Photo-enhancing software for Gravestones

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ChrisGreaves
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Photo-enhancing software for Gravestones

Post by ChrisGreaves »

Curiosity only, I think.

I walk past a small private cemetery six months of the year, and am struck by the gradual loss of clarity on gravestones.

Is there software that will accentuate images such as these?

If I were serious about this I would take better shots, perhaps perpendicular to the stones, or with direct or indirect light, etc

I suspect that professional genealogists resort to techniques akin to brass-rubbing, or perhaps very sensitive depth-measuring equipment.

I imagine that someone would get upset if I rolled up with a bleach solution to remove lichen!

Again, just curious. I’ve never dabbled in photo- or audio- enhancement techniques, but I feel certain that technology has advanced since my mother’s Box Brownie days.
DSCN1022.JPG
DSCN1023.JPG
This shot above is taken to show the shadow i.e. give some idea of the incident angle of the sun at the time I took the first image.
DSCN1024.JPG
This is a lichen(?) corroded stone.
More in next post)
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ChrisGreaves
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Re: Photo-enhancing software for Gravestones

Post by ChrisGreaves »

ChrisGreaves wrote:Curiosity only, I think.
DSCN1025 (Copy).JPG
This stone is embedded in the lawn.
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HansV
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Re: Photo-enhancing software for Gravestones

Post by HansV »

NASA has very sophisticated image enhancement software.
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Hans

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ChrisGreaves
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Re: Photo-enhancing software for Gravestones

Post by ChrisGreaves »

HansV wrote:NASA has very sophisticated image enhancement software.
Do they have a Tortilla machine? (grin).
NASA.
Aren't they the crowd that spend billions disproving that face-like rock on Mars or somewhere?

Actually, now that you mention it, toll roads (like Toronto's shameful 407-ETR) use cameras that decode muddy licence plates at 60mph (I mean, of course that the plates are going at 60mph, not the cameras) (although Einstein might hold that it all depends on your point of view).

I suspect toll-road cameras have pretty good software when it comes to making sense out of poorly formed letters and digits.

I'm tired. My mind conjures up an image of strapping a gravestone to the rear of a car and taking it on the toll-road just to learn who was buried beneath the stone.
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HansV
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Re: Photo-enhancing software for Gravestones

Post by HansV »

Good Gr(e)aves!
Best wishes,
Hans

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ChrisGreaves
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Re: Photo-enhancing software for Gravestones

Post by ChrisGreaves »

HansV wrote:Good Gr(e)aves!
That's acute one, Hans. :rofl: :laugh:
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DaveA
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Re: Photo-enhancing software for Gravestones

Post by DaveA »

Chris,
Do a Google on "photographing lettering on gravestone" without the quotes and you will find all kinds of help in taking pictures of grave stones. You will also find a lot of things that people do that only damages the stone more.

I have been visiting gravestones for a few years, but I have never seen any program that really works in improving the readability of these older stones.
I am so far behind, I think I am First :evilgrin:
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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ChrisGreaves
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Re: Photo-enhancing software for Gravestones

Post by ChrisGreaves »

DaveA wrote:... but I have never seen any program that really works in improving the readability of these older stones.
OK, thanks Dave.
It really was just curiosity.
I've visited this cemetery before and wondered about preservation of records, which ought to be so much easier nowadays with (a) digital cameras and (b) data-sharing on the internet.
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BobArch2
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Re: Photo-enhancing software for Gravestones

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ChrisGreaves wrote:I'm tired. My mind conjures up an image of strapping a gravestone to the rear of a car and taking it on the toll-road just to learn who was buried beneath the stone.
Knowing 407-ETR, they would definitely decipher everything. I would fear they would add interest and penalties back to the DOD. :laugh:
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Bob

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DaveA
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Re: Photo-enhancing software for Gravestones

Post by DaveA »

Have a look at http://www.findagrave.com/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and http://billiongraves.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

These are used by most Family History researchers to locate and/or list graves of their family members.
I am so far behind, I think I am First :evilgrin:
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living