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This lesson explains various ways of repairing scratched and stained photographs; and tool choices depend upon personal preferences, and the photograph’s condition.
My lesson here demonstrates how an alternative repairing method!
Undo and Navigation Steps
Two ways of undoing steps are from the top menu, Edit then Step Backwards. Alternatively, click a previous snapshot in the History Palette.
Navigate (zoom in and pan) your image using the Navigator Palette,
or the Zoom Tool. 
Activate The Hand Tool by tapping the Spacebar, keeping the Spacebar pressed, pan your image in the usual way. 
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Scan your photograph then open it onto Photoshop’s workspace.
Tip
Scan black and white images in colour, then examine the Channels Palette to see which greyscale channel provides the best result.
Note
Duplicate your photograph (right-click its layer and click Duplicate Layer), then work on the duplicated copy. Now, keep the original photograph open on the workspace, (next to the copy). This makes is easier for you to keep an eye on your progress, and also ensures you do not remove/repair elements that are an integral part of the original photograph.
2/ Adjusting Your Photograph
From the top menu, choose Image then choose Adjustments. For automatic adjustments you have the following choices: Auto Levels, Auto Contrast and Auto Colour. You may find that one, (or a combination of) the three automatic settings improve your photographs overall appearance. If they do not, then experiment with the following Adjustment Filters. Bear in mind, the following filters adjust different elements - for example light and colour - and have a learning curve. Hue/Saturation (and Lightness), Curves, Levels, Colour Balance, Brightness and Contrast, Channel Mixer, Shadow and Highlight, Exposure, Variations, and Photo Filter.
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Alternatively, Alien Skin have excellent photographic enhancing filters, such Exposure and Image Doctor.
3/ Dust And Scratches Filter And Smart Sharpen Filter
To aid the removal of light scratches and dust, (prior to retouching), it is worth experimenting with Photoshop’s Dust and Scratches filter. This filter is found from Filter then Noise then Dust and Scratches. Depending on the amount of noise in your photograph, experiment with the Radius and Threshold settings. You are looking for a balance between the removal of noise, and the images sharpness.
4/ Smart Sharpen Filter
After using the Dust and Scratches filter, you can sharpen your image with the Smart Sharpen filter. This filter is found from, Filter then Sharpen then Smart Sharpen. Experiment, and find a setting that works for your photograph. Sharpen Lesson.
5/ Cropping Out Damaged Areas
If appropriate, activate the Crop Tool and crop out very badly damaged areas, or unwanted elements; however, you may wish to wait until your image is transformed before doing so, as the extra parameter can provide much needed (cloning) space when repairing longer tears.
Tip
For accuracy, zoom into an area you wish to clone out. (Top menu, then View then Zoom) - or utilise the Navigator Palette.
6/
For my photograph I am beginning with the Healing Brush Tool; The Patch and The Spot Healing Brush Tools are very useful, also.
Zoom into the damaged area and Alt-click a smooth (undamaged) area close to it - collecting similar pixels.
Now, pass the Healing Brush Tool over the damaged area and, with luck, it will be removed first time - if it is not, Step Backwards, and repeat the step - or click a previous snap shot in the History Palette.
Quickly Adjust The Brush Size!
To adjust the brush size, press your keyboard’s left-side (or right-side), bracket keys - ensuring the keyboard is set to lower case, and Not capitals!
Remember! the Blur, and Eraser Tools - at very low Opacities - are excellent for blending (uneven) cloned areas. Additionally, make use of the Dodge and Burn Tools to lighten (or darken) areas.
To remove discoloured areas, such as the following.
Still using the Healing Brush Tool, Alt-click to gather pixels from a clear area, as close to the discolouration as possible, and apply the pixels to the stained area.
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Navigate your photograph, collecting (and applying) similar pixels - removing creases, tears and stains. Remember to make use of the History Palette, Step Backwards,
Blur, Eraser, Dodge and Burn Tools.
Badly Damaged Photographs
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If your photograph is as badly damaged as my example.
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The Clone Tool is a good tool to employ. The Clone Tool allows you to clone
(copy) data from undamaged elements of an image, and apply them (to fill in), missing areas; for example, missing hair, clothing and skin tone pixels. Naturally, this takes a little practise to perfect; however, if you take your time, and zoom into your image, it is possible to improve the look of very damaged photographs.
Clone Stamp Tool Tip
Applying the Clone Stamp Tool in very small increments, provides better control.
Tip
Isolate an area you wish to clone, with a selection marquee - then complete the cloning inside the marquee. The marquee protects areas outside it, for example the lady’s arm, from being effected by background pixels. 
If your photograph is precious, (and cannot be taken again), it is worth the time and effort. Naturally, different photographs need individual care and attention, therefore, experiment with the correcting tools I have mentioned, and discover what works best for your image. I finished by applying a Drop Shadow Frame.
10/ Grain Or No Grain?
Grain can be an integral part of vintage photographs, and removing (smoothing) it, can compromise the photograph’s authenticity. Therefore, if, after retouching your image, it appears too smooth, it is very easy to add noise, to emulate grain.
 
To do so, from the top menu, choose Filter then choose Noise then choose Add Noise. In the subsequent Add Noise dialogue, apply a very low noise Amount, and ensure Monochromatic is ticked.
Now I have explained the correct tools for the task; with practise, (and patience), you will be able to make a reasonable repair to your treasured photographs.
Wendi E M Scarth. Top of Page - Home.
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