Improving Focus on old photos

BK
Posted By
Brian_Kitching
Apr 2, 2004
Views
368
Replies
9
Status
Closed
Hi How do I improve the focus on old photos, black and white also colour? I am using PS 7 and XP. Any help would be apreciated.
Regards
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focus improve old

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TD
Thee_DarkOverLord
Apr 2, 2004
you cant, you can try sharpen, but i doubt its going to work.
GH
Gary_Hummell
Apr 2, 2004
Adding to Dark, tweaking contrast and sharpening can trick the viewer into seeing a more focused image. Alas,there is no way to actually focus an image in PS or any other program.

Gary
JG
Julio_Guerra
Apr 2, 2004
Look into Focus Magic, a plugin. It does work well.
www.focusmagic.com

Julio
CP
Cleveland_Park
Apr 3, 2004
Another thumbs up for Focus Magic. It is one of the best bargains in Photoshop filters. Well worth the price.
BO
Burton_Ogden
Apr 3, 2004
I’m also a big fan of Focus Magic. I use it a lot.
DM
dave_milbut
Apr 3, 2004
you might want to nose into this thread…

pleader "Favorite Sharpening Methods" 7/23/02 5:52am </cgi-bin/webx?14/0>
BO
Burton_Ogden
Apr 3, 2004
Dave,

It is important to distinguish between focusing an image and sharpening an image, as can be seen in these Focus Magic versus Unsharp Mask examples <http://www.focusmagic.com/exampleunsharpmask.htm>.

Sharpening modifies just the "edges", while focusing applies to the entire image. That can be seen very clearly in the highlights of the eyes in Example 3 on the referenced webpage. The mathematical deconvolution algorithm used in focusing an image requires an order of magnitude more processing than sharpening algorithms, which is another example of the principle that "you get what you pay for."

— Burton —
DM
dave_milbut
Apr 3, 2004
yes true burton.
BL
Bill_Lamp
Apr 5, 2004
Sharpen
UnSharp masking
FocusMagic
NIK’s InkJet sharpener
High pass sharpening
"Sharpening" by contrast
and ??????????? else

So many different ways. So many different adjustments on each. And what is best for one photograph + intent isn’t the right choice for the next.

Is it time for there to be a "Certified Sharpener" study program?

Sorry, I’m drifting OT.

Bill

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