Pink Halos in Photo

[talley123]

Hi,
I have an old photo with pink halo-like spots on it. I've tried using blemish remover, clone, scratch removal, and object remover to no avail. Any suggestions?

[Kathy_9]

Hi Talley and welcome to the forum.

It can be done with the clone tool but it will not be a quick operation.

[Joelle]

The Color Replacer will achieve that, but a bit fiddly where there is text (the space between the letters needs selecting first)
I use PSPX9, maybe the names have changed since those days..?

Joëlle

[Jean-Luc]

I have an acceptable but not perfect solution. It needs some manipulations. I'll write how to do it (coming back in a few hours).

[Jean-Luc]

The aim is to remove the pink color. The Luminosity spots are easier to correct (Lighten Brush, Clone Brush, ...)

Image / Split channel / Split to RGB
Select the Blue image.
Use the Freehand Selection Tool and select the area where the pink spots (grey) are located.

Save the selection:
Selections / Load/Save Selection / Save Selection To Disk
Activate the Green image (where the spots are almost invisible).
Copy the image:
Edit / Copy
Activate the Blue image and paste the copied Green image on top of the Blue image:
Edit / Paste as New Layer
Do Selections / Invert
Do Edit / Cut
Do Selections / Select None
You will see the selected area a little darker than the surrounding area.

Do Adjust / Brightness and Contrast / Histogram Adjustment:
Reset the tool and select Luminosity mode.
Move the central slider (Gamma) to the right. The aim is to lighten the pasted layer until it matches the luminosity level of the surrounding grey. In my example, the value 1,18 seems the best.

Do Layers / Merge / Merge All (Flatten)
Do the same between the Green and Red images:
Copy the Green image and past it onto the Red image.
Apply the same Selection:
Selections / Load/Save Selection / Load Selection From Disk
Selection Invert and Cut.
Select None.
The pasted selection is lighter than the rest of the image.
Darken the selection with the Histogram Adjustment Tool: Gamma 0,71 which will end with a correct luminosity for the above area but a too dark on the bottom.

Use the Lighten/Darken Brush with the following setting:
Size 55, Hardness 75, Step 10, Density 100, Opacity 54, Continuous checked, Mode RGB, Swap mouse button unchecked, Smart Edge unchecked
And paint with the Lighten Brush on the dark bottom.
Merge All (Flatten) the image.
Do Image / Combine Channel / Combine from RGB

That's all Folks!

[Kathy_9]

Not perfect but the pink halos are gone. Done with the clone tool.

[Joelle]

Excellent!

Joëlle

[Kathy_9]

Thank you!!