Tutorial: AKVIS Stamp

Photo retouching

In the following example we will retouch a degraded image covered with stains.

First of all we will use Adobe Photoshop tools to apply tone correction, then we will apply the AKVIS Stamp plug-in to remove scratches and creases.

• Step 1. Let's start with the command Desaturate (Image - Adjustments - Desaturate) that will remove the yellowish tint.
  
• Step 2. The image is in grey tones, it lacks for black and white colors. We will use the Levels command to correct it.

  Let's open the Levels dialogue box, and select the command Image - Adjustments - Levels. We will drag the sliders below the histogram to the histogram's edges: we move the black slider to the right to 79, we move the white slider to the left to 224.

  

  Having pressed the button ÎĘ in the Levels dialogue box, we will see the following image:

  
• Step 3. Let's make the picture more intensive. First, we will create a copy of the layer by dragging this layer to the button Create a New Layer in the lower part of the Layers palette. Then, we will choose the Overlay mode and set the Opacity of the layer to 27%.
  
• Step 4. Now we can proceed to the defects removal. After the tone correction the scratches and creases have become more pronounced and we can detect and remove them with ease.

  We call the plug-in AKVIS Stamp by selecting the command AKVIS - Stamp from the menu Filter. In the AKVIS Stamp dialogue box clone the intact areas to the damaged ones. See How it works for detail.

  

These 4 simple steps allowed us to retouch the photo in several minutes.