Map image restoration

[mymy]

I do color restoration on antique maps and produce images of them for the web.


This is my routine:


-Manual adjustments-

Scan (custom settings)
Move/rotate image
Crop image


-Color adjustments-

Adjust Levels (drop the arrow at the beginning of the histogram)
Adjust Brightness/Contrast (20/5) Varies.
Adjust Hue/Saturation/Lightness (0/20/15) Varies.
Size the image down to around 950k.
Sharpen
Sometimes sharpen edges afterward.

Save.

First, when I sharpen an image once, it's often not quite as sharp as it could be. But if I sharpen it again, it becomes glossy and looks rather awful. Does anyone know any die-hard sharpening techniques aside from the simple filter?


Second, this gets me a reasonably accurate image. But I'm always open to suggestion. If you have any other methods or techniques, or do similar work, let me know.



Take it easy,


Mymy.

 

[theKeeper]

Greetings MyMy, welcome to the community. [excited]

A lot of the editing you do is subjective and specific to the quality of the photo/image. But there is a better way to sharpen.

Duplicate the map layer.
Open the FILTER>Other>High Pass filter.
Set it to between 1.5 and 3px. Judge this number for yourself, each photo is different due to things like initial clarity, contrast, and size.
Set this layer to Soft Light or Overlay or Hardlight. I also like Lighten mode.

Another method is to go ahead and use the Unsharp Mask filter, then use the FADE function and set the Blend Mode to Lighten or Darken.

Try each and see what you think. :B

 

[Sark]

First, when I sharpen an image once, it's often not quite as sharp as it could be. But if I sharpen it again, it becomes glossy and looks rather awful. Does anyone know any die-hard sharpening techniques aside from the simple filter?

This suggests you're not using Unsharp Mask, which allows full control of the sharpening. Using the fade command (under the Edit menu) is another method, when applying fixed settings, as in the Sharpen filter.

Which ever method you use, it is often better to apply several small adjustments rather than one single adjustment.

I would certainly give theKeepers method a go, will try that one myself.

Sark

 

[JoeD]

Most important thing when you decide to resize (smaller), is to use the interpolation option bicubic sharper (Only Photoshop CS). It really makes quite a difference.

 

[mymy]

Thanks for the helpful replies.

I tried all the methods mentioned.

The only problem I ran into was getting the "Fade" option to become available. (never managed to).

Aside from that, the High Pass filter seemed effective, and the Unsharp Mask Filter seemed -really- effective.


Once again, thanks. When I head into work I'll test them out full throttle and post my results. Maybe even an image or two.

Any Cartography enthusiasts around? Haha.



Take it easy,


Mymy.

 

[Klaatu Baradda Nikto]

The only problem I ran into was getting the "Fade" option to become available. (never managed to).

Greetings mymy,
The Fade command becomes availabe directly after applying a Filter. It disappears as soon as you make any other action.

 

[sPECtre]

But Fade is also re-usable: apply a brush stroke, a filter, etc... then edit>fade. As Klaatu said, FADE disappear if you do any other action, but I want to stress out the fact that you can recall fade to change the settings, JUST after using fade.

 

[Klaatu Baradda Nikto]

Total Recall

But Fade is also re-usable: apply a brush stroke, a filter, etc... then edit>fade. As Klaatu said, FADE disappear if you do any other action, but I want to stress out the fact that you can recall fade to change the settings, JUST after using fade.

Hey Pierre,
Right you are!
To access the Fade command just press cmd/cntrl+shift+F right after applying a Filter. Then if you need to make additional adjustments to it (before doing any other action) just press the cmd/cntrl+shift+F again and the last settings are there waiting for your adjustment.

 

[mymy]

Testing... now. Yep, fade worked.

Using the Unsharp Mask, I initially found the image oversaturated. I toyed with the values, but the vibrance often overpowered the sharpness.

Notice how using the regular "Sharpen" filter makes the image literally sharper? The unsharp mask adjusts the colors and other attributes so it appears sharper, but the edges are often still blurred, especially in the case(s) of small lettering. Overall, I'd say unsharp mask does a better job, but I must prevent moaning and groaning from the higher ups.

You're thinking, "Dumbass. Use the sharpen edges filter after that."

I do.

Still open to other ideas though.

It'll probably take a combination of both, and some creative juice.


-Mymy