Attached Link: http://retouchpro.com/

What I use is the Healing Brush in Photoshop...and sometimes (but rarely)...the clone brush...shouldnt be too hard to do looking at the scan.

The 2nd one looks to be a very easy fix. The first one is about 95% easy. The tough parts in that one are the cracks going across the face. If you have a higher resolution copy, that would be best. I can give it a shot if you'd like. -=>Donald

I think the prints we started from were contacts made from large negatives, though the softness of the images suggested something more like a Box Brownie than a Agfa Billy Record in the optical stakes.

There's the potential for a quite good large print, but it may not stand up to a close look.

Anyway, the tiny picture is a same-size, partial, retouch of the worst part of your first picture.

It really needs a much bigger original, and a lot more care to get the shape of the nose right. It's lucky the other picture is good on the face.

Misha, thank you for the link, I will try and follow the info there. Jimry, I am afraid my Ps skills are nearly zero, I did try with Microsft Graphics but made a terrible mess. Donald, You could be a life saver! but what you see is what I got to work with. I scanned in gray scale and saved as jpeg at the highest res I could. The photo is only 3.5 by 5.5 . If you can spare the time I know my dad would be so pleased and I would be really grateful. Group Hugs Pat

AntionaTiger Oops cross posted. Yes that is much better than what I achived. I won't post it and shame my self lol, but this is something I think will take me a while to figure. many thanks Pat

OK. It will be tricky. We could do better if you'd borrow at least a 600-1200ppi scanner. For a 3.5X5.5 original, that would give us at least a 1KX3.3K image to work with. It is also somewhat better if you scan in color; there is a lot of information hiding in the colors. I still think a contest would be a good idea.

More than happy to provide a place to put the file for download. Not sure how to make a contest out of it though? Misha if you've got ideas let me know.....! :~) As everyone has already said for a serious restoration and the ability to get a decent print out of it afterwards you need a good high resolution scan to start with....

I will volunteer web space for the image. I will make time to help too Pat, if you want me to. Perhaps jordyart would know someone near you that could scan it. I know England is a large country but no so large that we can't find someone in your area that could get the image scanned. Perhaps making a tutorial contest would work Misha. One where the winner is chosen by the skill of repair as well as the explination of that repair. Just a thought. E-mail me if I can be of ANY help at all Pat. Magick Michael

Thank you everyone,I am overwhelmed by all your kindness, my heart, as well as my eyes are full. By following Donald's instructions I have rescanned the photo in colour at 600dpi and cropped the frame off. It is now 3.14M I will be happy to do what ever you suggest next. I know everyones time is precious to them. A very grateful Pat.

Oh can't edit the above, should read 3.41M in size

The full resolution image is now up and available for download at the top of the page.... 3.5MB download. Anyone willing to help try their hand at fixing it is welcome to the file....

Sweet, I'll see what I can do with it too. I used to do similar work for a small photo company. This looks like a challenge though. Also, for anyone that's interested, I know a site that you can upload almost any size jpg and get a photo print made. They have different "picture packs", are very affordabe, quick turnaround and have great color control.(maybe not for gallery work) they are based in California, but do ship overseas. They are affiliated with Kodak.(Some people care)

Just so people know. The zipfile contains a file without an extention. Just rename it so it says patmartj.jpg and it opens up allright :)

woops.... I think I may have done that, when I renamed the file! Give me a sec.... I'll fix it!

Can patmartj also upload, or mail to me Misha883@renderosity.com , a good scan of the smaller but clearer pic. Need reference for right eye.

Attached Link: http://www./zhounder.com/patmartj/

PS If you file is over 10megs let me know and I will set up an FTP site and send you login information so you can upload files over 10megs. This service is for files to assist Pat in this restoration only! No other files will be uploaded or accepted and this will not be a permanant url.

With a little tweaking of the brightness and contrast to bring out any detail in the dress, that could be turned into a decent picture already. The stuff's common enough in the US, I expect, but Boots in the UK are rolling out a DIY photoprint service from digital, Kodak technology, as well as there being various mail-order and photoshop digital-print services. The Kodak machines will print 6x4 and 8x6, with various zoom and crop options, but you can't leave part of the paper unprinted to get a 4x4 print on 6x4 paper. Also, it tends to lose a little at the edges. And it will read CDs and floppy disks, as well as digital camera media. It's not a photographic print, but I've found the results to be quite good.

Thank you, Zhounder!

I played around with the photo for about an hour, did some contrast adjustments, enlarged it, and tried to do the best I could to take out the "lightning" strikes. Anyway, here it is...

Where do you download the larger version? Did this on the one at the beginning of this thread.

The file can be downloaded right at the top of the forum header where the banner is.....

Sorry, I missed that...Duhhhh...Sometimes I'm just blind. Great feature for a photographer, eh?

Attached Link: http://www.shadowwindmanor.com/patmartj.jpg

Impressive work SW! Can't wait to see everyone elses results!

Actually it's still a work in progress, noticed some other spots that need cleaning up that I missed. Will post again later.

This is my current status. Haven't had all that much time, but it's progressing:

Thank you so much everyone for your time and effort. I am amazed at the results you are all getting.My efforts are going nowhere fast, but I shall continue to try. Thank you again Pat

Just a reminder about the photo restoration project. We've had a couple excellent attempts. A few more are promised. Much thanks to Magic Michael [http://www.zhounder.com/patmartj/] and Michelle for hosting the large files.

Attached Link: http://www.shadowwindmanor.com/patmartj.jpg

Attached Link: http://people.zeelandnet.nl/picard/temp/patmartj.jpg

These are all great! 3DGuy and Shadowwind, If you still have your Photoshop (or whatever) file, that would be better for print. If it is under 10meg, E-mail it to me at zhounder@zhounder.com. If it is over 10meg let me know and I will get you the upload info for the FTP site. Magick Michael