Assignment: Vintage Image Retouch with Adobe Photoshop 25.0 and later
My scanned images for you to use
http://pixelnrg.zenfolio.com/p15412033#h2b55080d
Objective:
Enhance a vintage photograph by straightening, converting to black and white, and retouching, to clean up scratches and water damage or any imperfection while maintaining the integrity of the original image.
•The student will gain a working knowledge of theremove tool/ clone stamp/healing brush/spot healing brush/patch tool, to correct dust, scratches, tears, etc.
•Use of the Zoom tool, Move tool, Hand tool will also be explored
•Use of the Crop tool for cropping and straightening an image will be explored.
•The student will gain a basic understanding of the layer panel and its functions
•The student will gain a basic understanding of the history panel and its functions
1) Choose one of my images found here
2) Download the image from the website to your computer. How to download images from PixelNRG, video here. https://youtu.be/P0MG5hjSMU4
3) Open image in Photoshop. Start by opening the image from Adobe Bridge.
-What if you get a Missing Profile dialog box? Select - Assign Working RGB: Adobe RGB (1998) - Here is a quick video. https://youtu.be/1jIOJ8hN2Vc
4) Straighten and Crop the image.
To remove background that is not part of the photography being corrected.
Video: How To Straighten Crop a Photograph in Adobe Photoshop CC - https://youtu.be/7NI-rnWjJ1Y
A - Using the Crop Tool:
Select the Crop Tool from the toolbar.
Click on the “Straighten” icon in the control bar.
Draw a line along an edge that should be straight.
Press Enter to apply.
B - Using the Ruler Tool:
Select the Ruler Tool from the toolbar.
Draw a line along an edge that should be straight.
Go to Image > Image Rotation > Arbitrary, and click OK.
C - Manually with Transform Command:
Press Ctrl+T (Windows) or Command+T (Mac) for Free Transform.
Rotate manually until the image is straightened.
Press Enter to apply.
List of shortcuts when using the Crop tool in Photoshop:
• “C” selects the Crop tool.
• “O” cycles through the different View overlays .
• “H” hides the image area that is beyond (outside of) the Crop marquee.
• “X” exchanges the Crop marquee from horizontal to vertical and vice versa.
• “Escape” cancels the crop
2b) Take the image to Grayscale.
-go to the Menu – Image – Mode – Grayscale
Many time I prefer the look of B&W to the yellow/sepia look of many old images,
You won’t have to deal with choosing the correct color, only the correct grayscale, it is a bit easier to learn the tools in grayscale. Later in the class I will show you how to use an adjustment layer to make the photograph a sepia tone.
Video - How to make your image grayscale. https://youtu.be/RwswYEPYD5w
Another method for the advanced user.
Using Black & White Adjustment Layer:
Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Black & White.
Adjust sliders for each color channel until the desired effect is achieved.
3) Create a duplicate layer of the background.
VIDEO https://youtu.be/U-Cor30wgaE
This is the layer you will do your retouch work on. Using this workflow you will always have the original un-retouched image to look at for comparison or to repair your repair that went off the rails. This is known as a non-destructive workflow. Do not make corrections to the background layer, work on background copy
A - Using Keyboard Shortcuts:
With your desired layer selected, press:
Control + J (Windows) or Command + J (Mac).
This shortcut instantly duplicates the layer, and you’ll see the new layer appear above the original with “copy” added to its name.
B - Using the New Layer Icon:
Select the layer you want to duplicate.
Click and drag it down to the New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers Panel.
A new duplicated layer will appear in the Layers Panel.
These methods allow you to create duplicate layers efficiently, whether you’re adjusting complex layer masks, making selections, or simply organizing your project!
After making corrections on the background copy - click the eyeball off in the Layers Panel, what do you see?
Remember to save your work frequently. Each time you complete a significant portion, make a point to save. There's nothing more frustrating than losing your progress due to a glitch and having to start over.
Retouch:
You can find the Healing Tools in the toolbar on the left side of the screen. The grouping includes:
- Spot Healing Brush Tool
- Remove tool
- Healing Brush
- Patch Tool
- Content Aware Move Tool - We will not be using this tool for this project.
- Red Eye Tool - We will not be using this tool for this project.
Click and hold on any of these tools to reveal the flyout menu, then select the Desired Healing Tool.
In Adobe Photoshop, when using tools like the Healing Brush, Clone Stamp, or Patch tools, you'll find an option in the options bar for "Sample: All Layers" or "Current & Below." These options determine from where the tool will sample data to perform its actions, such as healing or cloning. Here's what each option means:
•Sample: All Layers: When this option is selected, the tool samples data from all visible layers in the document. This allows you to work on a separate, empty layer (keeping your editing non-destructive) while still being able to sample and clone from the combined image data of all the layers below and above it. This is particularly useful for complex compositing or retouching tasks where you need to draw from multiple sources without flattening the image or compromising the original layers.
•Current & Below: This option restricts the tool to sample only from the currently active layer and any layers below it, ignoring any layers that are above the active layer. This can be helpful when you want to clone or heal using information from the current layer and underlying layers but want to avoid accidentally including content from above. It provides a middle ground between sampling from a single layer and sampling from the entire layer stack, offering more control over the source data for your edits.
Choosing the right sampling option is crucial for achieving the desired results, especially in non-destructive editing workflows where preserving the original image and flexibility for future
When retouching photographs, it's crucial to work at 100% magnification or greater. This level of zoom allows you to observe the finer details of the image you're correcting, enabling more precise and accurate adjustments. Working at 100% magnification ensures that you can see the specific areas that need attention and make the necessary corrections effectively.
However, it's equally important to periodically zoom out to the 'Fit Screen' view. Alternating between a detailed view (100% or greater) and a full view ('Fit Screen') offers you a dual perspective. This approach helps in identifying broader compositional issues or spotting any new problems that might have been introduced during the editing process.
By regularly switching between these two views, you maintain a balance between detail-oriented correction and overall image composition, ensuring that the edits contribute positively to both the micro and macro aspects of the photograph. This technique is a cornerstone of professional photo editing, as it ensures that the final image is both technically precise and aesthetically pleasing.
– VIDEO Locating the Tools, plus a quick look at the Navigator Panel - https://youtu.be/7kwXjCaIyPo
- VIDEO Overview of the Image - Things to think about while getting started - https://youtu.be/Xa06jj_BiSY
Healing Tools - Blend Pixels
Stamp Tool - Actual Pixel Replacement.
A - Remove Tool (Updated in Photoshop 25.0):
The Remove tool uses intelligent technology to remove unwanted objects from an image. When you brush over an object, it automatically fills in the background while preserving the integrity of other objects and depth in complex backgrounds.
It’s particularly powerful when removing larger objects while respecting boundaries between different elements. For example, it can remove an entire building or car from a mountain landscape image while maintaining the fidelity of the mountainous terrain.
-Select the Remove tool from the toolbar.
-Adjust the brush size using the Size field in the options bar.
-Optionally, enable Pressure for Size to adjust brush size using stylus pressure.
-You can sample data from all visible layers by turning on Sample All Layers.
-Choose whether to apply the fill after each stroke or keep it for multiple strokes.
-Brush over the unwanted parts of your image, and the tool will intelligently replace them with background content.
B - Spot Healing Brush Tool:
The Spot Healing Brush is ideal for quickly removing small imperfections like dust, spots, or scratches. It works by analyzing the surrounding pixels and blending them seamlessly.
-Select the Spot Healing brush and simply brush over the imperfection, and the tool will automatically sample nearby pixels to heal the area.
How To use the Spot Healing Brush, Patch Tool and a bonus, Re-aligning the layers. https://youtu.be/GAYyylfv578
C - Healing Brush Tool:
The Healing Brush allows you to manually select a source point for healing. It gives you more control over texture and detail while cleaning up imperfections.
Use it for more precise retouching, especially when maintaining texture consistency is crucial.
- Select the Healing Brush tool from the toolbar.
- Choose a Source Point: Before you start repairing, you need to choose a source point. This is the area of the image that Photoshop will use to heal the selected part. To choose a source point, hold down the Alt key (Option key on Mac) and click on an area of the image that you want to use as the source. Choose an area that closely matches the texture and color of the area you want to heal.
- Configure the Tool Settings: In the options bar at the top of the screen, you can adjust several settings to customize how the Healing Brush works. You can change the brush size, hardness, and spacing to suit the specific needs of your project. A softer brush will blend the repaired area more seamlessly with its surroundings.
- Apply the Healing Brush: After selecting a source point, simply paint over the area you wish to heal. As you drag the brush over the scratches, dust or blemishes, Photoshop will sample from the source point and blend it over the damaged area, attempting to match the texture, lighting, and shading of the sampled area with the area being healed.
- Fine-Tune the Healing: Sometimes, the initial healing stroke might not perfectly blend with the surrounding area. You may need to undo (Ctrl+Z or Command+Z on Mac) and try again with a different source point or adjust the brush settings. It's often helpful to use short, controlled strokes instead of one long stroke.
How To use the Healing Brush. https://youtu.be/PoBHSXD9Uyg
D - Patch Tool:
The Patch Tool is great for larger areas of imperfection. It allows you to select an area that needs repair and drag it to a cleaner area for blending.
Use it when you want to seamlessly replace a damaged portion of the image with content from another part.
- Select the Patch Tool
- Choose Your Patch Mode: In the options bar at the top of the screen, you have two modes to choose from: "Normal" and "Content-Aware".
Normal Mode: This mode allows you to manually select an area to use as a patch.
Content-Aware Mode: This mode lets Photoshop automatically choose the best area to use for the patch. This is useful for complex textures or patterns.
- Select the Area to be Repaired: Use the Patch Tool to draw around the area of the image you want to repair. Click and drag around the area, then release the mouse button to complete the selection. Your selection doesn’t have to be precise—Photoshop will blend the edges.
- Drag to the Source Area: With the area selected, click inside the selection and drag it to the part of the image you want to use as the source for the repair. This could be a similar texture or pattern in the image. Release the mouse button to apply the patch.
- Deselect the Area: After releasing the mouse button, Photoshop will blend the selected area with the source area. If you're satisfied with the result, deselect by pressing Ctrl+D (Cmd+D on Mac) or clicking anywhere outside the selection.
- Adjust the Patch: If the patched area doesn't blend well, you can undo the action by pressing Ctrl+Z (Cmd+Z on Mac) and try again. You might need to adjust your selection, choose a different source area, or switch between Normal and Content-Aware modes to get a better result.
- Refine Your Work: Sometimes, the patch may not blend perfectly, especially around the edges. You can use other tools like the Clone Stamp Tool or the Healing Brush Tool to refine the edges and make the patched area blend more seamlessly with its surroundings.
How To use the Spot Healing Brush, Patch Tool and a bonus, Re-aligning the layers. https://youtu.be/GAYyylfv578
E - Clone Stamp Tool:
The Clone Stamp tool holds its own position in the toolbar on the left side of the screen.
The Clone Stamp tool clones one area of an image onto another area. It’s useful when you need to duplicate a specific texture or pattern. This tool will also work best when working near hard edges.
For retouching, you can use it to replace damaged or problematic areas with clean content from elsewhere in the image.
- Select the Clone Stamp Tool: You can find the Clone Stamp Tool in the toolbar on the left side of the Photoshop window. It looks like a stamp. If you don't see it, it might be hidden under the Pattern Stamp Tool. Right-click (or click and hold) on the tool to reveal the fly-out menu, then select the Clone Stamp Tool.
- Choose a Brush Size and Hardness: In the options bar at the top of the screen, set the brush size and hardness according to your needs. A larger brush is useful for covering big areas, while a smaller brush offers more precision. Hardness determines the edge softness of the brush; a softer edge (lower hardness) blends more seamlessly with the surrounding area.
- Set the Sampling Point: The Clone Stamp Tool works by copying pixels from one area (the source) to another (the destination). To choose your source area, hold down the Alt key (Option key on Mac), and click on the part of the image you want to clone from. This sets your sampling point.
- Clone the Area: Move the cursor to the area where you want to apply the cloned pixels, then click and drag your mouse to paint with the cloned pixels. As you paint, you'll see the sampled area being duplicated onto your target area.
- Adjust the Opacity and Flow: In the options bar, you can adjust the opacity and flow settings to control the transparency and the rate at which the cloned pixels are applied. Lower opacity makes the cloned area blend more subtly with the background. Adjusting the flow gives you more control over how quickly the effect is applied as you paint.
- Utilize Aligned Mode: The "Aligned" option in the options bar controls how the sampling point moves as you clone. When "Aligned" is checked, the sampling point moves relative to the starting point of your brush stroke, maintaining the distance and direction from the original sample point. If it's unchecked, the sampling point resets to the initial location each time you release and click the mouse again, allowing you to clone from the same source multiple times. 90% of the time I have aligned clicked on.
- Make sure to select "Sample: All Layers" or "Current & Below" in the options bar to clone from all visible layers or just the current and below, respectively.
- Refine Your Edits: If necessary, you can refine your cloned areas by using other Photoshop tools like the the Healing Brush Tool, or adjustment layers to blend and match the cloned area with its surroundings more effectively.
The Clone Stamp Tool requires some practice to master, especially learning how to seamlessly blend the cloned areas with the rest of the image. Experimenting with different brush sizes, hardness, and opacity settings will help you get more comfortable and achieve more natural-looking results.
REMINDER - After completing your edits, save your work. Use the PSD format to preserve layers and editing capabilities for future adjustments.
How To use the Clone Stamp. https://youtu.be/fuqwvhQAriw
How to use a Rectangular Marquee to define your cloning edge - Remember the Marquee is a selection tool. You can only work inside of the selection. This is great for the borders of your image. Keep them crisp and clean!
Don't forget to -Command D- to remove the selection when you are done cleaning up the edge. https://youtu.be/8cU-S5vPRi0
Did a part of your correction not look as great as you had hoped? If so you can copy the old bad to the new bad and start again. No need to redo the entire image. Here is how to do that. https://youtu.be/nuKQdVgk0uE
In this last video I just spend some time retouching an image using what we explored in the earlier videos.
•Bonus use the paint brush to draw a line.
Draw a straight line. Where you want your line to start click once. Move the curser to where you want the line to end. Hold the shift key and click the mouse, a straight line is drawn. https://youtu.be/4mGhtv1HEpM
If you are too close to the area in need of correction you can create more problems.
Be careful of repetitive cloning
– Choose a Brush Size that is close in size to what needs correcting.
– Use a soft edge brush.
– Keep the Aligned Box Checked in the options bar.
– Work at 100% or greater.
Changing brush sizes without going to the brush panel:
use the left and right bracket keys on your keyboard.
USEFUL Shortcuts
command - S •To save your document -This updates the file you are working on.
command - shift - S •To Save As. -This created a new document.
command - D •to deselect your selection
•Retouching these images will take you quite a bit of time, don’t procrastinate… Start Working.
The History Panel in Adobe Photoshop is a powerful feature that provides a visual record of all the steps and actions performed during an editing session. This panel is crucial for managing the workflow in Photoshop, as it allows users to undo, redo, or jump to different stages of their work without losing progress.
Track Changes: The History Panel automatically tracks each action taken in Photoshop, listing them sequentially. This includes everything from simple adjustments like brightness and contrast to complex filter applications and tool uses. Each entry in the panel represents a state of the image at a particular point in time.
Undo/Redo: One of the most basic yet essential uses of the History Panel is to quickly undo recent changes or redo actions that were undone. This is particularly useful for experimenting with different effects or corrections without the fear of making irreversible mistakes.
Snapshots: The History Panel allows users to create snapshots at any point during the editing process. A snapshot captures the current state of the image, enabling users to revert to that exact state later on, even if they've made numerous changes afterward. This feature is invaluable for comparing different editing approaches or for keeping a safe restore point.
Configurable Options: Photoshop allows users to customize how the History Panel operates, including the maximum number of history states to be saved. This is helpful for managing memory usage, especially with large files or complex edits. However, increasing the number of history states can consume more of Photoshop's memory resources.
Limitations: While the History Panel is a powerful tool, it's important to note that its record is not saved with the image file. Once Photoshop is closed, the history of that session is lost. To preserve the ability to revert to earlier stages of the work, users can save snapshots.
Video - How to use the History Panel: https://youtu.be/gDTr0PBBvdk
SUBMIT:
Through Canvas - 1 Retouched file as a .PSD
Include retouching layers (your background layer should be the un-retouched image)
Title file: Your last name_ first initial_project_.extention ((example)Smith_M_retouch.psd)