Removing Red eye

[Emibub]

Hi everybody, I had a customer yesterday bring in a photo with severe red eye. It actually is a copy of a photo so I am not quite sure how I can fix it. I know there are those pens that remove red eye but since this isn't a real photo I don't know if it will work. When she initially asked me to fix it I told her I couldn't.

This is the hard part, she told me it was a memorial picture for her husband who had just died that morning. For whatever reason this is the picture she wants to use. She said any others she has have copyrights since they were professionaly done, and the copy places can't copy them. She accepted the fact I couldn't do it but here I sit this morning staring at this guy with the red eyes and I feel bad, I would like to touch it up. I feel bad enough charging her for the framing, I don't want this persons last picture to look bad. Any suggestions?

[Ron Eggers]

Anne LeBouten can probably help you with this, but in case she's busy pulling points out of her hand, here's my opinion. If it is a copy on photo paper, the red-eye pen (which I've never used) should work about as well as it does on an original. If the copy is an inkjet print, I wouldn't touch it with anything.

When I encounter this situation, I offer to scan the photo, retouch it in Photoshop and print it using the Epson photo printer with pigmented inks. I don't do it for free, though, and it's not something I can offer for same-day delivery.

Aside from occasional dust-spotting, I don't do ANY artwork on original photos, though I've had some retouch-training while in photography school.

[GUMBY, GCF]

Most photo stores and some good Art Supply Stores carry a marker for correcting red eye.
Jim
OHIO

[AnneL]

Why didn't she just have the copy place correct it while they were making the copy? Anyway, Ron's right. Unless you know what it is printed on, it's best not to touch it yourself. Find a photo lab or photo studio with a retoucher who can help you. If it is on photographic paper, you can maybe use a red eye pen but if the redeye is severe (like parts of the eye are obscured) the results will be less than satisfactory and it might even make it look worse. If that is the case, part of the eye will need to be reconstructed by a skilled artist using photographic dyes (I can do it, but it sounds like you are on a deadline with this one.)

If it isn't on photographic paper, all bets are off. Have her take it back to the place she had it copied and see if they can correct it on the computer. It's the only way.

[Emibub]

Well, at least I know my instincts are right. I make it a rule to not get involved in touch ups for the most part. It is on some sort of paper that might be photo paper. It appears to be non glossy. I think I might try Ron's idea of scanning it. I have a basic camera touch up program. At least that way I can play around with it without hurting it. I had suggested she take it back and have them touch it up on the computer but she didn't seem to want to deal with it. She seemed to be in shock and not thinking clearly for the most part. This for sure an example of what a personal business framing can be. At this point anything I do will be at my expense but I just don't want to think of this guys very prominent red eyes peering at everybody. It is kind of sad........Thanks

[Ron Eggers]

Kathy,

Are you absolutely certain the guy's natural eye color wasn't red? I once removed a spot from a photo that turned out to be the subject's trademark mole.

Sorry. That was tacky and tasteless and - Warped.

[John Gornall]

Find your local photofinisher that has a Kodak "Picture Maker" (a digital system for making photos from photos). This system has the ability to fix redeye and makes reprints or enlargements in less than 5 minutes on Kodak paper. If you can't find one (there are about 35,000 of them around the world) go to www.kodak.com (http://www.kodak.com) - search "Picture Maker" and use the store locator to find the nearest one to your location.

I have a Kodak Picture Maker in my store and wouldn't have a frame shop without one!