How to clean this picture

lylejk · **Joined:** Sep 24, 2010 **Posts:** 12850

I use Win7 64-bit and 64-bit GIMP Akros (went from 32-bit to 64-bit GIMP when I upgraded from 2.6x to 2.8x). Shellout works in both version of GIMP and in Win7. You have to read through the thread, unfortunately, since there's details on how to edit the python file for Windows which is unique to Windows (like using the double backslash for paths such as c:\\program files\\etc.) that is not intuitive at all. You need to do this to add the paths for the programs that you want XNViewshell, uh,er, Shellout (I know; insider joke) to launch. As a side note, Shellout can call Photoshop and return it's result back to GIMP; how cool is that? Yes, you have to have python enabled GIMP which is not done so by default when you install GIMP, but that's a completely different subject.

hanciong · **Joined:** Oct 31, 2011 **Posts:** 112

rich2005 wrote:

You can get carried away with technicalities and overlook the obvious.

The first thing I thought was 'fast-fourier-transform' (maxed out the cpu with this one, lol) or maybe a 'wavelet-denoise'
but a simple filters -> generic -> erode works just as well with this image. The face and the hands do suffer, so work on a duplicated layer then add a layer mask and restore those areas.

wwwooooowww, thank you for your suggestion. The erode filter is top notch

. I didn't even realize that filter exists before you told me LOL.

Below is my result. After I apply erode filter (masking hands and face), I apply bilateral filtering and anisotropic smoothing. Should have done once more for the grain in the background.

Attachment:

galileo galilei.jpg [ 429.53 KiB | Viewed 2362 times ]

hanciong · **Joined:** Oct 31, 2011 **Posts:** 112

PhotoComix wrote:

Done a detail to show the effect at original size

............................

PS then to make more similar to the original would be possible add some grain
Except that original painting should have no any "grain" but brush strokes that were no visible in the photo ... :lol

Thank you very much for your help. The result looks amazing. You even preserve some graini-ness. My result looks very much like painting (too smooth)

hanciong · **Joined:** Oct 31, 2011 **Posts:** 112

Both of them are fine. My result looks too smooth. but there is someone else who can preserve the grain

anarkhya wrote:

sallyanne wrote:

Have worked on a few older pictures that were spotted or creased and by using the cloning method have been reasonably successful at getting rid of most impurities without giving the photo a completely different look.

+1 here!
...But it depends on the desired purpose, question is: smooth re-render or grain preservation ?
Question is asked to hanciong.

hanciong · **Joined:** Oct 31, 2011 **Posts:** 112

lylejk wrote:

No one technique work (i.e., don't ask; lol. OK; some hints. Anisotrophic smoothing, bilateral filter, and gausean blur (9pix) using edge detect to amplify the specs for a mask. Then additional manipulations such as selective smudging and clone/heal brush). Still had some fine cracks that shown, so hid most of that with using a Virtual Photographer preset which added glow to the piece (and dupped that layer separating light and dark with various opacities). Can use some more tlc, but I tire after spending more then 25 minutes. lol

Thank you lyle. the result looks great.

hanciong · **Joined:** Oct 31, 2011 **Posts:** 112

Iain wrote:

I used Iain's Noise Reduction G'MIC filter as a first pass to remove low level noise. The spots and cracks remain. Then I created a new layer with a small radius median filter to remove the small cracks and spots on the dark areas using a mask. Then a another layer with a wider median filter, set to darken only, and more masking to remove the bigger cracks. And the last layer is duplicated, set to lighten only, and the mask edited so that the dark marks on the skin are removed. Finally I used the original image, with a mask to replace some of the areas that were obviously degraded.

and yet another method. Thanx for the effort. I don't understand some words you are using here, so I think I will ask again

Iain · **Joined:** Feb 13, 2013 **Posts:** 86

hanciong wrote:

and yet another method. Thanx for the effort. I don't understand some words you are using here, so I think I will ask again

'Median filter' is basically Despeckle with Black Level set to -1 and White level set to 256. Although I used the 'recursive median filter' in G'MIC.

Akros · **Joined:** Jan 10, 2013 **Posts:** 863

I used the same technique seen in the video David Pat. Not applied on the fifth layer (scale5) Heal Selection. In the end I applied a mask.

I did not use any other filter.
Video - http://youtu.be/cvA9KmLg7sY

molly · **Joined:** Apr 07, 2010 **Posts:** 14182

Excellent job every one. That last one looks just like a brand new photo.