[Ham-Computers] RE: Removing Scotch Tape Marks

Sat, 17 Apr 2004 09:16:11 -0400

Aaron (and all)	

The HCI Web Master, who works with minimal equipment and software, does truly
amazing things. If one goes to the HCI web site and looks in the QSL Gallery,
for instance, the QSL card from Radio Moscow showing off Sputnik is there. It
used to have tape marks. He used a product called Cricket, I think, to remove
them. I do know that it was a little time absorbing, but his results are about
perfect. 	

I fear to run the latest software would require that i update my fast system, an
Intell Pentium 2! It is 450 MHz with 128 Meg of RAM and a 12 Gig hard drive,
more than enough for my needs. Frankly the system ost used is my 233 MHz Intell
Pentium with 112 Meg of RAM and a 6.5 Gig hard drive! It has served me eight to
sixteen hours 'daily'  since it wa spurchased seven years ago.

Maybe it is time -	

----------
From: Hsu, Aaron <[email protected]>
To: '[email protected]'
Cc: '[email protected]'
Subject: [Ham-Computers] RE:  Removing Scotch Tape Marks
Date: Friday, April 16, 2004 6:16 PM

Duane,

It's possible, but might not be that easy.  Many of the "newer" photo
editing products have an "auto-fix" feature that repairs minor damage (such
as small scratch marks, dust, red-eye, faded or discolored areas, etc) and
these might lessen the "visibility" of tape marks, but one can't tell until
you actually try the software.

If the "auto-fix" doesn't fully remove the marks, then manual editing is
necessary.  It's tedious, but it can be done.  It generally involves
"cloning" a good area of the photo over the area that needs correction.  In
essence, you're literally "masking over" the stuff you don't want.  A bit of
"smudging" here, some color balance there and you generally end up with
acceptable results.  If the tape marks are all the same basic
shape/size/color, then it might be possible to setup a macro or wizard to
apply the exact same "change" on each tape mark.  For example, if the tape
marks are yellow-ish in color, then setup a macro to lighten the yellow and
apply it to the areas with the tape marks.  Just a thought.

I've done "light" restoration of old photos, but only to remove scratches
and color corrections.  I have yet to remove "marks" to my own personal
satisfaction (I'm a perfectionist in this respect), but others usually can't
tell.

The tools you listed may be all you need, but MS Paint and Corel Draw were
not really designed for "photo" type use.  Photo Deluxe might work, but it's
a bit lacking in features and I found the interface a bit cumbersome to use.
In fact, Adobe dropped the product a couple years ago and replaced it with
"Photoshop Elements", now in version 2.  I *highly* recommend Photoshop
Elements 2 - it has the most commonly used features of Photoshop 7.0 with a
streamlined interface and "wizards" to assist the novice.  It runs around
$70.  Sorry, I'm not familiar with Prof. Franklin's software so I can't
comment on it.

73 and GL,

  - Aaron Hsu, NN6O

-----Original Message-----
From: Duane Fischer, W8DBF [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2004 2:37 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Ham-Computers] Re Removing Scotch Tape Marks

Hi All, 	

I have some old short-wave QSL cards that I used Scotch tape on to hold them
on
the peg board in my bedroom when I was a teenager in the early sixties. When
the
cards were taken down, the tape was not removed. Probably because it started
to
damage the card surface underneath, hence it is still there.  	

Now most of you know I am totally blind now, I was not then, and I am
wondering
if there is some method by which these unsightly tape marks can be removed
from
a scanned image? For obvious reasons I do not do much with graphics! 	

I have a grandson who is nearly thirteen who can do the work, 'if' the
process
is not too complicated to perform. I have MS Paint, Korel Draw version 5.0,
Professor Franklin's photography software and Adobe Photo Deluxe. Will any
of
these work? If so, how does one go about doing it?	

Thank you. 	

Duane Fischer, W8DBF	
[email protected]	

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