Restoring Old Photographs Dick Eastman October 4, 2008

Dick Eastman

October 4, 2008

Today’s Slides Available at http://www.eogn.com/handouts/oldphotos

Available at

http://www.eogn.com/handouts/oldphotos

Restore Old Photos

Restore Old Photos

Scanners

Advantages Inexpensive Readily Available

Inexpensive

Readily Available

Disadvantages Scanning thousands of pictures may be tedious

Scanning thousands of pictures may be tedious

Page feed scanners are even worse Will work well in unattended mode but internal rollers may damage delicate documents.

Will work well in unattended mode but internal rollers may damage delicate documents.

Use a scanner designed for books Planetary scanners create minimal damage. Expensive at $10,000 and up.

Planetary scanners create minimal damage.

Expensive at $10,000 and up.

Use a scanner designed for books Available in different models with different scanning speeds Expensive at $15,000 and up.

Available in different models with different scanning speeds

Expensive at $15,000 and up.

No Scanner? Use a Camera!

Rephotography Flat-bed scanners use a highly directional light that accentuates surface flaws and imperfections. Taking a conventional photograph on a copy stand allows you to experiment with light.

Flat-bed scanners use a highly directional light that accentuates surface flaws and imperfections.

Taking a conventional photograph on a copy stand allows you to experiment with light.

Rephotography Photos that have “silvered out” (developed shiny spots on the surface) can be difficult to scan because of the reflected light. Use rephotography with a polarizing lens to reduce the problem.

Photos that have “silvered out” (developed shiny spots on the surface) can be difficult to scan because of the reflected light.

Use rephotography with a polarizing lens to reduce the problem.

No Scanner? Use a Camera and Camera Stand! Genealogists can duplicate this for a fraction of the expense. Use a camera stand and a high resolution camera.

Genealogists can duplicate this for a fraction of the expense.

Use a camera stand and a high resolution camera.

No Scanner? Use a Camera and Camera Stand! Genealogists can duplicate this for a fraction of the expense. Use a camera stand and a high resolution camera.

Genealogists can duplicate this for a fraction of the expense.

Use a camera stand and a high resolution camera.

No Scanner? Use a Camera and Camera Stand! Genealogists can duplicate this for a fraction of the expense. Use a camera stand and a high resolution camera.

Genealogists can duplicate this for a fraction of the expense.

Use a camera stand and a high resolution camera.

No Scanner? Use a Camera and Camera Stand! Best results are obtained with a slow shutter speed and lots of light.

Best results are obtained with a slow shutter speed and lots of light.

No Scanner? Use a Camera and Camera Stand! Prices vary from about $60 to…

Prices vary from about $60 to…

No Scanner? Use a Camera and Camera Stand! Prices vary from about $60 to… $150 or more.

Prices vary from about $60 to…

$150 or more.

You Don’t Even Need A Fancy Camera Stand! Use a tripod The secret for razor-sharp pictures is a steady platform Don’t have fancy lights? Always remember that sunlight works best

Use a tripod

The secret for razor-sharp pictures is a steady platform

Don’t have fancy lights? Always remember that sunlight works best

Recommendation Use a slow shutter speed And use lots of light! Sunlight works best

Use a slow shutter speed

And use lots of light!

Sunlight works best

Prepare the Photograph Remove the dirt! Keep a dust cloth handy Clean old frames and glass (but not the photos) with wet paper towels Use a soft camelhair brush to remove dust

Remove the dirt!

Keep a dust cloth handy

Clean old frames and glass (but not the photos) with wet paper towels

Use a soft camelhair brush to remove dust

Prepare the Photograph Other useful cleaning items: Cotton swabs Single edge razor blades (use carefully) Liquid film cleaner (available from photo supply stores)

Other useful cleaning items:

Cotton swabs

Single edge razor blades (use carefully)

Liquid film cleaner

(available from photo supply stores)

Prepare the Photograph Never use tissues! Tissues leave lint and also cause minute scratches. Cotton swabs and clean dry cloths are better.

Never use tissues!

Tissues leave lint and also cause minute scratches. Cotton swabs and clean dry cloths are better.

Prepare the Photograph Disposable white cotton gloves are very useful Hands ALWAYS contain body oils, acids, lotions and even bacteria that should be kept from photographs. Even worse, old dust from a photo that was recently cleaned sticks to fingers and may be re-deposited onto the just-cleaned photograph!

Disposable white cotton gloves are very useful

Hands ALWAYS contain body oils, acids, lotions and even bacteria that should be kept from photographs. Even worse, old dust from a photo that was recently cleaned sticks to fingers and may be re-deposited onto the just-cleaned photograph!

Prepare the Photograph Light scratches on photographs often may be erased by using a clean pencil eraser. Use as little pressure as possible. Use many light strokes instead of one strong push

Light scratches on photographs often may be erased by using a clean pencil eraser.

Use as little pressure as possible.

Use many light strokes instead of one strong push

Prepare the Photograph Lightly curled photographs may be straightened by placing weights on them Never place photos face down onto a bare surface; that causes damage. Place between sheets of acid-free paper. Serious curling of old prints may require humidification

Lightly curled photographs may be straightened by placing weights on them

Never place photos face down onto a bare surface; that causes damage. Place between sheets of acid-free paper.

Serious curling of old prints may require humidification

Prepare the Photograph Humidification Can “uncurl” old photographs Be careful! Never let the photograph get wet! Create a humidification box for low cost (Tupperware is your friend)

Humidification

Can “uncurl” old photographs

Be careful! Never let the photograph get wet!

Create a humidification box for low cost

(Tupperware is your friend)

Prepare the Photograph For delicate photos, you might want to scan first, then clean the photos, then scan again. When in doubt, consult a professional!

For delicate photos, you might want to scan first, then clean the photos, then scan again.

When in doubt, consult a professional!

Tintypes Chemicals and tools for cleaning tintypes are available but I suggest you leave that to the pros.

Chemicals and tools for cleaning tintypes are available but I suggest you leave that to the pros.

Scan the Photo Once cleaned, the image is ready to be scanned or photographed.

Once cleaned, the image is ready to be scanned or photographed.

Top 10 Recommendations Make the original as clear and sharp as possible. Always back up your photos immediately! Never, ever work on your original photo. Always make a copy. Share your photos. Crop creatively.

Make the original as clear and sharp as possible.

Always back up your photos immediately!

Never, ever work on your original photo. Always make a copy.

Share your photos.

Crop creatively.

Top 10 Recommendations Take credit, quickly. Black and white are beautiful. Don’t use JPG or GIF or other, compressed formats for your working copy! Experiment, experiment, experiment! The best way to learn your photo editing program is to dive in.

Take credit, quickly.

Black and white are beautiful.

Don’t use JPG or GIF or other, compressed formats for your working copy!

Experiment, experiment, experiment!

The best way to learn your photo editing program is to dive in.

The BEST Photo Editing Software Is… The free program that came with your scanner or camera Free software you can download (GIMP or Picasa from Google) Photoshop (very expensive) Photoshop Elements for Windows or Macintosh (about $90)

The free program that came with your scanner or camera

Free software you can download (GIMP or Picasa from Google)

Photoshop (very expensive)

Photoshop Elements for Windows or Macintosh (about $90)

Example

Example

Example Here is a photo that is too low in contrast

Here is a photo that is too low in contrast

Example

Example

Damaged photographs can have blemishes “erased” Although this may require tedious and painstaking work

Although this may require tedious and painstaking work

Example

Example

Crop a picture to eliminate uninteresting details

Example

Example Marlene Dietrich Goose Bay, Labrador 1943

Darken a Photograph to Reduce the Effects of Reflections

Example

Example