Help with a restoration: eliminate a texture

CG
Posted By
Carlos_Gonzalez-Najera
Dec 24, 2003
Views
563
Replies
7
Status
Closed
I would really appreciate your help with an old image I am trying to restore. It is an image of my wife’s grandmother and it has a great sentimental value to her. I have posted a cropped portion of the image at http://home.comcast.net/~jcgnba/html/restoration.html <http://home.comcast.net/%7Ejcgnba/html/restoration.html>

The problem is that I scanned the only print that exists (the original has been lost) and the paper where it was printed has a honeycomb texture. I have tried using Gaussian Blur, Despeckle, Median and Unsharp Mask in different combinations without any success. Some combinations do get rid of the pattern but then the image is so bkurred that it becomes useless.

I would really appreciate any input and suggestions. This would make a great holilday gift for my wife if I can figure out a way to solve the pattern issue.

Happy holidays to all,

Carlos
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CG
Carlos_Gonzalez-Najera
Dec 24, 2003
One more comment. I scanned the image at 1200 dpi, so I think that I have enough information to work with the image. I just need to figure out what to do.
L
LenHewitt
Dec 24, 2003
Carlos,

Take a look at http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx?13@@.2cce1112/0
CG
Carlos_Gonzalez-Najera
Dec 24, 2003
Len,

Thank you so much. I really had not thought of those ideas, and eliminating it at scan time seems to be the best alternative. I will try to convince my wife to let me play with the original and I’ll see how it goes.

My best wishes to you and your family this holiday season.

Carlos
L
LenHewitt
Dec 24, 2003
You’re very welcome, Carlos and the Season’s Wishes to you too.
BO
Burton_Ogden
Dec 24, 2003
Carlos,

The problem is that I scanned the only print that exists (the original has been lost) and the paper where it was printed has a honeycomb texture.

If you still had the original, your best solution would be to re-photograph it under very indirect lighting. Since that solution is not available to you, I suggest you try the demo version of Focus Magic. It can do a good job removing some patterns:

<http://www.focusmagic.com/exampledespeckle.htm>

Another software solution to try is Neat Image, which exists as a Photoshop plug-in and a standalone application. Neat Image can sample a noise profile and remove that structure from the image. Neat Image also has a downloadable trial version.

<http://www.neatimage.com/examples.html>

I routinely use both Neat Image and Focus Magic on my images.

— Burton — (not associated with Neat Image or Focus Magic)
CG
Carlos_Gonzalez-Najera
Dec 25, 2003
Thank you Burton. I will also try those alternatives. I’m having a hard time convincing my wife to let me submerge the photo in glycerine, so I will definitely try your ideas before I do the extreme one.

Happy holidays and my best wishes,

Carlos
BO
Burton_Ogden
Dec 25, 2003
Carlos,

The glycerine technique works to fill in the physical indentations of the honeycomb texture between your print and the scanner glass. It’s rather similar to the technique they use to mount film in a drum scanner. I would be slow to use it too. Cleaning the glycerine off the scanner and/or the print could be problematic. Pure glycerine contains no water, but quickly absorbs water from the atmosphere. It is, as they say, hygroscopic. I wouldn’t want to get glycerine inside my scanner.

However, I think I misunderstood your situation. I thought the original photo was the one with the honeycomb texture and that your print included the image of the original’s texture as part of the image.

It seems to me now, since you are considering scanning with glycerine, that it is your print that has the honeycomb indentations. In that case, your best recourse is to re-photograph your print, using an SLR if possible, in indirect light. Outdoors under a tree in bright open shade is usually sufficient, but sometimes people make a "tent" with a white sheet so that the subject is indirectly lit only by light from the sheet.

By avoiding any discrete light sources, you can prevent little "catchlights" and shadows on the texture of the honeycomb. An SLR will let you preview your photograph to verify that your lighting does not show the honeycomb texture. I would advise that you try re-photographing your print and scan a print from that, or use a digital camera to avoid the need for a scanner.

If some texture still shows because perhaps some dust or soil had settled into the indentations of the honeycomb texture, then I would recommend the third party programs I mentioned.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

— Burton —

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