Restoring Old Photographs
12 October 2008
Restoring old family photographs can easily be done from our own personal computers. Years back, prior to home software, old black-and-white images were restored in photo labs by lab technicians. In the past, the process of restoring old memoirs was much of a mystery; but today, children can do it. Photoshop CS is amazing softwareit has so many capabilities and special effects. Each family can become their own master photographer and lab technician now. With Photoshop CS, you can crop, clone, rotate, enhance, and change tones and values, just to name a few of the features!
As time passes and our photographs age, oxidize, and scratch, we have the ability to personally reformat all of our old, priceless family keepsake photographs. After restoring your images in Photoshop CS and reprinting them, it is best to store them in acid-free albums. Since the deterioration process is ongoing, the photographs will continue to deteriorate beyond repair. Without intervention, the photographs will fade away right along with the memories of our beloved ancestors.
I not only have some of my ancestor’s wedding photographs, I have some of their cameras too! Call me sentimental, but I think some of these old-dated items create great home accents and can complement a warm family atmosphere. Restored family photographs are fun to work with too. Depending on the paper used to print them, old family photographs can be decoupaged to a chest or keepsake box or wall papered onto end tables or table tops.
Actually, restoration looks good, but aging photographs looks good too. When using old photographs for art projects, take the original photographs that were scanned into your computer and age them digitally in Photoshop CS. Collages made from photographs make great wrapping paper, wall paper, and scrapbook material. As Saul Bellow once wrote, “Everybody needs his memories. They keep the wolf of insignificance from the door.” (revised 2/15/2006)
Debbie Jensen, Graphic Designer and Photographer http://www.debjensendesigns.com.