and then get down to real the work like Rod said.

Hope that helps.

Thanks,
Partha

Great procedure Partha i'll have to look into that myself.
Gimp is excellent for this type of work in my honest opinion.

And like was mentioned before the best results come from real good scans so take your time.