Image Restoration Software

[Elliott]

I started a project over the 2 week holiday by digging into my old color transparencies and color negative film from 40, 30 & 20 years back and started to digitize them.

Some of these pictures / images have changed by either fading or turned to different colors. Emulsion deterioration on the film from temperature variations have partially destroyed some of the negative color film. While I am working with 2 very good scanners, a Nikon CoolScan 8000, and an Epson V750 Pro, the software that has come with these devices is not the most elaborate to touch up and restore these old pictures / images.

I have Photoshop CS4 although I am not an expert user, and was wondering if I need another software product or will CS4 do the trick and I have to learn those tricks. If any body has any experience in this field and can provide some input, I would certainly like hearing from them along with any product recommendations.

I have looked at Focus Magic, and AKVIS. They are plugins to CS4, but will they do the trick of cleaning dust and bringing a photo / image back to life?

Cheers

[OsmosisStudios]

CS4 is ample and actually what most restoration companies use.

[Jim Bryant]

CS 4 is better than anything else out on the market. You'd be wasting your money on anything that will make it easier for you. Just learn CS 4.

[jojonac]

CS4 will remove dust and get rid of color casts in just a few simple steps...I would recommend doing a youtube search for what you want to do to the picture.

[Doug Pardee]

Originally Posted by Elliott

I have Photoshop CS4 although I am not an expert user, and was wondering if I need another software product or will CS4 do the trick and I have to learn those tricks.

Photoshop CS4 is what you need.

Alas, there are no tricks. Photo restoration is a hard-earned skill. Each photo is different, each problem in each photo is different. You need to be able to recognize the problems, determine which of the zillions of tools that Photoshop provides will help the most, know how to apply that tool, and have the artistic eye to apply it well.

I'd suggest that you start with some books on the subject.