Restoration help.

[Quoll]

I'm looking for a bit (ok probably a lot) of help with restoring an old drawing of someone very dear to me.
I've had a few goes at it but my photoshop skills don't extend that far.
You can find the pic HERE , it's a big arse pic, over a meg in size, if you can help and want it resized just let me know.


Here's what you would be working with.

http://files.myopera.com/Bilby/albums/122800/possysmll.jpg

 

[Halo_n_horns]

I'm looking for a bit (ok probably a lot) of help with restoring an old drawing of someone very dear to me.
I've had a few goes at it but my photoshop skills don't extend that far.
You can find the pic HERE , it's a big arse pic, over a meg in size, if you can help and want it resized just let me know.

What kind of restoration are you attemtping? It almost looks like it would be a better idea to have an artist actually touch up the original, and then dry-mat it and get it behind some glass.

 

[Quoll]

What kind of restoration are you attemtping? It almost looks like it would be a better idea to have an artist actually touch up the original, and then dry-mat it and get it behind some glass.

For now I'm just looking for someone who can remove the creases and stains with photoshop, it was originally done on white paper although the background colour doesn't particularly worry me. I want to get a nice clean copy before I let anyone do anything to the original, just in case.

 

[Halo_n_horns]

For now I'm just looking for someone who can remove the creases and stains with photoshop, it was originally done on white paper although the background colour doesn't particularly worry me. I want to get a nice clean copy before I let anyone do anything to the original, just in case.

I would think that BlackSnake has the programs and the talent for doing what you're after. I would start with PMing him to see what he can do for you. Aside from him I know there's one or two others in here that may have the abilties, but off the top of my head I don't think I could spill the right names. Browsing through some of the contest threads may produce who your looking for to do this. I know there were several people into various types of manipulations that involve some fair amount of computer skills.

Once upon a time I used to have all of the skills and programs to accomplish what you're after. I'm sorry I can't currently help you further with this project myself.

 

[Halo_n_horns]

On a side note; I don't think I would concentrate on the creases and wrinkles, just the mold. That illustration has a mood about it that I think those creases actually enhance along with the discoloration of the paper.

Maybe its just me, though.

 

[MaverickMan]

I'm looking for a bit (ok probably a lot) of help with restoring an old drawing of someone very dear to me.
I've had a few goes at it but my photoshop skills don't extend that far.
You can find the pic HERE , it's a big arse pic, over a meg in size, if you can help and want it resized just let me know.


Here's what you would be working with.

OK, it is pretty much done but is this what you had in mind? I reduced it in size to fit Lit's requirements for this sample. I tried very hard not to alter the original pencil lines.

I have the same pic in original size. If you want it, I just need an addy for where to send it.

 

[Kcar]

On a side note; I don't think I would concentrate on the creases and wrinkles, just the mold. That illustration has a mood about it that I think those creases actually enhance along with the discoloration of the paper.

Maybe its just me, though.

I agree, dude. The first thing that I noted was how much I liked the sepia tones, as well as the wrinkles, here. They lend a lovely softness to the drawing. Many of the old master drawings of famous artists, like Michaelangelo's, are in this kind of condition, and they are more beautiful for it, stains and all.

I just clicked up the larger drawing and I have to tell you that it's gorgeous just the way it is - I wouldn't even remove the stains!

 

[MaverickMan]

I agree, dude. The first thing that I noted was how much I liked the sepia tones, as well as the wrinkles, here. They lend a lovely softness to the drawing. Many of the old master drawings of famous artists, like Michaelangelo's, are in this kind of condition, and they are more beautiful for it, stains and all.

I just clicked up the larger drawing and I have to tell you that it's gorgeous just the way it is - I wouldn't even remove the stains!

In a way I like the drawing pretty much as it is. The mold and the stains are a bit distracting but the creases do add a flavor to the drawing, as does the yellowed paper. A good restorer can flatten the drawing somewhat without removing the tight creases and should be able to remove the mold without too much trouble.

But he wanted a copy as close to the original as possible. Hope I got close.

 

[Kcar]

But he wanted a copy as close to the original as possible. Hope I got close.

That you did, MM!

 

[MaverickMan]

That you did, MM!

It was fun doing it. And gave me a way to play with various photoshop techniques I don't use much.

I hope he comes back to get the big copy.

 

[olivefun]

Hey, that looks good.

Olive

 

[MaverickMan]

Hey, that looks good.

Olive

It was a beautiful drawing to start with. The eyes are particularly stunning and expressive. I was happy that none of the creases went through them.

 

[Quoll]

First off my apologies for taking so long in replying, life has, to say the least, been somewhat hectic (see av for a clue ).

Awesome work Mav, seeing that in B&W took me way back, many thanks.
Part of the reason I wanted one close to the original was the memories that it holds.
HnH, Mav and Kcar, I agree with all you have said and I do love the drawing the way it is.
The drawing was done back in 1981 when my wife was 18, by a guy who signed it as RIVAS, and funnily enough he said doing eyes was his "thing" and that her eyes were beautiful.
That poor picture has been through quite a few moves and has been lost more than once, including earlier scans.
I love that the picture has aged with us, although I don't think we are that mouldy.

The original I may have preserved just the way it is, rather than inflict any more damage on it.
If anyone wants to have a go at just clearing up the face and leaving the background as is, or in whatever way you think it needs please feel free, I suspect it wont bother me to have a lot of copies to choose from.
Thanks again for your comments and help and your great work.

 

[MaverickMan]

That poor picture has been through quite a few moves and has been lost more than once, including earlier scans.
I love that the picture has aged with us, although I don't think we are that mouldy.

The original I may have preserved just the way it is, rather than inflict any more damage on it.
If anyone wants to have a go at just clearing up the face and leaving the background as is, or in whatever way you think it needs please feel free, I suspect it wont bother me to have a lot of copies to choose from.
Thanks again for your comments and help and your great work.

Here is an attempt at just cleaning up the face and preserving the general coloring of the paper.

Again I saved a full size version.

Mav

 

[WARNINGWARNING]

whoops. too late. Nice job, Maverick.

 

[Kcar]

First off my apologies for taking so long in replying, life has, to say the least, been somewhat hectic (see av for a clue ).

Awesome work Mav, seeing that in B&W took me way back, many thanks.
Part of the reason I wanted one close to the original was the memories that it holds.
HnH, Mav and Kcar, I agree with all you have said and I do love the drawing the way it is.
The drawing was done back in 1981 when my wife was 18, by a guy who signed it as RIVAS, and funnily enough he said doing eyes was his "thing" and that her eyes were beautiful
That poor picture has been through quite a few moves and has been lost more than once, including earlier scans.
I love that the picture has aged with us, although I don't think we are that mouldy.

The original I may have preserved just the way it is, rather than inflict any more damage on it.
If anyone wants to have a go at just clearing up the face and leaving the background as is, or in whatever way you think it needs please feel free, I suspect it wont bother me to have a lot of copies to choose from.
Thanks again for your comments and help and your great work.

In bold letters: Hahahahahahahaha!!

And congrats on yer little one.

 

[WARNINGWARNING]

anyway...
http://img131.imagevenue.com/loc315/th_09069_Face.clearTINY_122_315lo.jpghttp://img42.imagevenue.com/loc431/th_09074_LESSwrinklesTINY_122_431lo.jpghttp://img109.imagevenue.com/loc519/th_09079_BWrestoreTINY_122_519lo.jpg


[img=http://img12.imagevenue.com/loc413/th_07956_Face.clear_122_413lo.jpg][img=http://img156.imagevenue.com/loc452/th_07964_LESSwrinklesSM_122_452lo.jpg][img=http://img45.imagevenue.com/loc567/th_07971_BWrestoreSM_122_567lo.jpg]

Have full size files as well. CAN be cleaned further.

 

[MaverickMan]

anyway...
[img=http://img12.imagevenue.com/loc413/th_07956_Face.clear_122_413lo.jpg][img=http://img156.imagevenue.com/loc452/th_07964_LESSwrinklesSM_122_452lo.jpg][img=http://img45.imagevenue.com/loc567/th_07971_BWrestoreSM_122_567lo.jpg]

Nice work.

 

[WARNINGWARNING]

Nice work.

thank you.

A bit redundant, as you had already done the job.
I had downloaded and begun ,before
seeing that you had accomplished the task.

 

[MaverickMan]

thank you.

A bit redundant, as you had already done the job.
I had downloaded and begun ,before
seeing that you had accomplished the task.

You used a slightly different approach to how much you "cleaned" and how much you left. It gives him a choice as to what he would like better.

I actually like the coloring on the clear face only better than on mine in the sense that it more closely resembles the old coloring of the rest of the paper while taking out the gross variations in light caused by the distorted paper and the creases across the face. It has a slightly less uniform color which seems more natural to me for older yellowed paper, which seldom discolors uniformly.

Again, nice work!