Updating Photoshop Restoration & Retouching for the second time was a challenge - a challenge that I and my coauthor Wayne Palmer took very seriously. Wayne and I reviewed every single page and exercise and we replaced at least 85% of all images. More importantly, as readers and Photoshop enthusiast become more savvy they deserve more advanced and insightful techniques, both of which are included in the pages of the third edition.

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Chapter 6: Damage Control and Repair

The torture we put our old photographs through—storing them in damp basements or hot attics, carrying them in wallets, folding, tearing, cutting, scribbling on them, and pasting them into albums—all leave telltale marks, cracks, rips, tears, and misshapen corners. So if this is so bad for photographs, why do we put them through the gauntlet of abuse? Because we value, treasure, and cherish them. We like carrying pictures of loved ones in our wallets or purses; we take pleasure in making the family photo album or collage; and sadly, we often don’t realize that the basement or attic isn’t the best place to store a valuable print.

So rather than relegating the damaged photos to a dark, forgotten basement corner or a hot, dusty attic, let’s get them out, scan them in, and learn to:

  • Eliminate cracks, tears, and rips
  • Make stains, scribbles, and discoloration disappear
  • Repair antique documents
  • Remove distractions and correct the perspective

Continuing with the techniques addressed in Chapter 5, “Dust, Mold, and Texture Removal,” the tools used to tackle these challenges include:

  • The Clone Stamp and all the Healing Brush tools
  • Layers and Quick Mask
  • Warp option of the Transform tool
  • The Lens Correction filter

Download a screen resolution PDF of chapter 6 "Damage Control and Repair"