Type of graphics software user: Hobbyist
Experience with graphics software: 2 years
Operating System: Windows
About the image: This photo was about 5cm x 3cm and had been carried around in a child's pocket while they were away at boarding school- hence all the creases.
Firstly I saved this image as a TIFF file. (A JPEG file degrades the more that it is edited). I then desaturated the colour - as this photo was sent to me as a JPEG, this helped to get rid of the odd colours that sometime seem to come up in a JPEG. Then I copied the background layer and closed that one. On the new layer I adjusted the levels, then using the healing brush and the clone tool I began to take out the creases. The only way to do this is at 200% magnification. You're just about down to the pixel level, but as the creases were extensive and across significant areas of the photo, careful work at this level is required.
Using the polygon lasso I selected the good eye and pasted it onto a new layer, flipped it horizontally and manouvered to match the effected eye.
One way to get it into the right position is to reduce the opacity of the top layer so you can see the layer underneath and using ctrl T (to use the free transform tool) and then you can rotate and move the active layer into the right position and press enter or click on the tick.
Try to make the areas you "pick up" with the clone tool random to avoid a pattern forming, unless of course that is part of your plan.
Once you are happy with your image flatten it and save it.
This is very time consuming, and definitely a labour of love. But I feel that it is well worth it.
What graphics software do you use on a regular basis?
Photoshop CS2, Xara Xtreme
What was the first graphics program you learned?
Photoshop 5 LE
What is your all-time favorite graphics program and why?
Xara Xtreme - it's so user friendly, and it renders significantly faster than other illustration programs.
How do you use graphics software in your day-to-day activities?
I am researching the family tree and restore a lot of the family photos "on the fly". I'm also nuturing a small business into life doing the same thing for other people.
What is your best graphics tip or piece of advice?
Back up any prized images to removable media.
Where do you get your inspiration?
I know it's corny, but I have to say the graphics challenge is a great inspiration.