> PHOTOSHOP USER>^ MARCH 2020[ 72 ]
WHEN NOT TO RETOUCH PARTS OF OLD PHOTOS,
PLUS COLORIZING LIGHTS AT NIGHT
It’s generally best to retouch all aspects of an old photo, but
there are a few circumstances when it’s better not to. It’s
also very important not to retouch/restore old images to the
quality of modern photos because it can make the images
look unrealistic.
One example is smoothing clothes (e.g., removing
wrinkles not only in the main part of the clothing, but also
along the shoulders of a garment). Smoothing wrinkles from
clothes dates back to the first century in China, where they
used metal pans filled with hot coals. During the seven-
teenth century, sad (solid) irons came into use.
An electric flat iron was invented by Henry W. Seeley and
patented on June 6, 1882. The iron took a considerable
amount of time to heat and many people were
unable to afford one. Additionally, it was expen-
sive to have clothing pressed at a laundromat.
Therefore, it was common for clothes to be wrin-
kled. By removing wrinkles today in Photoshop,
one removes some authenticity of the period. Of
course, when parts of a photo are missing, resto-
ration is needed.
Another instance to consider is when to remove
skin blemishes (this includes modern photos). If
the person has a mole, freckles, or a birthmark,
it’s best to leave them as-is since they are perma-
nently part of the person. Conversely, acne, cuts,
and bruises are temporary and can be removed.
I typically leave wrinkles alone on old images
since they, again, are part of the person. For
modern photos, it’s best to ask the client if they
want wrinkles removed or faded.
During the Great Depression and various wars,
many people had tattered clothing and looked
disheveled due to lifestyle, lack of money, etc.
In these instances, it’s best not to retouch the
clothing, smooth out the hair, or remove dirt
from their skin/clothing, since they show the real-
ity of the time’s hardships.Cropping images is acceptable if there’s a great deal of
“unimportant” background in the image, causing the main
subject to appear quite small. But make sure that the client
doesn’t object to the cropping.
In the example shown here, the only retouches I did on
the photo of Rose Wilder Lane (Laura and Almanzo Wilder’s
daughter) were to remove paper texture, convert to black
and white, remove dust and scratches, and brighten the
image a bit. Furthermore, when a photo has the photog-
rapher’s signature on it (as is the case in Rose’s photo), it’s
best not to remove it. This is for authenticity and giving
direct credit to the photographer.
Photo Effects
DEBPIETI
In this issue, we’re going to start out by discussing why retouching certain parts of old photos can
alter their history and authenticity, and then we’ll jump into a tutorial on how to colorize lights when
restoring old nighttime photos.Before: Photo of Rose Wilder Lane in After
San Francisco, 1920, by Louis Stillman
(Herbert Hoover Presidential Library)