IC needs volunteers for a photo retouching project

[primesuspect]

We need volunteers! Read on! (http://icrontic.com/articles/photo_retouch_volunteers).

[PurplezArctic]

A very good idea, indeed! I'd be willing to volunteer myself to retouching photos. Or at least I'd would like to give it a shot, for I'd like to consider myself having above mediocre skills.

I'd love to see this take off.

*Volunteer*

[UPSLynx]

Count me in for retoucher's pool, or possibly backend dev. Anyways, just count me in.

I obviously know a thing or two about web development, and I love working in Photoshop, been using it for about 8 years now. I even did some antique photo retouching back in high school, so I'm experienced.

Great idea Prime, this could be a great way to set Icrontic apart with something not only unique, but very personal. :life:

[Thrax]

I fix:

http://icrontic.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=25874&d=1220137965

[DogDragon]

I pat you on the back for this Idea Prime :thumbsup:
It's a good one, I know people that had pics that were
dying and would wish for what you are offering.

[PurplezArctic]

I fix:

http://icrontic.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=25874&d=1220137965

Ohai metoo.

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/3466/retouchicck6.jpg<-- Gimp for lyfe

[MrBill]

I have no photoshop skills, but kudos to those of you that do and are willing to donate your time. Well done! :)

[TiberiusLazarus]

Great idea and would be a real use for a lot of people. My photoshop skills are limited at best, but I would be willing to volunteer to do something, help with backend setup or whatever.

[Kwitko]

For the backend, I'm sure with all the talented programmers we have here we'd all be able to put our heads together and come up with a slick check in/out script to manage files. Also to be able to keep multiple copies/versions of files for approval.

[Winfrey]

A catchy name for this project!

How about "fix yo' pix!"
or "Memories Completed"
or "Icrontic's Photoshop for the Community"

Just some suggestions.

Really cool idea, and an awesome thing to do, especially for those who couldn't hope to accomplish retouching a photo by themselves.

[Crazy Joe]

I would be willing to be a volunteer on the touchup staff. Here is my quick take on the pic.

[Thrax]

You edited out the stone ground. Now it looks like they're being eaten by a great mass of white. :P

[bothered]

I don't pretend to have the skills of some of you guys but what a great idea. I'm not too bad at photoshop though and could do some of the basic stuff, get it ready for more expert treatment perhaps?
I do, as it happens, also have a picture in my PC that desperately needs this treatment. It is of my paternal Grandparents (born late 1800s?). I didn't want to be the one to set a precedent and just post it so if anybody would/could like a go?

[chiaz]

What a great idea!

I know nuts about photo editing, but I really hope this project can go through. Let me know if I can help in other ways! :)

[primesuspect]

Remember, we need help with more than just retouching. You could somehow be a part of this by actually collecting/scanning photos, bothered. There's no reason this can't have global reach. The internet is magic sorcery :D

[Snarkasm]

I'll do.... something. You know my skillz.

[bothered]

Remember, we need help with more than just retouching. You could somehow be a part of this by actually collecting/scanning photos, bothered. There's no reason this can't have global reach. The internet is magic sorcery :D

Count me in, I'm at your disposal.

[primesuspect]

Let's start with you uploading the highest res copy of that image you were talking about, and letting the wizards work their magic on it. We can use it in our gallery of work we've done :)

[bothered]

Here it is, a daunting snap to be sure. It's from the 40's, or maybe 50's and in quite poor condition.

[Gargoyle]

Awesome idea!

Can we collect metadata on these photos?


Date
People or objects in photo
Location

The above can be approximate.

Along with:


Photo source, copyright holder
Name of volunteer photoshopper
Notes on any possible lost information in the photo due to original damage or repair technique
Medium: is this from an original photo print, a colorized enlargement, slide, etc.

[Gnome Queen]

I don't have any photoshop or computer skillz...but I could supply the cookies?

[primesuspect]

So here's what we need:


A catchy name for this project!
People who can make the initial gathering step happen
Someone who can design a backend system to expedite the process
A pool of photo retouchers
A source for prints / frames
Good PR!

[primesuspect]

Garg, I agree on the metadata. As much information as possible would be awesome, and of historical significance.

We need to set standards for scans as well. None of these photos will have been digital to begin with, so we'll need, as much as possible, extremely high res scans (I'm thinking 300dpi minimum with 600dpi being ideal), greyscale mode for sepia or bw photos, and CMYK for color photos. TIFF format for all photos with jpg available for screen viewing, but TIFF for printing and archival purposes, etc. TIFF will handle all EXIF data that we could possibly need for this project.

[pragtastic]

Great idea Prime.

I'd like to hear some additional thoughts on the requirements you had in mind for the backend system. As much detail as possible would be great. Looking forward to seeing an awesome project out of IC :)

[Crazy Joe]

You edited out the stone ground. Now it looks like they're being eaten by a great mass of white. :P

True dat. Said it was a quick edit. For some reason when I was looking at it last night I thought those were cracks in the photo. Fixt.

[MrBill]

A catchy name for this project! A reTouch Of Class

Icrontic.com's Memory Restoration Project -or- Icrontic.com's Community Photo Restoration Project

The Icrontic Photograph Time Machine -or- The Icrontic Time Machine for Photographs
We'll turn back the clock on your aged/damaged photographs

[PurplezArctic]

TIFF format for all photos with jpg available for screen viewing, but TIFF for printing and archival purposes, etc. TIFF will handle all EXIF data that we could possibly need for this project.

So all retouched photos should be saved under TIFF and JPG (Making two separate files)? Or just TIFF and then converted later to JPG once they are ready to be displayed in the gallery?

[primesuspect]

I'm not sure there will be a gallery at all

this is for individual people who normally would never have access to a community of experts like this.

I mean, I definitely think we'll need a few, if people give us permission, just to showcase the work we can do, but for the most part, most of the work will probably be kept private.

[primesuspect]

We need a very solid check in/check out system for this to work properly. Our system has to look like this:

Volunteers collect photos -> Photos are scanned and returned to owners -> scans are uploaded as high res TIFFs to our app -> photos are assigned to retouchers and "checked out". -> fixed photos are uploaded to our app and "checked in" -> Fixed photos have metadata applied if possible -> Fixed photos are archived, printed, framed, and shipped to volunteer for return to owners.

NOW HIRING VOLUNTEER APPLICATION DEV TEAM LEADER

I'm looking for someone serious to lead up the backend team. I need someone with a high level of web/app dev experience, who can organize, build a web app for collaboration, strategize, and make this happen quickly.

I won't be doing the "hiring" of the web devs/db devs, but we need a world class application to make this happen properly. I will be hiring the dev team leader.

Please submit your resume to me via email

brian at icrontic dot... well, you know.

Must be:



Willing to put in several unpaid hours a week
Have team mangement experience
Highly experienced in open source web technologies, PHP/MySQL or Ruby, etc.



Please include portfolio information in your resume or email.

[primesuspect]

Aaaand I just realized we need to figure out logistics of finished products being returned to the owners. Do we have local volunteers to print the stuff? we'll need someone to supply consumables (paper and ink), we'll need some kind of standard for prints, and of course we'll need shipping.

I was hoping to avoid monetary involvement, but that's probably gonna be impossible.

[jared]

for all the file/revision history couldn't you just use basecamp or any of the other free opensource project collaboration apps?

[MrBill]

Aaaand I just realized we need to figure out logistics of finished products being returned to the owners. Do we have local volunteers to print the stuff? we'll need someone to supply consumables (paper and ink), we'll need some kind of standard for prints, and of course we'll need shipping.

I was hoping to avoid monetary involvement, but that's probably gonna be impossible.Perhaps the finished product (image file) could be uploaded to a printing facility of the picture owner's choice? Walmart and Walgreens offer this type of service as I'm sure others do as well. Then the picture owner (or whomever wanted it retouched) can pay for the print and framing if they so choose. Just a thought...

[CB]

I'll help out where and when I can. I'm a dab hand with the clone tool, and my father has a small graphics/printing business here in Cincy from which I can utilize some of the resources.

[TiberiusLazarus]

for all the file/revision history couldn't you just use basecamp or any of the other free opensource project collaboration apps?

I second this. There are many different types of opensource projects already available to do all the versioning and checkout stuff we're looking for. We just need to implement one of them.

[primesuspect]

What I need is someone to make that happen. I know there are a million ways to do it.

[Winfrey]

A reTouch Of Class

I like the sound of that one.

[Thrax]

PhoRePro.

Photo Restoration Project.

[MrBill]

Okay. In this picture is my maternal great-grandmother, four of my brothers and me (center). Circa 1964. I believe the spots on my great-grandmother's face belong there with the exception of the one on her forehead. Two of my brothers in this picture are now deceased (front row left and back row right). I don't know if this picture can be salvaged or not and I don't know where the original is today -- I can try to see who has it if a higher resolution scan is necessary.

If anyone wants to take a shot at retouching it, have at it. It can be used in a public album showcasing the volunteer team's abilities if so desired.

Thanks,
Bill

[GHoosdum]

Count me in for... something. I don't even own Photoshop because I can't afford it, so I'm out of the clone stamp business. But I'm always willing to pitch in some volunteer time.