Skip to main content
Mark Kohnitz
Participant
April 19, 2021
Question

RED to normal

  • April 19, 2021
  • 5 replies
  • 646 views

I have a number of photos that were scanned from slides. These images are 50 or more years old and the slides degraded to this majorly red-colored shift. How do I recover them to some degree of "normal"? Just need a few suggestions to set me on the right path.

This topic has been closed for replies.

5 replies

davescm
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 19, 2021

Hi

I would probably go for Black and White - perhaps with a tint.

However if you really want some colour then start with a fairly aggressive curve adjustment on the individual channels.

 

 

Then add some hand coloring using a soft brush on a layer set to Color blend mode

 

Dave

Norman Sanders
Legend
April 19, 2021

I believe trying to return this image to authentic color is a lost cause. Rather, I suggest you convert each into a grayscale image or a duotone.  (This quick sample used Image > Adjustments > Black & White followed by a Curve adjustment. I believe local Dodging and Burning would improve the result.)

Jumpenjax
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 19, 2021

You can choose adjustments>curves and reduce the red going to the channel red and pull down the line until you are happy with the adjustment.

Lee- Graphic Designer, Print Specialist, Photographer
c.pfaffenbichler
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 19, 2021

If the scanning is still going on two recommendations:

• Scan 16bit and

• do NOT save them as jpgs. 

 

Edit: Though none of those will noticably help with the Color Correction itself. 

Kevin Stohlmeyer
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 19, 2021

You can do a combination of manual and auto adjusting using adjustment layers.

Add a Levels adjustment layer as the top layer, then click "Auto" to start.

You can then fine tune using the individual color channels in the Levels layer.

These are a bit extreme, so auto may not be able to do much.

IMO I would convert these with a black and white adjustment layer and convert them to grayscale.