When Alan Griffiths asked about the digital restoration work that John Steele carries out he replied...
Currently, I am working with an image from Operation Photo Rescue. This is for a civic contribution, a free service for those who have suffered loss due to catastrophic hurricane damage such as along the Gulf Coast. I was encouraged to try this by a fellow NAPP member (National Association of Photoshop Professionals). The same Photoshop skills are used on these images as the daguerreotypes that I practice on for fun. About 12 years ago, I did this sort of work as a means of livelyhood but now am working as a graphic designer, contractor to U.S. Navy Recruiting; Millington, TN. The same skills come into play for promotional graphics because Photoshop is one of the programs that I use on the job.
For colorizing images that are black & white originals, I simply use some good advice that I have picked up along the way. If something is absolutely black, then I leave it black or give it a slight color cast. Gray tones usually indicate some color. In the case of ladies garments, at no time is red used, that was a taboo even through WWII. Red could be used however, on a rose in a vase or maybe a flag in the background. Color on material for garments was limited. The rest is just flesh tones, hair and eye color. All this is done only on a fully restored black & white of the original with all repairs having been made.
The most critical part of a restoration is the central most area of the subjects face. This, above all, must be done with utmost precision and care. Believability is the overall intention. A high resolution scan of the original will help determine the difference between specs in the photo and freckles on the subject for instance.
Sometimes a person a work or a neighbor will make such a request, so I let them know that I charge for my work. I have to do this or I would become completely overwhelmed with free favors.
