Tutorial: AKVIS Retoucher

Restoring a Picture of a Boy

In the following example we will show you how to restore images using AKVIS Retoucher and AKVIS Stamp plugins. Later you can learn how to add colors to this picture with AKVIS Coloriage plug-in.

Below we have an old photo covered with numerous scratches and creases. Besides the photo has faded.

• Step 1. First of all we should increase the photo's contrast, for example, using the Levels command (Image => Adjust =>Levels or Auto Levels in Adobe Photoshop). As a result the photo becomes more contrasting and the edges of scratches become more distinct which will facilitate the restoration process.

  We can classify the scratches on the photo as follows:

  • the first group are the scratches on the background. They can be removed by AKVIS Stamp or the Healing Brush Tool of Adobe Photoshop;
  • the second group are the scratches that cross different objects, for example, the child's legs and the legs of the chair. AKVIS Retoucher can be helpful when restoring this type of scratches, as processing them with a stamp tool would take much time. Besides, Retoucher allows restoring the texture of the damaged area without blurring it.

  Below is the original photo after the contrast increase and removal of background scratches by AKVIS Stamp tool:

  

   

• Step 2. Now we can proceed to the restoration of the second group scratches.

  Select all the defects with any selection tool. Learn more about selection tools of Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Jasc Paint Shop Pro, Corel Photo-Paint.

  The easiest way to select small scratches in Adobe Photoshop is to use the Quick Mask mode. Switch to Quick Mask mode and paint over the defects with a pencil or a hard edge brush.

  

  Switch back to Standard mode and inverse the selection.
  The scratches are selected.

  

   

• Step 3. Launch AKVIS Retoucher plugin.

  - in Adobe Photoshop select Filter - AKVIS - Retoucher in the menu;
  - in Jasc Paint Shop Pro select Effects - Plugins- AKVIS - Retoucher;
  - in Corel PHOTO-PAINT use Effects - AKVIS - Retoucher.
  

  

  Start the restoration process by pressing the button in the Toolbar of AKVIS Retoucher.

  When the restoration process is over you will see the following photo:

  

   

• Step 4. After using of AKVIS Retoucher some scratches disappeared completely, others became less visible. They can be easily removed by AKVIS Stamp or the Healing Brush Tool (Adobe Photoshop).

  Having retouched the photo with AKVIS Stamp, you will get the following photo of a child:

  

AKVIS Retoucher helped us to restore the photo of a child. We can stop here, but there is a way to make the image more expressive by adding color to it.

Have a look at the colorization tutorial to learn how to add color to this photo using the plug-in AKVIS Coloriage.