Here’s a sample of one of the shots a beginner friend of mine asked me to retouch in Photoshop.
I picked one with a lot of backscatter intentionally.

You can see, by the exposure and backscatter that she’s using an onboard flash that is relatively close to the apature. She’s also a bit too far away from her subject, but that’s because I think she hasn’t invested in a WAL yet.

BTW folks, before you go overboard on the critique etc, this was her first tme shooting under water. For a first time effort it’s not too bad.

I’m hoping there some way to remove the backscatter. I’ve read somewhere that Photoshop is the way to go. My version of Photoshop is Photoshop CS2.

Thanks in advance

You can try a version of the clone and healing tool.

I think this image is a bit too much for that though.
And out of focus so the end result may not be worth it.

But those tools are the best you can try .. lemme have a quick go.
I did auto level, auto colour, auto contrast, adjusted the curves a little.
Healing tool on major backscatter, and clone tool on the rest.
I did the right side mostly .. but i went over the top.
The left hand side is no cloning.
5 minutes work.

Great work..now I just have to learn how to do it.

Hej Giles.

About the healing tool.
I have newer learnd how to use that
tool. Could you give a short tekst on
how to use it.
Thank’s from Divebum

I havent got to grips with the patch tool yet.

The healing tool is simple.
Say there is a blob .. like in the original image here .. that is say backscatter or justnot meant to be there.

make the healing tool the same size (just a bit larger) than the blob using the [ and ] keys.

put the tool on the blob .. and click ... hey presto !
simpe tutorial http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/photoshop/ss/cs2spothealing_2.htm
video tutorial of healing (not spot healing) http://simplephotoshop.com/photoshop_tools/healing_brushf.htm
note that spot healing is easier .. you don’t need to select a source .. it interpolates it for you.
patch video tutorial http://simplephotoshop.com/photoshop_tools/patch_toolf.htm

So what you are saying is that it work’s like the
“clone stamp tool” but easier.

Kenneth.

Giles has you covered well, but thought I should mention another tool I like using also at various times, a plug in which includes a spot lifter and works nicely

http://www.alienskin.com/idoc/

The old Heal Tool was similar to the clone tool.

The new spot heal which I use .. is not ... it doesn’t need a sample area defined
.. it picks out how to fix the problem itself. Which yes ... is easier.

I personally would not pay for a plugin like the one drew suggested.
While itmay be good and work very well, if a photo really does need that much work
IMO why not spend the 5 minutes (and thats all it took me) to fix it urself
the tools are right there in photoshop.

Thank’s Giles for you’r advice.

Kenneth

I’m using GIMP 2.0 to retouch my photos. Does anyone know how best to touch up photos with GIMP, besides the clone tool? I’m good with the clone tool to get rid of small defects, but large things pose a huge problem for me. I don’t think GIMP has a heal tool, but maybe there is another way? Thanks!

Actually I would go with Giles and don’t spend to much time on an image
with to much backscatter. I rather would spend the time to prepare myself
to get the picture right in first place. So read as many as you can and
try, try and try. It doesn’t hurt, does it?

/lars