changing image from bitmap to grayscale (1 Viewer)

[jimbobjones]

hi Im trying to edit an image that was scanned as a bitmap tiff. for some reason the image has scanned in really faded and light. [i didnt scan it and dont have it to rescan it myself].
when i change it in Photoshop to grayscale and then try to adjust the color contrast it keeps on changing back to the faded way it was scanned.
any ideas anyone? can i change it a regular grayscale tif that i can edit away to my hearts content or what?

 

[HMD]

when you convert it use Curves and drag the line from the centre. this will adjust the midtones. i think thats what you're trying to do.

 

[jimbobjones]

thanks. but its still not working. maybe its something to do with the way it was scanned. i cant figure it..

 

[taubstumm]

i'm not sure exactly what you mean, but try image > adjustments > levels. or if you're lazy, image > adjustments > auto levels.

 

[Space]

Wanna send it to me and I'll have a look?

 

[jimbobjones]

alright here it is:
http://www.loserdomzine.com/images/stage2_thomas_ break.tif

if you want to try it go here http://www.loserdomzine.com/images/
and save link as .tif

 

[Space]

I'll have a look now.

 

[Space]

Right so I see what you mean very strange altogether, even when I resave it as a jpeg there's still the same problem. Easy solution is to take a screen shot and adjust that, I've just tried this and works fine. Do you wanna do that or will I send you this one?

 

[HMD]

I've had a look. the problem was the pixels and that it was scanned as bitmap which shouldn't have been the case. here's a link to a 300dpi jpeg
www.rockjihad.com/misc/stage2_thomas_break.jpg

 

[jimbobjones]

cheers lads!
hey HMD how did you get it to that then as my brother has about 30 more scans with the same problem? cheers pal!

 

[HMD]

cheers lads!
hey HMD how did you get it to that then as my brother has about 30 more scans with the same problem? cheers pal!

convert to greyscale then RGB.
then do a 1.6 gaussian blur
adjust the curves by dragging the middle down or adjust you levels.


the problem seemed to be all that pixels had white around them thus making them look grey, when you zoomed in you could see they were black. the blur sorted this out.

i'm sure you could set up an action and then do a batch process in photoshop to take the pain out of doing the other 30.