How can I remove yellow staining from a scanned black-and-white photo in Photoshop?
Asked 4/20/2021
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I’ve scanned an old black-and-white photo that has yellow discoloration and some sun-related staining. The yellowing isn’t uniform, and there are also a number of imperfections. I have Photoshop and know a few basics like the Healing Brush, but I’m not very confident with layers.
What’s the simplest Photoshop workflow to remove the yellow color cast and get the image back to a clean black-and-white version suitable for reprinting?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
5y ago
2 Answers
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If you select PhotoShop's 'Image -> Adjustments -> Black and White' menu you'll be able to get rid of the color information. You can also go to 'Image -> Mode -> Grayscale' and convert, although that gives you less control. Here's a quick pass with greyscale, a little contrast, and a little sharpening. You may want to do more to get rid of the various imperfections...
Originally by user11772. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11772
5y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A simple starting point in Photoshop is to remove the color information first, then clean up the damage.
Two easy options:
- Image > Adjustments > Black & White: best if you want some control over how different tones convert.
- Image > Mode > Grayscale: quickest option, but with less control.
After converting to black and white, you can improve the scan with:
- A small contrast adjustment to restore punch
- Light sharpening if the scan looks soft
- Healing Brush / spot cleanup to reduce stains, marks, and other imperfections
If the goal is a printable restoration, convert to black and white first so the yellow staining is no longer affecting the image, then work on the remaining blemishes and tone. The Black & White adjustment is usually the better route than straight Grayscale because it gives you more control over the final tonal result.
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