Photo Restorations & Editing

In the Digital Age, Photo Restorations and Photography begin with pixels, and in particular, it's about how they are captured and edited in a color-managed environment. But with the explosion in digital technology, we now have a "pixel jungle", and it's difficult to make sense of it. In this respect, digital images, from cameras and scanners, compare poorly with those images captured in the film era. It's evident that we're less educated about our equipment operations than before, primarily because digital devices require little thought; we simply put things in "Auto" mode, and off we go, for better or for worse.

But, great images are rarely accidents; they're always crafted with an understanding--an understanding about how images are captured, edited, managed, printed, and mounted. Digital imaging is particularly problematic, and for numerous reasons not easily explained. This fact will become partially evident in the decade to come as original digital files get lost, and where the only means of reproducing them comes from a consumer-based printer output. This makes quality reproduction a serious challenge. As I said, it's a pixel jungle, and most are wandering into it without notice.

Old School Digital specializes in pixels, and we can help bridge the gaps, restoring some discipline to your images, producing outputs and print quality that, quite frankly, will astonish you. We believe our digital restoration work is among the best and most prestine you will find, anywhere. There are no tricks involved--as in any industry, hard work is always the best remedy. There are certainly new and exciting tools, but they require a particulary acute understanding if one is to make good use of them. We beleive we have that understanding, and we can deliver the quality our clients expect. We don't aspire to be the cheapest--we aspire to be the best!

From restorations to wedding books, we've got the knowledge and tools to get the job done right. Call us! We'll be happy to discuss whatever project you have in mind to conceive.

"Roll-Over" Examples--hold your mouse, momentarily, over each image to see before and after effects

 



This was the only copy that existed. And it demonstrates how digital technology can serve to preserve the past. Gentleman on far right has his eyes closed, but opening them with a cloned source seems to me an inappropriate action. Best to leave some things alone if they are to remain in an historically correct state.

 



Often times, damage can be extensive; in severe cases, enlargment limits can be hindered. However, we can generally scan and interpolate to produce results 10 times, and larger, the original size. We test quality using full resolution proofing.

 

    

A good example where borrowed elements can work. The trick--make it look natural. Can you guess where the new stripes came from?

     In some cases, folds, wrinkles, and stains fall across "nuetral" elements, speeding the work along. Critical details, such as facial features, etc. slows the editing considerably.

Some projects can seem worse than they appear. This particular image impresses many folks. In truth, however, it was one of my "easier" projects. That being said, "easier" is a relative term, and every project is a serious challenge.

Bows are critical details, in this image, and reconstructing them takes much thought and testing. Hands, in contrast, are nearly impossible to recreate, so alternative editing solutions are often developed to mitigate the problems.

 

 

In General:

    

Editing and Restoration work is filled with twists and turns, and original images often vary in reproductive quality. This is true of both film and digitally-based images. Film-based photos suffer from fading, discoloration, cracks, and tears; digital images suffer from compression and data loss due to poor handling by your camera or computer. In many ways, digital images are actually less forgiving than film negatives or original photos ever were.

 

Time required for any restoration or editing project depends on the nature of the problem. No amount of editing, for example, can correct extremely bad focus or produce detail where none was originally recorded. So, though digital editing can seem unlimited in its potential, it is not. There are always practical problems that will continue to defy solution, and there are no magic wands. It always boils down to skillful work, and I'll be happy to advise you on any photo project you may wish to consider submitting.  

Submitting Photos:

    

At the Farmers Market: We can be found every Wednesday morning at the Temecula Farmers Market. Market hours are from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM, and it is located in the Macys parking lot off Interstate 15 at Winchester Rd. Take the Wichester exit East; Macys will appear on your right. Look for the colored canvas canopys. Remember, this is the Wednesday Farmers Market, not the Saturday event held downtown. Images collected at the market are immediately placed into acid-free, celophane envelopes which are then placed into a protective plastic slip between 2 card stock sheets. This, in turn, is placed into a gold envelope and brief. Upon returning to the office, the envelopes are placed in our "dry room" where all forms of liquids, foods, chemicals, etc. are absent. Your image remains there until scanning is required and is returned, in the same packaging, until returned to you at the Market. We'd like you to have confidence in the way we handle your images.

      

Pick-up: In many cases, we are happy to pick-up images, in person. However, the capacity to pick up projects may vary, depending on your location. If you think time and distance might be an issue, simply call. We'll try working something out. For consultations, call us at 1-800-220-1713.

      

Home Office: In many cases, clients don't wish to part with their images, under any circumstances--we understand! Therefore, arrangements can be made to meet with you in our Murrieta Home Office. We are a properly licensed, home-based business with authority to conduct business by the City, however, we still don't wish to be a nuisanse to our neighbors. Therefore, Home Office meetings are by appointment only. Call Tom at 1-800-220-1713; we'll set it up.

      

 E-mail: You can submit photos by e-mail if your photo/image is digitized, by way of a digital camera file or by a photo scanner. When submitting scanned images, however, final results are critically dependent upon the imaging capability of the scanner used. Good scanners are much like good cameras: they utilize critically superior optics and technologies. Also, issues of orientation, contrast and color adjustments, as well as file formats contribute to image quality. Lastly, it's imperative to know how the image is to be used. In sum, to ensure quality results, a quality image foundation is essential. If you don't know how to optimize the scan settings on your unit, you might need to submit originals. However, for editing purposes, and when in doubt, scan at the highest possible resolution, and save in .TIFF formats.

      

By mail:  When submitting work by mail, you accept sole responsibility for damages or losses incurred in the shipping process. For best results, originals are desirable, however, we've had good results with photo copies. Therefore, consider carefully whether you wish to submit originals by mail.  In general, however, images submitted in person will be returned in person.  We love our US Postal Service workers, however, we love our reputation even more.  Images submitted, in person, should be expected to be picked up, in person.

How Does the Process Work?:  

    

Every restoration/image editing project requires a deposit; no work can begin without one. With the deposit, Old School Digital will begin the scanning and editing of your image. After a preliminary editing stage, we'll contact you to review the initial work. If you don't like the direction or results indicated, your deposit will be fully refunded. However, if you like the results, a second deposit is due, and Old School Digital will complete the edit and order/provide proofs, either in hard copy or by way of posting to this web site. Once the samples/proofs are approved, your project will go to print. This is a great process that serves everyone's interests. In brief, you should never be surprised, since you are involved in evaluating work each step of the way, and payments or deposits are always an indication of your evaluation and approval.

Materials Costs:

       

Materials costs are dependent upon choices made by the client. In truth, there are many many mounting, textured, and other imaging processing options to choose from, ranging from the simple print to canvas and stretcher frames. Similarly, framing options run the gamut. However, we are here to help guide your decisions not confuse them. In most cases, end purposes will determine issues of mounting, materials, and framing, and we have samples that you can evaluate at any time. Once materials decisions are made, they are incorporated into the Agreement, subject to changes that may be imposed by our vendors. Most itemized costs are considered estimated or projected costs, however, we try to be accurate and on target with our estimates, and our agreements, in part, guarantee that they will be very close.

Digital Rights:

    

The client is entitled to images to the extent of their purchases in them. In practical terms, that means any restoration or image editing project purchased from Old School Digital may be used in any fashion the client deems useful, including photocopying, scanning, etc. If you wish to purchase a copy of the digital Data file, arrangements can be made. Ownership of the Data file, however, will be considered concurrent with the editor, not exclusive. This simply means I retain an on-going right of use/ownership in all Data files rendered in my work.