Photo Restoration Tutorial
 

Okay, this tutorial should help you to add or give some color/texture to an old, black and white photo.

Step #1 - Choose your picture

For this tutorial, I am going to use an old WWII picture.

[img]http://24.58.163.208/upload/pk-65775.jpg[/img]


Step #2 - Setting up your brushes

Select the brush tool, and look at the settings in the options bar. They should look exactly as that in the picture shown. If you want to change the opacity, I think it helps to set it higher if you cant get a good color. Sometimes 50, or 60 even.

[img]http://24.58.163.208/upload/retut01.gif[/img]

*note* If the program wont let you change your mode to "color,"
go to Image > Mode > RGB Color. Then try again.**

Step #3 - Starting your restoration

Now, you should have your brush settings configured, and ready to go. Take the lasso tool, and select an area around the soldiers skin, and color it in a nice skin color. This may take a few times to get the right tone. I also prefer a 1px feather to make it look a little cleaner.

[img]http://24.58.163.208/upload/retut02.gif[/img]

Get it? All you have to do now is continue to select the uniforms, guns, any other things that would need coloring and fill them in. This is my finished product. Also, don't be affraid to use layer overlays and other blending options.

[img]http://24.58.163.208/upload/retut03.gif[/img]

Post yours! rock:

OWN! this better get sticky.

Thats the hard way. The easier way is faster, and looks identical

Whatever, AM. You're so difficult.

Its alot more accurate to brush it in :) Lasso will take to long for a larger image Imagine lassing out all that barb wire on that one I did yikes ed:

wtf....you have photoshop 8?

I use 8 and 7 biggrin:

[quote="Animal Mother":418a7]Thats the hard way. The easier way is faster, and looks identical[/quote:418a7]

which is.......

thanks man,

[img]http://www.boomspeed.com/vercat/tester.jpg[/img]

[quote="Short Hand":ce50f]I use 8 and 7 biggrin:[/quote:ce50f]

no proteous

lol nice avatar..just saw the movie last night

from the logo in the corner, it looks like Proteus uses v7

I like this method. There's also more at the same site. And these guys are hardcore.
http://www.worth1000.com/tutorial.asp?sid=161018

Does Zoneh or Buckeh want to stickify? No?

Not saying that this isnt helpful, which it is. But, there is a much more effective way and better way of doing this, takes alot to do though and a little harder, but the results (if you have a good eye) are very pleasing. Some guy come to my Digital Art class one time, he works at Black Photography where they do all sorts of shit to pics. He showed the class how to do photo restoration and when we saw the before and after pics, everyone had their mouths open. he also showed us how to fix damaged/old pics and how to bring them back to life. There was one pic with half a guys face damaged on the pic cuz it was so old.. and he should us how to fix that and it was incredible. This was a while ago thoguh, I cant really remember how he did everything step by step, but it was awesome.

Just so you know, You can get jobs doing this kind of stuff. If you have a high knowledge of Photoshop and you have Good Artisitc Ability and have art history to back yourself up, you may have a chance.

That's why I keep EVERYTHING, whether it's shit or ever just sigs, because I am leaning towards this type of career. And When I go for an interveiw I will have a portfolio filled with all my Art I've worked. And just so you know. I just Don't work on Sigs. I have other Art I Work on, on my spare time.

Okay, cool.