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.
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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