April 5th, 2009 by Rolf
This is from gimpusers.com:
…There is an exceptional new plugin available to restore old/faded transparencies/photos!
Our user geoff has written an awesome new python plugin that makes it possible to enhance matt/faded transparencies or photos by reversing the aging process.
Some background: The plugin is based on an algorithm that recalculates the aging effect of color pigments based on physical considerations. It is possible for example to gain a nice new red color from a faded red color tone in a photo without having to do massive color/lighting corrections. It is a one-click-easy-and-simple-to-use plugin.
I haven’t tested it and would be happy about reports here or in the forum.
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It’s pretty effective at what it does. If the fading has not been uniform in the colour dyes, this plug-in will
prove extremely effective. If the fading has been uniform, then this plug-in will still probably produce good
to very acceptable results, but should be compared to Auto White-Balance.
It produces its results in a new window, so it’s very simple to then apply AWB to the original, giving two
versions that can be compared and contrasted. It also offers more options than AWB, and so is worth
spending some time on if you have pictures or slides that have either yellowed or faded.
Sorry, I forgot to mention that is also extremely useful for screening for Chromatic Aberration (also called
achromatism according to Wikipedia) as it my testing it significantly enhanced any Chromatic Aberration.
I have been testing this plug- in, on and off, for several weeks and can confirm that, in many cases, the results are very pleasing. I only wish it had been available when I first starting copying some of my old colour slides. The major problem with slides, such as Kodachrome, is the tendency to develop a strong, overall blue cast so that when the restored image is compared on the screen with the original somehow the colours do not appear correct. I think it is best to save the restored image and then view it by itself. at a later date. I think there may be a loss of detail but it is difficult to tell.
There is nothing better to form an opinion than trying this plug-in yourself so, if anyone would like an image or two to play with I will be happy to provide. My slides are copied photographically so images would be RAW, may have a bit of barrel distortion and certainly lots of CA.
What is this plugin called, and where can I get it?
Just follow the link to Gimpusers. All the information is there.
In my experience the plugin (Restore.py) does not work with version 2.7.1 of Gimp. I have installed the plugin both in my home/…/.gimp and system level gimp plugin directories. The Restore function does not show up.
Has anyone else run into this problem?
…mark