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Inspiring
May 15, 2024
Question

Restoring Old B&W photos

  • May 15, 2024
  • 4 replies
  • 1302 views

I'm relatively new to the photo restoration process but am am in something of a bind. I have to restore a few B&W photos (similar to the one uploaded here) that enhancement of skin tone and detail. Could anyone recommend tutorials or provide specific instruction on how to make this kind of repair.

4 replies

Trevor.Dennis
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 16, 2024

If they are all that bad, I don't fancy your chances if you are a complete beginner.  There's so much damage that a lot of it is going to manual, meaning more done by you than by Photoshop.

 

Have a look at Neural Filters > Photo Restoration

The Remove Tool and Healing Brush

Patch Tool

Content Aware Fill

 

Some of it is too bad to fix, so your mum's right arm comes from another photo and has some noise added to fit the rest of this image.  This has been upscaled using an Ai app and not with Photoshop.  I wish you luck, as it's going to be a labour of love, and you'll end up wishing you never started the project.  DAMHIKIJKOK

Inspiring
May 16, 2024

Thanks so much Trevor., and yes, a good many of the photos are as bad and will require a good deal of manual work. That said, someone's gotta do it and by the time I'm finished I guess I won't be a novice anymore - at least as far as this kind of restoration. Again, thanks so much for your guidance and advice!

Rob_Cullen
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 15, 2024
Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.1.1, Photoshop 27.3.1, ACR 18.1.1, Lightroom 9.0, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.2 .
kglad
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 15, 2024

ps will work.

 

in the future, to find the best place to post your message, use the list here, https://community.adobe.com/

p.s. i don't think the adobe website, and forums in particular, are easy to navigate, so don't spend a lot of time searching that forum list. do your best and we'll move the post (like this one has already been moved) if it helps you get responses.



<"moved from using the community">

 

Inspiring
May 15, 2024

Exactly! I had a difficult time even finding the way to post here. You say this post has already been moved or is it something I need to do?

 

kglad
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 15, 2024

your post is in the ps forum, https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/restoring-old-b-amp-w-photos/m-p/14619556#M809762

 

you just need to await ps experts that will try to help.

kglad
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 15, 2024

are you using lightroom?

Inspiring
May 15, 2024

Actually I was using the current version of Photoshop. Is Lightroom a better option? I've not used it much but am open to giving it a shot.