PhotoPlus X5: Retouching photos

[Cyril Malcolm Chambers]

I have small prob with PhotoPlus x5. I have tried reading both books but have difficulty with one or two things . I know how to straighten pictures but have trouble with some of the other programs. I have not been able to remove scratches from photos or remove spots off pictures. I have done what it says in the books and have managed to get the spots off the pictures but it stills leaves marks where the have been ,is there any way to clear the completly also I don't know how to erase pictures while I still have them on screen. I know I'm not very smart, but I try. Could you help me please Cyril Malcolm Chambers

[Greyfox]

Originally Posted by Cyril Malcolm Chambers ...I have not been able to remove scratches from photos or remove spots off pictures. I have done what it says in the books and have managed to get the spots off the pictures but it stills leaves marks where the have been..

Cyril,
There are a number of tools that can be used to remove or reduce scratches and spots from photos, such as the "Blemish Remover", the "Scratch Remover", the "Patch tool" and the "Clone Tool". Which one of these, or combination of these you might best use will depend on the nature of the individual defect you are trying to repair. Some of these tools, for instance the blemish and the patch tool blend information from a source area with the information in the target area, rather than completely replacing it. Others like the Clone tool, duplicate what is picked up at the source area in the target area.

The clone tool has not only brush size adjustment, but also adjustments for both opacity and flow to give more control. It also has a number of different blend modes, and also an aligned mode.

To retouch damaged photos successfully requires a lot of practice and a lot of patience. The replacement of damaged sections needs to take into account not just the colour, the texture and the shading, but also any patterns that might exist. My advice would be to work only very small areas at a time. Always work on a copy, never the original, and make frequent saves to incremental filenames, for example Repair01.spp, Repair02.spp etc.

Perhaps if you could post a sample photo showing the defects you want to repair, you could get some more specific advice. You may have to reduce the resolution of the photo get it down to a size that can be attached to a post.

[Cyril Malcolm Chambers]

Thank you Grey fox I will try what you say all the best Malcolm