Colourizing an old photo.
March 18, 2014 6:41 AM Subscribe
This is a two part question around colourizing this old photo of my mother who recently passed away.
The first part of the question is where do I go to have it actually done? Are there any online services that can do this? Part of the problem is that I don't even know how much would be reasonable to pay for such a service.
The second part is figuring out what the right colours to use would be. This picture has been around for a while but I never thought to ask what the colours of the outfit were. I do know that she made it and it is an italian tarantella dance outfit.
The ultimate goal is to create a framed canvas print to give as a gift to each of my siblings. For what it's worth, the original was scanned at a higher resolution than I have uploaded to imgur. I do understand of course that I can just use it as is, but I'd like to get it colourized at least so I can have the option of using either version.
The first part of the question is where do I go to have it actually done? Are there any online services that can do this? Part of the problem is that I don't even know how much would be reasonable to pay for such a service.
The second part is figuring out what the right colours to use would be. This picture has been around for a while but I never thought to ask what the colours of the outfit were. I do know that she made it and it is an italian tarantella dance outfit.
The ultimate goal is to create a framed canvas print to give as a gift to each of my siblings. For what it's worth, the original was scanned at a higher resolution than I have uploaded to imgur. I do understand of course that I can just use it as is, but I'd like to get it colourized at least so I can have the option of using either version.
The paper "Colorization Using Optimization" provides some useful examples of what can be done.
posted by rongorongo at 6:47 AM on March 18, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by rongorongo at 6:47 AM on March 18, 2014 [1 favorite]
Sorry for your loss. She looks like a delightful woman!
Judging from this search, you would probably be good with red and black.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 6:53 AM on March 18, 2014 [1 favorite]
Judging from this search, you would probably be good with red and black.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 6:53 AM on March 18, 2014 [1 favorite]
I was going to say the same thing about the subreddit, down to explaining the story and your reasons for doing the colorization. They do some awfully nice work!
posted by whatzit at 6:57 AM on March 18, 2014
posted by whatzit at 6:57 AM on March 18, 2014
If you don't want to post it publicly on that subreddit, browse around for a bit and find some previously-done examples that you like. Then message the user that did it, and ask if they'll do yours for a fee.
posted by inigo2 at 8:51 AM on March 18, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by inigo2 at 8:51 AM on March 18, 2014 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
I'm sorry for your loss--it's a lovely photo, and I'm sure your mother danced a mean tarantella.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 6:47 AM on March 18, 2014 [2 favorites]