early life photos for a fiftieth

[#1]

Been having fun tarting up early life picture of our first child, who reaches 50 soon. Her first wants pictures for a scrapbook. A lot of the originals were very faded, so aided by my photo-editor, I have ( say it myself) managed quite a successful restoration, but with one annoying exception.

I have my wife with our first in the garden, holding our second born. The colours of scenery, clothes &c are accurate from memory, and within the green blue range. My wife's then hair is not. It's come out as strong auburn, but was dark mousy.

I managed to get the hair nearer the original, but that has altered the clothes, making them lighter, and the bluish bits have shifted toward green; things like brickwork have not changed.

Damned annoying is editing for colour accuracy. 

[#2]

@Luzern

I remember many years ago using software in which you could replace one colour with another.  I may have been using a trial of some program but can't remember which it was, but I imagine that function is more common these days and probably better at fulfilling its purpose.

Have a look here which may give you some idea which software to try.

[#3]

@RobPN Time is limited, and we have struck the best I can do, but I'll certainly look those links.

I have started to print or rather tried to start with my Canon printer (the same one as @shutter has. Mine loaded with normal A4 has a liking to telling me it's out of paper, when it isn't, but with 6x4 photo paper it just won't accept paper is loaded at all. Looks like I'll need visit the local photoshop  with my disk whatever.

[#4]

@Luzern As you seem to have problems with 6x4 ... why not use a A4 sheet/photo paper/card  but .... print two pics on the A4 at one time.... Do this by using a Desktop Publisher type prog... ( open office  ? ) where you can put two "frames" on the sheet,... and then change the pics within the frames, as needed.

I sometimes get the message, out of paper,... when the tray has just been loaded... I find that pulling the tray out, and then pushing it back quick and hard... works... sometimes may need to just "push" the top sheet forward at the moment the print starts with a gentle pressure of the left or right thumb !  following sheets seem to work ok then ! !

[#5]

@shutter I've done that too with A4, but no go with  6x4. I wonder if the paper not being completely flat might be the cause, so have put the pile under a load of books.

[#6]

I use Serif Photoplus s/ware, which is close to P/shop, I have tried to use its Photostudio to print those multiple pics on A4 last evening. Setting up the files for printing done, I loaded the printer with A4 glossy photo paper. Still the same problem, After umpteen tries printing started from Photostudio. I'd got results... a completely, utterly, not an ink dot blank sheet.

I haven't the time or energy, so for this venture it's off to the shop.

[#7]

@Luzern  For most of my simple photo processing, like increasing the contrast, or cropping out the next doors cat , I use IRFANVIEW...  simple quick and effective...

For things like repairing photo`s,  using clone brushes etc... I use PhotoFiltre7   http://www.photofiltre.com/

( there is another link for some additional software , loads of extras  but can`t remember it now ).

Both the above are free to download and use.... PhotoFiltre7 is a "photoshop" lookalike, methinks...

However... I think your problem lies with the machine, rather than the software you used to edit/print .

maybe the sensor for the page has gone up the creek, or something similar..

[#8]

GIMP is good at things like this - but all sophisticated photo-editing software has a bit of a learning curve.

You need to split the photo into several layers and alter one or more layers before merging everything back into one image.

[#9]

@shutter@VileReynard I'm familiar with GIMP and Irfanview, and sometimes use the latter. I had forgotten about layers, which might solve the hair colour issue.

Of the print failure, I take it that you think the printer is the cause?

[#10]

@Luzern Yes,... I think there maybe something wrong with the printer identifying the paper source... as it accepts A4 but rejects (?) the 6X4 photo paper...

presumably you are changing the settings on the little screen on the printer... and making sure, when you go for the print, of the 6x4 that your printer settings on the computer, also state the paper type and size..?  

[#11]

Is it possible to manually feed single sheet paper?

Have you tried printing on A6 paper - it's roughly 6x4 (1/4 of a sheet of A4) ?

[#12]

@VileReynard I have a little A5 , but not A6, but have been hunting out the USB cable to run diagnostics. @shutter will know that shoving in the cassette tray brings up paper details on the touch screen, which are amendable to the latest change.

Running diagnostics gave a clean bill, but attempting a test print still showed A4 glossy, not the latest A5 plain! And, indeed, despite amending to A5 plain on the touch screen, printer settings show  A4 paper.

Utterly confused!

[#13]

@Luzern Just had a look on mine.... I have some 6x4 photo papers, put three in the tray... set the gripper, shoved it in... then went to the screen ... changed the paper size to "others"  ( at the bottom of the scroll list)  it then showed "glossy" so I pinged that and changed it to "others"... ( at the bottom of the scroll list )  Haven`t done a print... but maybe you could try that, and see if it works for you ?

[#14]

@shutter AAMOI, if in Diagnostics you set up a test print, what shows on the touch screen pre-printing, and what if you click printer settings in diagnostics?

[#15]

@Luzern Dunno.... ( and didn`t know what aamoi was so had to look it up on google before I could understand what you were saying  )..

Never done a "diagnostics"... so will have to google that, to find out how to do it ! ! ! .

Will let you know !