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Searching for instruction - Printable Version

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Searching for instruction - Danbor - 02-29-2024

Hello all. Looking for some specific schooling. I don't know if I have poor search skills, or if what I seek just doesn't exist.
   Being totally new to photo editing and new to Gimp, I am looking for some training in a specific area. So far without much luck. I have taken two Udemy courses already. The first, "Gimp 2.10 Masterclass: From beginner to pro photo editing", was good to get me familiar with concepts and the UI for Gimp. The second, "Gimp photo editing crash course" was pretty much useless for me.
   The first course focused on media design and the second focused on editing photos taken with a digital camera. Both useful and popular pursuits. However, of very little help for me. I am not creative and have no interest at all in pursuing any aspect of media or graphic design. I am not a picture taker so I have no digital photos to edit.
   What I do have are several hundred photos, from the early 1930's to the late 1990's that I want to scan and restore in digital form to share with family and comrades.
   So, does anyone know where a person can find a course of training that concentrates on using Gimp to repair and restore both color and black and white photographs?


RE: Searching for instruction - gimpygirl - 03-01-2024

Hi

I found these videos for you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zykCusbB0J4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL7XXrAbJCg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYXrhdk4ILw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-iRK_GHzYc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJBOsho3nM0

And websites:

https://www.communication-generation.com/gimp-restore-old-photographs/

https://www.tutorialgeek.net/2011/06/old-photo-restoration-using-gimp-how-to.html

A book

https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-1-4842-9265-5

I think the book is a step by step tutorial and recommended! It's published 26 May 2023 so it will be using a modern GIMP version.


Quote: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.



RE: Searching for instruction - Danbor - 03-01-2024

  Hello gimpygirl, thanks for the input.
   The first youtube link you provided was in the gimp 2-10 course I took. That was the only one that covered restoration in the whole course. The others I'll check out further.
   Though I haven't seen any of them yet, I know I'll get something out of them. However, I guess I should been more specific about what I've been searching for. The Udemy online courses I've paid for were fine as far as they went. But, again, they were geared for creating and arranging digital art, in one form or another. In other words, when they discuss, say, layer modes. They teach how to use them to enhance the image you are trying to create by changing the lighting or adding a vignette, or any number of other things. 
   What I've been looking for is an entire course that explains all those things as they are used to restore and repair. Does that make sense?
    For example, in another thread I asked a question about the best way to remove something in an image. Someone answered back something about copying the layer and changing the mode to grain separation and changing it's transparency.  Now, I understood most of it, but they lost me toward the end. I knew the terms and tools, but not how to use them to repair my image. What I learned about those tools and usage was for design effect, not repair.
   If the above makes no sense I apologize/ ')
   Looks like I'm going to have to shell out $40 US for the book. Perhaps one of you sharp folks around here might take an interest in such a project and put a course together. I have no doubt that it would attract quite a few subscribers!


RE: Searching for instruction - sallyanne - 03-01-2024

Or you can join one or both of my groups and have your photos restored for free. Members use all types of programs not just gimp. Someone there may be able to give you a better idea of what to do if your interested.
Groups are here
https://www.facebook.com/groups/FDPRR
or
https://www.facebook.com/groups/FreeFunPE


RE: Searching for instruction - Ofnuts - 03-01-2024

(02-29-2024, 11:26 PM)Danbor Wrote: Hello all. Looking for some specific schooling. I don't know if I have poor search skills, or if what I seek just doesn't exist.
   Being totally new to photo editing and new to Gimp, I am looking for some training in a specific area. So far without much luck. I have taken two Udemy courses already. The first, "Gimp 2.10 Masterclass: From beginner to pro photo editing", was good to get me familiar with concepts and the UI for Gimp. The second, "Gimp photo editing crash course" was pretty much useless for me.
   The first course focused on media design and the second focused on editing photos taken with a digital camera. Both useful and popular pursuits. However, of very little help for me. I am not creative and have no interest at all in pursuing any aspect of media or graphic design. I am not a picture taker so I have no digital photos to edit.
   What I do have are several hundred photos, from the early 1930's to the late 1990's that I want to scan and restore in digital form to share with family and comrades.
   So, does anyone know where a person can find a course of training that concentrates on using Gimp to repair and restore both color and black and white photographs?

There is little difference between fixing/enhancing a scan and a photo from a camera. In fact taking a photo, if done properly, can be faster and better than scanning (scanner have a nasty distortion). Same knowledge, but applied differently, removing a stain or hiding an unsightly plastic bag, no real difference.


RE: Searching for instruction - Danbor - 03-01-2024

(03-01-2024, 07:58 AM)sallyanne Wrote: Or you can join one or both of my groups and have your photos restored for free. Members use all types of programs not just gimp. Someone there may be able to give you a better idea of what to do if your interested.
Groups are here
https://www.facebook.com/groups/FDPRR  
or
https://www.facebook.com/groups/FreeFunPE

   Thanks sallyanne, I'll have a look at those FB groups. Not to have someone do the work for me, but it looks like a good place to get tips and insights on how to get things done.
   Being retired, I have a lot more spare time on hand than spare cash and I need to keep my mind active and learning. Letting someone else restore the photos won't help much in that regard but I could sure use the help on figuring out where to start on an image through how to pick and use the best procedure to follow for each one.

Hello Ofnuts.
You've stated exactly what I trying to look for. "Same knowledge, but applied differently". The "applied differently" part is what is missing from the courses I've taken so far.
There are those of us that can't intuitively make the leap from using a tool for one thing to using it for another.
For example, you mentioned working on an image from a scanner rather than a camera. Which brought a question to my mind. Are you suggesting I might be better served by taking a picture of a picture rather than scanning the picture? See, I never would have thought of using a camera in lieu of a scanner to digitize the image. "Same knowledge, but applied differently" in action.
  Not that I have a digital camera. Smile Other than a cell phone. Pretty sure my cell phone can take pictures though I've never tried it.