Software to automatically restore scanned photos?

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SS

Is there any software that would 'recognise' and remove scratches and dust
from scanned photos? I know it can be done when scanning negatives using
infra red but I have quite a few old B&W photos I want to restore and rather
than clone out every scratch and mark I would like to see if there is
anything that would do it automatically, at least partial if not total.

I am also wondering if there is any software that would improve 'fuzzy'
pictures, that is beyond and better than simple unsharp mask.

Thank you
 
SS said:
Is there any software that would 'recognise' and remove scratches and dust
from scanned photos? I know it can be done when scanning negatives using
infra red but I have quite a few old B&W photos I want to restore and rather
than clone out every scratch and mark I would like to see if there is
anything that would do it automatically, at least partial if not total.
Click to expand...

It's not ICE, but the IR stuff in the Epson flatbeds works with prints
as well. I know, it shouldn't. But I've tried it with some of the old
family stuff and it certainly reduced bad scratches and even creases
and tears.
I am also wondering if there is any software that would improve 'fuzzy'
pictures, that is beyond and better than simple unsharp mask.
Click to expand...

Neat Image does some good work. Do a search for "sharpening photos":
there are quite a few plug-ins for Photoshop that do that sort of
stuff.
But don't expect miracles...
 
SS said:
Is there any software that would 'recognise' and remove scratches and dust
from scanned photos? I know it can be done when scanning negatives using
infra red but I have quite a few old B&W photos I want to restore and
rather
than clone out every scratch and mark I would like to see if there is
anything that would do it automatically, at least partial if not total.

I am also wondering if there is any software that would improve 'fuzzy'
pictures, that is beyond and better than simple unsharp mask.

Thank you
Click to expand...

Polaroid has a free dust and scratch removal utility that works without an
IR channel.
They have Windows and Mac versions.
http://www.polaroid.com/service/software/poladsr/poladsr.html

For 'fuzzy' pictures, there is only so much that you can do about that. If a
photo is out of focus, you can not change the focus after the fact.

The only thing you can try, is to use UnSharp Mask. USM is available in
Photoshop and other quality Photo editors.
 
SS said:
Is there any software that would 'recognise' and remove scratches and dust
from scanned photos? I know it can be done when scanning negatives using
infra red but I have quite a few old B&W photos I want to restore and rather
than clone out every scratch and mark I would like to see if there is
anything that would do it automatically, at least partial if not total.

I am also wondering if there is any software that would improve 'fuzzy'
pictures, that is beyond and better than simple unsharp mask.

Thank you
Click to expand...
Scanning is very much a GIGO procedure,. Garbage IN - Garbage Out.
There is Digital Ice to cover scratches on color, Epson has its own
scratch inhibitor, does soften the image though. There is the Polaroid
anti dust program, again softens the image a little. If the print is
soft to begin with, htere is little hope of making it better,
sharpening relys on increaseing edge detail, if there are no sharp
edges, sharpening can't do much.
Unfortunately part of scanning is the cleanup of the images, Digital
Ice really helps, as do the other anti dust programs to a lesser
degree. But nothing is magical.

Tom
 
SS said:
Is there any software that would 'recognise' and remove scratches and dust
from scanned photos? I know it can be done when scanning negatives using
infra red but I have quite a few old B&W photos I want to restore and rather
than clone out every scratch and mark I would like to see if there is
anything that would do it automatically, at least partial if not total.

I am also wondering if there is any software that would improve 'fuzzy'
pictures, that is beyond and better than simple unsharp mask.

Thank you
Click to expand...
Have a look at:

http://www.newfreedownloads.com/Multimedia-Graphics/Image-Editors/AKVIS-Retoucher.html

It's not completely automatic, but nearly so. A bit pricy at $US 87 but
if you need it ...

Colin D.
 
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