Analysis: Data Salvage and Conservation

We use Adobe Photoshop to enhance our slides, negatives, and prints of Rock Art from various collections. The following is a quick description of our process to repair the following most common problems.

  • Over/Under Exposure: To repair this problem we use curves, levels, or contrast to adjust the overall brightness and contrast of an image. We often isolate sections that are darker than the rest using the magic wand and we always feather this kind of selection.

  • Color Shift: To repair this problem we use color balance, hue and saturation, or variations.
  • Poor Petroglyph/Pictograph Visibility: To repair this problem we have to make selections of the petroglyph that start from general to specific. First we paint a general selection using the quick mask or lasso tool. Then we make a selection within the selection by picking the dominant hue in the petroglyph. We then highlight this selection. We sometimes select the inverse and darken it so that there is more contrast between the petroglyph and the rock. Although these are powerful tools, we do our best to keep a natural looking image. During the process we use various techniques to make the petroglyph more clear. For example, we may turn the saturation or contrast all the way up so we can have different perspectives on the petroglyph.
   
 

 

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