Enjoying ice cream – scanned and restored photo
I’ve started to restore some old family photos that I’ve scanned. The saturation is corrupted in some of the images, many of them have scratches and some are discolored. A few of them even suffer from all of the above!
Original photo after scan.
It can be time-consuming to scan your old photos, especially if the photos are very damaged and you want to restore them. I was working on this photo last night and here’s a very short summary of what I did with this photo:
- Examined the histogram to determine problems.
- Removed some color cast by adding a level adjustment layer and adjusting the colors individually.
- Added photo filter layer set to “underwater” with 25% density
- Used healing brush & stamp tool on a copy of the original photo layer (sampled from different places near the parts I wanted to keep).
Scanned & restored old family photo.
I’m not totally satisfied with the results, but I don’t have more time to spend on this project for now because I have to go to slavery work.
Related articles
- FULL TUTORIAL: Restore scanned photos in Photoshop (cardinalguzman.wordpress.com)
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Now you’ve told me what to do I think I’ll put up with the instant tanner look.
May 9, 2012 at 06:33
If people are interested I can post a detailed tutorial with screenshots later on.
May 9, 2012 at 10:29
It’s very sweet of you but don’t go to all that trouble on my account! I don’t have the patience any more to go through that process on the hundreds of discoloured old prints. I’ll just have to wear it
May 9, 2012 at 11:05
Memooories…like the corners if my mind…. (imagine music with that)
Love the stroller in the back! Had a similar one, pink
May 9, 2012 at 06:42
The stroller is awesome
I’m not sure, but this might have been my first ice cream. If it’s not the first one it’s definitely one of the first.
May 9, 2012 at 10:19
it’s good for the emotions to take a look back!
May 9, 2012 at 11:00
I agree Frizzie Frizz. Actually it feels nice to sit and ‘work’ on these family memories
May 9, 2012 at 16:40
Morrn,
That is pretty good! Feel very lucky that you do have them! I have none.
Now, my brother back home in Sweden, has bought a scanner that can scan negatives and slides, so he’s been sending a few, old pictures. They bring back so many memories…
I will try your technique now, on some old photos that my husband has..
May 9, 2012 at 11:28
Good luck with the technique. I’ll write a detailed post with screenshots, hopefully later this week – I have several photos that needs a little retouch.
Hopefully your brother can scan the old photos and send them to you
It’s nice to get these old ‘memories’ digital.
May 9, 2012 at 11:37
But re the picture – which one are you???:)
May 9, 2012 at 16:16
I’m the tiny person: the one that probably was astonished to get a taste of ice cream.
May 9, 2012 at 16:38
So…this photo is same age as you are? hehe kidding…thanks for the tips.
May 9, 2012 at 16:46
Yes, it’s the same age. I’m just a few months older
May 9, 2012 at 20:01
Excellent! You did a great job! You may not satisfied yet but in my humble opinion you’ve done a great job.
Thanks for sharing your work.
May 10, 2012 at 00:16
Thank you very much Inge
May 10, 2012 at 05:48
A very interesting process. I haven’t learned any of those steps. I’d like to learn more about the histogram. thank you for the post.
~Anne
May 10, 2012 at 01:17
I’m working on a tutorial with screeenshots & explanations that will be posted shortly. So stay tuned!
May 10, 2012 at 05:46
That would be most generous!
~Anne
May 11, 2012 at 01:18
OMG how cute is this …that cute baby..that’s you right…Aww super super cute photo…these are gems so many stories in every pic…its good you have started restoring them..
May 10, 2012 at 17:57
I was hoping to get an ‘aww’
You’re right: I’m the handsome little guy that’s busy eating ice cream.
May 10, 2012 at 18:47
May 11, 2012 at 08:15
Aww
It is truly a wondrous thing to watch the expression on a child’s face when it tastes ice cream for the first time 
Thanks for the info Cardinal!
May 12, 2012 at 12:38
Yes! That’s the second “Aaw”
May 12, 2012 at 15:29
Good job, great photo Cardinal! Margie
May 15, 2012 at 00:58
Thanks Margie. Glad you like the picture of Mr. Baby Cardinal!
May 15, 2012 at 17:02
That’s amazing! I think you did quite a good job – it’s a testament to how much you really can do with our technology these days.
May 22, 2012 at 02:49
I agree: the technology is amazing and has developed rapidly during our life-time. At the time I had that ice cream, none of this was possible.
May 23, 2012 at 18:05
I just did a post on Leanne Cole’s editing of one of my photos. I remember having seen one of your posts on editing something basic. I have to look for it. This tutorial is very well illustrated and the explanations are very clear. Thank you!
October 1, 2012 at 01:01
Leanne has a lot of great tips in her blog. I like the fact that she usually describes her method and explains her work flow.
October 3, 2012 at 09:46
thank you so much sharing this as I am new to pic editing and its good to learn…good work
April 21, 2013 at 14:05