Beginning Photo Retouching and Restoration Using GIMP

Digitally repair damaged prints, correct color shifts, and even colorize black and white images. This thoroughly revised book will show you how to retouch and restore photos using the most up-to-date version of GIMP and it's latest tools and features.

Basic knowledge of GIMP is helpful, but the first chapter provides an overview of the free, open source image editing program. You'll then see how GIMP is a worthy alternative to Adobe Photoshop. You'll also work with step-by-step tutorials to duplicate the results using the same practice images used in the lessons. Because it is cross-platform friendly you can turn “unfixable” photos into digital art on Windows, macOS, and Linux enhancing your learning experience.

Beginning Photo Retouching and Restoration Using GIMP provides insight into the powerful program's wide set of features for just about any type of retouching or restoration work.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

* Acquire the best scans and digitize large photographs
* Adjust contrast and exposure to make dull images “pop”


* Remove cracks, creases, tears, and blemishes
* Retouch portraits and replace backgrounds
* Preserve your newly restored and printed photographs, and properly store originals



WHO THIS BOOK IS FOR

Anyone interested in retouching or restoring photos, whether they are family archivists genealogists, photographers, designers, or students―particularly those requiring a powerful program, but don’t want or need to use Adobe’s subscription-based service to access Photoshop.

Phillip Whitt is an author, photo retouch professional and graphic designer. He is the author of several Apress books and video tutorials pertaining to image editing. He has edited, retouched, and restored countless digital images since the late 1990s. Mr. Whitt has served both clients from the general public and a number of commercial clients over the years. In addition to over 20 years of image editing and graphic design experience. In addition to writing and working with images, Phillip continues to learn. In recent years, he’s earned an Expert Rating Certification in Adobe Photoshop Skills, as well as VTC certifications in GIMP and Scribus.

Introduction

The Joy of Restoring Photographs

Why Photographs are Important

GIMP: The Powerful, Free Image Editing Alternative

What Can GIMP Do?

Improving with Practice

Equipment Purchases to Consider

Copy with Caution

Mac Users

Plugins

Practice Images

PART I: STARTING WITH THE ESSENTIALS

CHAPTER 1: AN OVERVIEW OF GIMP 2.10

Chapter Overview

Downloading and Installing GIMP 2.10

The Image Window

The Image Menu

Navigating Open Images

The Toolbox and Tool Functions

The Selection Tools

The Brush Tools

The Transform Tools

Other Tools

Working with Layers

Layer Groups

Plugins to Enhance GIMP

Chapter Summary

Chapter 2: Digitizing Your Photos, Slides, and Negatives

Chapter Overview

Acquiring Your Digital Images

Starting with a Clean Scan

Scanning Photographs

Digitizing Large Images

Finding a Service Provider

Using Your Camera and Tripod

Scanning Photos in Sections

Scanning Slides and Negatives

Before You Start

Using the Auto Settings

Scanning Resolution for Transparencies

Straightening and Cropping Your Images

Chapter Summary

PART II: TONE, EXPOSURE, AND COLOR

CHAPTER 3: CORRECTING TONE AND EXPOSURE

Chapter Overview

Common Tonal Problems

Using the Histogram to Assess Tonality

Using the Color Picker to Track Tonality

Using Sample Points

The Exposure, Shadows-Highlights, Brightness-Contrast, Levels, and Curve Dialogs

Tutorial 1: Using the Exposure Dialog

Tutorial 2: Using the Shadows-Highlights Dialog

Tutorial 3: Using the Brightness-Contrast Dialog

Tutorial 4: Using the Levels Dialog

Tutorial 5: Using the Curves Dialog

Tonal Corrections Using Layer Blend Modes

Tutorial 7: Correcting an Underexposed Image

Tutorial 8: Correcting and Overexposed Image

Chapter Summary

CHAPTER 4: COLOR CORRECTION AND RESTORATION

Chapter Overview

Color Problem Examples

Color Essentials

Additive Color

Subtractive Color

The Color Picker Tool

Color Channels

Correcting Color Casts

Tutorial 9: Correcting a Color Cast

Tutorial 10: Correcting an Extreme Color Cast

Tutorial 11: Correcting Color Temperature

Correcting and Restoring Color

Tutorial 12: Color Correction with Levels (No. 1)

Tutorial 13: Color Correction with Levels (No. 2)

Tutorial 14: Restoring Severe Color Loss

Chapter Summary

CHAPTER 5: CREATIVE USE OF COLOR

Chapter Overview

Reimagine Your Photos

Converting Color to Black and White

Tutorial 15: Converting Color to Black and White (No. 1)

Tutorial 16: Converting Color to Black and White (No. 2)

Tutorial 17: Converting Color to Black and White (No. 3)

Digital Sepia Toning

Tutorial 18: Converting Color to Sepia (No. 1)

Tutorial 19: Converting Color to Sepia (No. 2)

Selective Colorizing

Tutorial 20: Mixing Color with Black and White

Tutorial 21: Mixing Color with Sepia

Colorizing Black and White Images

Tutorial 22: Colorizing a Black and White Image

Chapter Summary

PART III: DIGITAL CLEANUP AND REPAIRING DAMAGE

CHAPTER 6: DUST, LIGHT SCRATCH, AND STAIN REMOVAL

Chapter Overview

Tutorial 23: Removing Dust from a Slide

Tutorial 24: Removing Dust and Light Scratches

Tutorial 25: Removing Stains

Chapter Summary

CHAPTER 7: REPAIRING MODERATE AND HEAVY DAMAGE

Chapter Overview

Repairing Moderate Damage

Tutorial 26: Patching Damaged Areas

Tutorial 27: Repairing Moderate Damage

Repairing Heavy Damage

Tutorial 28: Repairing Heavy Damage

Chapter Summary

PART IV: RETOUCHING FACES, FUN PROJECTS, AND PRESERVING YOUR IMAGES

CHAPTER 8: EDITING PORTRAITS AND RECOMPOSING IMAGES

Chapter Overview

Retouching Portraits

Diminishing Imperfections and Removing Distractions

Tutorial 29: Light Portrait Retouching

Tutorial 30: Brightening Teeth

Recomposing Images

Replacing Backgrounds

Tutorial 31: Replacing a Background (No. 1)

Tutorial 32: Replacing a Background (No. 2)

Removing People

Tutorial 33: Removing a Person from an Image

Chapter Summary

CHAPTER 9: SHARPENING IMAGES

Chapter Overview

Sharpening―The Final Step

The Unsharp Mask Filter

High Pass Sharpening

Tutorial 34: Sharpening Using the High Pass Filter

Emboss Sharpening

Tutorial 35: Sharpening Using the Emboss Filter

Chapter Summary

CHAPTER 10:FUN AND ARTISTIC PROJECTS WITH YOUR PHOTOS

Chapter Overview

Turn Photos into Digital Works of Art

Add Artistic Functionality with G’MIC

Art Project No. 1: Salvaging “Unfixable” Photos

Creating Collages

Art Project No. 2: Assembling a Collage

Chapter Summary

CHAPTER 11:PRINTING AND PRESERVING YOUR IMAGES

Chapter Overview

Photo-Quality Printers

Inkjet Printers

Dye-Sublimation Printers

Protecting and Preserving Your Prints

Archiving Your Prints

Displaying Your Prints

Storing Images Digitally

How Long Will Digital Images Last?

Video Montages

Chapter Summary

PART V: APPENDIX

APPENDIX: USEFUL GIMP RESOURCES

GIMP Resources

The Official GIMP Web Site Tutorials Page

gimpusers.com

Partha’s Place

Friends of the GIMP

Photo Retouching, Editing, and Restoration

RetouchPRO

Photographic Equipment

B&H Photo-Video-Pro Audio

Specialty Film Processing

Film Rescue International

Archival Digital Media

USB Flash Drives

External Hard Drives

CD and DVDs

Protective Inkjet Spray Coatings

INDEX