How to fix discolorating only of part of a photo - need help

[myalo]

Hello
I have scanned some very old slides taken many years ago
Most of them are in very good shape but some show yellow discoloration on one side probably because of issue with the film it self.
I viewed many tutorials on how to do that if it is an issue with all the photos but part.
Can you direct me in the right direction? Thanks

[LeviFiction]

To fix only a single part of the photo you need to separate it out. There are any number of ways to do this.

You can duplicate the layer, perform your fix, then use the eraser tool to erase the parts of the layer you didn't want to fix. When you'd o this on a layer the bottom layer will show through. Make sure to use a soft brush and go carefully, get rid of everything you don't want, and go easy on the edge. In recent versions of PSP the eraser can only be corrected while using the eraser. So if you go too far you can just use the right-mouse button to bring back areas you erased. But once you leave the eraser those areas are gone.

If you don't want to use the eraser you can use Masks. Once you've made your correction go to Layers -> Add a Mask -> Show all. This will group your changed layer with a mask layer. The mask layer is a greyscale image that uses black through white to represent transparency. Black conceals and white reveals. So paint with Black on the mask layer and it'll hide the parts of the corrected layer that you don't want to show. And unlike the eraser, it's infinitely re-touchable as it's non-destructive. If you paint over the wrong area you can use white to bring it back. Use a soft edge brush to fade the edges.

Another option

You can do a simple selection, promote the selection to a layer, make the correction on the promoted layer, once you're done then fade the edges with the eraser (or a mask if you want, but it's less necessary) set to soft and do several passes until it looks good and only pixel peepers can tell there is a problem.

or

If you're using adjustment layers, those have a built-in mask so all you have to do is paint with black on the layer, over the areas you don't want the adjustment to touch. Again set the brush to a low hardness level for a soft edge. I will also note, that if you already have a selection and you add an adjustment layer, it'll auto-fill the mask to only affect the selected portion of the image.

[Jean-Luc]

My attempt:

Removing the background.
Recreating similar background using a piece of the left part.
Histogram Adjustment tool and darken the image and the woman.
Erasing the too-dark areas except for the woman.

[myalo]

Jean Luc
The results you are showing are very nice.
Followup questions:
Removing the background - how to? All of it?
Recreating similar background using a piece of the left part? the background on the left part does not have all the height, so I did you manage to put it on the right?
Thanks

[Jean-Luc]

I'll prepare a more detailed explanation...

[Jean-Luc]

In the Layers Palette, duplicate the Background (right-click), disable the Visibility of the Background layer, and make the duplicated layer active.

Use the Clone Brush and remove the white spot on the left.

1967slide cloning.jpg (38.11 KiB) Viewed 421 times

Use the Selection Tool and select the left curtain.

Do Selections/Promote Selection to layer.
Do Selections/Select None.
Use the Move Tool and drag the selection to the right.
In the Layers Palette, duplicate the Promoted Selection.
The top and bottom luminosity of the curtain is not the same:
do Image/Mirror/Mirror Vertical.
Adjust the mirrored selection.
Duplicate the initial Promoted Selection and adjust too.

In the Layers Palette, select the top layer (Copy of Promoted Selection).
Right-click and do Merge/Merge down.
This will merge the two top layers.
Do the same merging with the last promoted selection.
You will have now a unique layer with the merged selections.
The overall luminosity of the right curtain is a little too dark.
Do Adjust/Brightness and Contrast/Histogram Adjustment.
Reset the tool and move the central Gamma slider to 1.30
Duplicate this layer and move it to the right in the image.
Don't move it too much. Observe the luminosity. Move the layer until you don't see a luminosity difference.
Duplicate the layer again and move it again until you fill completely the image's right area.
Merge the curtain layers.

(to be followed)

[Jean-Luc]

In the Layers Palette, move on the top the Copy of the Background layer.
Use the Eraser tool and erase the unwanted background.
Be sure Smart Edge is checked.
The new background will be visible.

There is a color difference between the original background and the new.
Use the Dropper Tool and select a blue color in the new curtain layer.

In the Layers Palette, be sure the top layer (Copy of Background) is selected.
Select the Change to Target Brush. It will use the color selected by the Dropper Tool. Paint over the old Background with the fresh blue color.

In the Layers Palette, select the Promoted Selection Layer (new curtain).
Select the Burn Brush and paint behind the woman to create a shadow.

(to be followed)

[Jean-Luc]

In the Layers Palette, duplicate the Background layer. We will darken it until the dress of the woman looks better.
Use the Histogram Adjustment tool with Gamma Luminosity set on 0.30
Use the Eraser Brush (begin with Hardness 0 and Opacity 50) to remove all the dark parts of the image except the right area of the woman (retain hair and dress).

Close the underlying layer to have better visual control.

When finished, Merge Down the darkened layer.
Use the Dropper Tool and the Change to Target Tool to correct the color of the woman's hair, the two hands, and the dress if you want.

(End)

[Candive]

Great tutorial!

[myalo]

Thanks a lot. Many steps but can do the trick.

[Jean-Luc]

Thanks a lot. Many steps but can do the trick.

A major defect requires major work.