I am trying to restore a picture so that it can be printed again in decent quality. The pic I have is a scan of an 11x14 color photocopy of the original photo (quite the roundabout way of getting a picture, but it is all I have). The copy had been rolled up and hence scanned with vertical bands of lighter and darker areas due to the fact that it wouldn't lay flat on the scanner.

I have tried about a dozen times to use Dodge and Burn to even it out, but have yet to get a version I am happy with, due to my inexperience. Any experts out there want to give me a hand?

The pic is of the EP-3 that crash landed on Hainan Island China, signed by the crew that went down with it. I am trying to get a copy suitable for framing at 11x14 as a gift for someone.

Here is the pic:



And here is a link to the full size original on my Flickr page:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2656/...186c391f_o.jpg

or

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ken_fro...60922/sizes/o/



Thanks for your help.

 

I took a shot at it but the results I got for the time I put into it weren't what I would consider gift worthy. Regardless, you may want to try pursuing the same overall course of action I did.

I think what you want to do is targeted levels adjustments. There seems to be three distinct vertical bands of "lightness" running through the image. I made a levels adjustment layer for each of these and made the layer mask for each one correspond to the "lightness band" in the image. I'd do overall levels and curves adjustments to the image to give it some "pop."

If you're not already familiar with them, there's probably a bazillion resources out there on adjustment layers and layer masks. They are not difficult to learn.

 

Here's what I came up with, it's not 100% perfect but it looks better. Lemme know if you want me to change anything.



I'm uploading the full size pic right now.

 

two quick versions...click for full version...

 

Wow, thanks for all the quick replies and solutions that you've offered. These are all much better than I was able to do. I am sure one of these will work out just fine. I'll also continue to improve my skills as well.

 

the skills just take time...i don't know how zguy did his, but i did mine only using the burn and dodge tools in about 20 min...

then in the second image i brought out the colors in the photo since they were pretty washed out.

good luck