Making Photos Look Old

Coal Creek Griff · September 09, 2008, 06:31:30 PM

I've been thinking of taking some digital photos of myself and my family, then trying to make them appear old to sell to collectors as originals (just kidding on that part).

Any hints on altering digital photos to make them look like they were taken in 1880? I know I read something somewhere, but I can't find it...

Thanks!

CC Griff

Delmonico · September 09, 2008, 06:39:33 PM

Quote from: Coal Creek Griff on September 09, 2008, 06:31:30 PM
I've been thinking of taking some digital photos of myself and my family, then trying to make them appear old to sell to collectors as originals (just kidding on that part).

Any hints on altering digital photos to make them look like they were taken in 1880? I know I read something somewhere, but I can't find it...

Thanks!

CC Griff

Use the sepia tone part of yer photo program, print and then beat them around a bit.

El Peludo · September 10, 2008, 01:25:18 AM

You can also buy sepia or antique toned photo paper to use in your printer. Back in the "day" we used sepia toned paper, or dyes that would color the white or ivory paper that we printed on; I even tried using tea, or diluted coffee, but the results were less than satisfactory, and the prints came out looking just sort of dirty and blotchy. Low gloss or matte paper gives the best appearance with the tinted prints. I love the new technology, but sure do wish I could spend some good old quiet time in the darkroom; one can hardly find enlarger papers or sheet or even 120/220 large format film anymore, or find the chemicals and equipment, except on the internet at some used or antique sites. Working in the darkroom was almost a zen kind of experience for me.

Curley Cole · September 10, 2008, 01:41:29 AM

There are a number of ways of making them look old. I have found I get a better sepia tone on the computer if first I make the image grayscale, then increase the color back to 16m color (you can't apply sepia to a grey scale image) It makes it look more authentic.

You can also take an old cabinent card, edit out the person in the image, then outline the image of yourself and then cut and paste it into the cab card. I did one of Old Top that came out neat.

you can see several of my pictures on my web page at

http://sdough.smugmug.com

curley

Coal Creek Griff · September 10, 2008, 02:43:15 PM

Thanks, gents. I'll play around with it and see how it turns out.

CC Griff

Marshal'ette Halloway · September 11, 2008, 07:06:39 AM

PHOTO album is awesome.. When I have time I am going to try my hand at the program.

Coal Creek Griff · September 11, 2008, 01:39:39 PM

Thanks again! I'd like to add some "distress" (stains, chips, etc) to the photos too...

CC Griff

Trailrider · September 12, 2008, 11:56:04 AM

Don't know about these other techniques (I used to use color-processed black & white film that came out sepia-toned), but all I have to do to make an image of ME look old is...have somebody take the picture!

Coal Creek Griff · September 12, 2008, 12:27:11 PM

HA! That's good.

My father was into photography when I was growing up and when we built a new house when I was eight, he had a darkroom built. I bought my first decent camera when I was 14 (after saving forever) and I spent most weekends taking pictures, then developing them. When I moved out during college, I started getting my film commercially processed and I haven't been in a darkroom since. Now with digital photography...

Ah, those were some good days, though, locked in the darkroom, blasting my music and working on my photos. Those are good memories.

CC Griff

Curley Cole · September 12, 2008, 03:52:35 PM

Yup I still have 2 enlargers in the garage and 3 35mm cameras. (also have a 4x5 view camera a friend gave me...

As for digital darkroom may I suggest Paint Shop Pro. It is much cheaper than Adobe, and has almost all the whistles and bells, and is a lot more user friendly.

Let us see some of yer work...

curley

Curley Cole · September 12, 2008, 11:52:43 PM

Here is an old cabinent card I scanned and took the original soldier out and put Old Top in. Then I put my name on it for the photographer.Did it abouut 3 years ago. Tops uniform was new back then...I keep meanin to do a few more but get distracted.

enjoy

curley

Coal Creek Griff · June 11, 2009, 06:53:49 PM

It's an old post, but I was playing around with pictures again. I'm not completely happy with what I've done here, but I'm working on it. I don't think that there were as many old photos with the "pinhole" darkening around the edges, but I tried it anyway. I also added some "scratches" to the second one...

Trailrider · June 11, 2009, 11:52:46 PM

Can the image be reversed in some of these programs? That way you could make the photo look like a tintype where the image is reversed (like Billy the Kid's "lefthanded" Winchester '73!)

Curley Cole · June 12, 2009, 01:29:35 AM

Here are a couple I did some time ago. Used "Professor Franklin" There are other programs that do the same technique

Them pix ya did looked cool...

And yes some programs have a flip option..

How about some other folks showin their stuff

curley

Delmonico · June 12, 2009, 11:45:51 PM

Well what do you think of these, of course I have a good prop:

(BTW this is at Rock Creek Station Newbrassky Territory and the stage is out of the Pony Express Museum in Marysville Kansas)

And some things just don't work, like my pick-up crossing the toll bridge over Rock Creek"