| Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Your Family Photographs | |
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Physical
Restoration
The next restoration topic is the use of Physical restoration methods.
Only one physical restoration method has been fully developed and this is based
on Neutron Activation, which has provided very good results from faded images.
This technique is non-destructive and so reversibility is not a problem. This
procedure is a rather complicated interaction of several techniques: neutron
irradiation, autoradiography and photography. Thus, though it is a restoration
procedure that is highly recommended, it is not a readily available method and
so has never seen widespread application. Another physical restoration technique
is the use of X-Ray fluorescence. The idea here is to scan the photograph with a
beam of X-Rays and make a photograph of the X-Ray fluorescence of the silver
atoms or ions in the photograph. Again, while this is a non-destructive method,
the equipment needed for this is elaborate and actually not yet fully
developed.
Copying
By far, the least expensive restoration is the photographic copying and
duplication technique. The duplication process makes it possible to generate
corrections and changes to original transparent materials such as negatives and
positives. Tone reproduction can actually be improved by reducing or increasing
the contrast in the duplicate. Copying is particularly helpful in lightening
stains or enhancing faded prints, daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, albumen and salt
prints. Family photographs have unknown or undertermined stability. A copy
negative and print from a reliable lab could have archival stability if that is specified.
Finally, copying provides a way of producing reprints in quantities.
Photographic copies could also be considered an insurance policy to provide the
protection for loss or deterioration of your precious family photographs.
Airbrush
Restoration
The last form of restoration is the Airbrush Restoration and costs for this vary
according to the amount of work that is required. This technique requires he
skill of an artist and a paintbrush that 'atomizes' the paint. There are several
steps that are required for this process and a brief explanation will give you
an understanding as to what is involved in this most common form of photographic
restoration work. A copy print is made and used as a work print because work
should never be done to the original. The first step is to reduce major dark
areas with a photographic bleach. This cleans up the highlights and opens up, or
lightens, the darkest areas where detail is still important. After the work
print has been rewashed and dried, adding densities to small areas will be the
next step. This is particularly useful to photographs that have fine cracks.
Then the darker densities such as spots or other cracks can be lightened with
wax-based opaques. Larger areas may require several applications to build up the
proper density. Next step is to consider adding shading to sections such as
facial features, as well as adding highlights to those areas. The artist may
need to add highlights and shading to clothing, backgrounds, hair or any object
that has lost some detail. Different techniques may be utilized to remove or
even add a background, combine one photograph with another, open up a closed
eye, repair teeth, remove an object or person from a photograph, etc. Almost
anything can be accomplished with an airbrush restoration if the artist is well
qualified. Keep in mind, however, that the more airbrush work that is done, the
less the finished piece will look like a photograph.
Preserving our photographs is like preserving our history. Those that are able to trace their family history for several generations are very fortunate. To have the ability to see from whom we are descended gives us a unique vision of our heritage. How fortunate are those who have family photographs. For historic value or for sharing memories, let us make a commitment to pass our photographs on to future generations. The only way that this will be possible is to take care of what we have today.
