Photoshop - Remove Glare

[kaytling]

So I have contacted many photo repair places and received quotes of $100.00 to repair my photo. The problem is that to me it seems like an easy fix compared to other photos (examples on the websites I've visited). With that being said, can anyone help me fix this photo myself? The glare is mostly situated on the right side.

[Mylenium]

The basic drill involves somehow extracting the Luma information of the reflection using Image --> Calculations or converting it to a suitable or by converting it to Lab mode, then generate a layer mask from this on a duplicate/ multiple duplicates of the layer or applying it to suitable adjustment layers to correct the colors until they level out. The strong ceiling light reflection will also require some creative painting/ cloning, as it covers up all other color information. See why this may not be an "easy fix" after all and why people charge a hundred bucks per image for it? This stuff can get pretty tricky at times.

Mylenium

[davescm]

kaytling  wrote

............... it seems like an easy fix compared to other photos .............

Really!! ?

It is not a glare it is a reflection, it appears across the entire photograph and removing it properly from each impacted area will be a long slow process.

If you are reasonably competent in Photoshop then start with a global curves adjustment to correct the colour (drag in the black and White points for each of the Red, Green and Blue curves)

Then it will be a case of cloning and painting onto a new layer to cover some of the unwanted reflection detail plus some additional local colour and contrast adjustment using a combination of curves and masking along with painting with colour from teh good areas onto empty layers and using the colour and luminosity blending modes.

I hope that helps you get started, however if you are brand new to Photoshop and the above means nothing to you - then pay the restorer in this instance and build up your skills on smaller restoration issues

Dave