Photoshop Tools That Can Change History
When photographers wanted to change or retouch photographs in the past, the process was painfully slow and tedious. With Photoshop, the process is almost instantaneous, provided the user knows which tools to use and when to use them. Extraction can eliminate backgrounds, and the Healing and Patch tools can eliminate hours of work. Other tools, like gradients, noise reduction, and the Smudge and Blur tools can help to speed up the process as well.
But, sometimes a photo does require more work, because fast fixes don’t provide the results that you might want. While I use an old photograph to illustrate some of these processes, the same tools and methods can be used on any photograph or image.
Old Locket Photo
The photograph below left was a little tough to deal with, as it was a miniature contained within an old locket that measured 19 x 38 mm (roughly .75” x 1.5”). But, I managed to arrive at the image on the right with the help of Photoshop, a little extra time, and some patience. I’ll walk you through the steps below, with some preparation on the front end on how to make this job simpler for yourself.
Linda Goin carries an A.A. in graphic design, a B.F.A. in visual communications with a minor in business and marketing and an M.A. in American History with a minor in the Reformation. While the latter degree doesn't seem to fit with the first two educational experiences, Linda used her 25-year design expertise on archaeological digs and in the study of material culture. Now she uses her education and experiences in social media experiments.