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)
- The Alligator – lens blur effect (cardinalguzman.wordpress.com)
- Blogging-tips: crop & resize your photos (cardinalguzman.wordpress.com)
Cardinal Guzman 
Now you’ve told me what to do I think I’ll put up with the instant tanner look. 🙂
If people are interested I can post a detailed tutorial with screenshots later on.
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 🙂
Memooories…like the corners if my mind…. (imagine music with that)
Love the stroller in the back! Had a similar one, pink 🙂
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.
it’s good for the emotions to take a look back!
I agree Frizzie Frizz. Actually it feels nice to sit and ‘work’ on these family memories 🙂
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..
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.
But re the picture – which one are you???:)
I’m the tiny person: the one that probably was astonished to get a taste of ice cream.
So…this photo is same age as you are? hehe kidding…thanks for the tips. 🙂
Yes, it’s the same age. I’m just a few months older 🙂
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. 🙂
Thank you very much Inge 🙂
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
I’m working on a tutorial with screeenshots & explanations that will be posted shortly. So stay tuned! 🙂
That would be most generous!
~Anne
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..
I was hoping to get an ‘aww’ 😉
You’re right: I’m the handsome little guy that’s busy eating ice cream.
😆
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!
Yes! That’s the second “Aaw” 🙂
Good job, great photo Cardinal! Margie
Thanks Margie. Glad you like the picture of Mr. Baby Cardinal!
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.
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.
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! 🙂
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.
thank you so much sharing this as I am new to pic editing and its good to learn…good work