How To Repair Scratched and Damaged Photographs or Scans

Technology • May 2011 • Views: 1,465

Today How-To Geek posted a tutorial on how to restore old photos you may have lying around. It’s pretty straightforward and doesn’t require any special skills, so it should be easy enough for pretty much anyone to do.

You don’t need to have expensive image editing software as instructions are given for how to do the touch-ups in GIMP (free, Windows, Mac, Linux) and Paint.net (free, Windows only) as well as Photoshop.

[Update: I just posted a new page about additional open source alternatives to expensive creative software.]

Here’s the video that’s included with the tutorial.

Video

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5 comments

Fenris Wed, May 11, 2011 4:49:51pm

Waaaaaaaaaitaminute, why aren't there any scratches on Obama's birth certificate? PHOTOSHOP!

/sarc

theheat Wed, May 11, 2011 6:50:19pm

I get most of my clients - a very non-tech IE6 type crowd - into Corel's Paint Shop Pro because it's under $100, which appeals to them, there's a free trial download, and it offers a lot of basic cleanup features for their dreadful scans (where half the scanner bed is in the photo). Also, it's simple enough I can talk them through using features over the telephone, or in my sleep, which is a major perk.

So many people have different digital cameras that come with their own whacked "editing" software, I got tired of having to bone up on every weak and sad alternative to Photoshop they might have. PSP put them all on the same playing field on the cheap.

The downside is they can also create an assortment of godawful effects and cheesy photo borders. I avoid ever discussing those features, if possible.

CuriousLurker Wed, May 11, 2011 10:19:03pm

re: #2 theheat

I'll have to remember to recommend PSP to clients. I only used it once years ago, but it's on sale right now for like $39, so maybe I'll grab a copy just for the hell of it.

So many people have different digital cameras that come with their own whacked "editing" software, I got tired of having to bone up on every weak and sad alternative to Photoshop they might have. PSP put them all on the same playing field on the cheap.

Oh gosh, yeah, the software that comes with digital cameras. I don't even install that junk.

The downside is they can also create an assortment of godawful effects and cheesy photo borders. I avoid ever discussing those features, if possible.

OMG, the effects. It wouldn't be so bad if they just chose one, but nooo, they have to apply every single filter in the menu. And freaking rainbow gradients— who in the hell dreamt up that little slice of hideousness?? Gah!

theheat Thu, May 12, 2011 6:26:06am

re: #3 CuriousLurker

OMG, the effects. It wouldn't be so bad if they just chose one, but nooo, they have to apply every single filter in the menu.

Imagine if the photos they sent you had already been "cornified" with all the woo woo borders and effects, plus they merged a big ugly layer of text done in Bleeding Cowboys, then saved it as a .jpg at about 60% compression. Then wonder why their images look like crap.

Welcome to my world ;-)

CuriousLurker Thu, May 12, 2011 9:45:34am

re: #4 theheat

Heh, that sounds like my clients that can't understand why it's not possible to use the small 72dpi photo from their web site for their print brochure. Or the ones who only have their logo as a flattened Photoshop file. Or....ad infinitum... ;)

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