Ramblings of a Grouch

So on to the face of our DigitalMemoriesonline lady.

The face in this photograph was in quite good condition and not a great deal of work was needed to restore it. Several dark blemishes were addressed using the Healing Brush and Clone tool in Photoshop, along with a couple of lighter patches. It is important to pay attention to the patterns of light and shade on a face - not only is it the focal point of the photograph but the changing tones, shadows and wrinkles are what makes a face unique.

In this photo the shadow beneath the nose,the shape of the lips, the eyes, the spectacle frames and the actual outline of the head all act as mini focal points, the things we see and recognise in someone we know. Change any one of them and the image will change from a realistic depiction of that person to an impression. Almost imperceptible maybe, but noticeable nevertheless.

While tidying up this area I also had to remove a scratches on the chin and the cheek where the photo showed minor damage. But the lines and creases in the skin itself were left in as they are a part of the character of this lady.

The key to restoring the face correctly lies in changing the magnification regularly - I see different blemishes at different magnifications. I also gain a sense of where I am in the restoration, what I have done and what needs further work.

Finally I added a Levels adjustment to the right side of nose (in shadow) to reduce the darkening of the photo due to its age. I also sharpened the eyes and mouth using the Unsharp Mask tool, then increased the contrast using the Curves tool. This directs attention to the main features - a wry smile which is reflected in the eyes. The small images below show the left eye before and after these adjustments. The effect is subtle (certainly at the size shown here) but noticeable.

Before

After

I may apply a little sharpening and contrast adjustment to the final photograph so I didn't sharpen these areas too heavily - over-sharpening looks grainy and very artificial.

Next is the hair, folllowed by final adjustments and sepia toning.

Until next time ...

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