Watermark Extraction Technique

What about British Wildings (take for example 1½d green)? These seem to defeat my Photoshopping skills most of the time, LOL. Here's a scan of the stamp (still in RGB):


I know there's a watermark, but it simply refuses to show up clearly.

As a general Photoshop tip, instead of using Image > Adjustment > Curves, I'd recommend people to use Layers > New Adjustment Layer > Curves. This way the curve/changes remain editable later on too.

Oh man wow! I just re-read all this, and now that I have a handle on my scanner I might have to play with this tonight! -Cheers!

I scan the stamp from the back on a black background and then use the "equalize" filter. It works like a charm except for papers with heavy clay coatings.

Here are many examples:

http://www.arg3551.com/05-papers/papers.html

Thx for the lesson. I have Photoscape - free softwate that is 99.9% as good as Photoscape

I have downloaded Photoscape, and is a nice program but has none of the functions mentioned above e.g. change Mode to CMYK Color etc.

Do you have a special version?

I use this technique sometimes.
Splitting to either CMYK or HSV can sometimes work better for some items.
I'll try a Wilding when I get a chance.

Wilding showed up quite well when split to CMYK

excellent tread

Supercool method... will try this out for sure :)

Perhaps showing my ignorance here but how do you fit a stamp in the transparent materials holder if the holder is designed to only take slides or slide negatives?

I remove the slide holder and place the stamp directly on the scanner bed.

wow very informative. I have Canon MX870 I do not know it can scan negatives. But
I can scan using black background.
thanks PostmasterGS

awesome. I'm trying to figure this method out this evening. I thought it deserves a *bump* so I can find it easier if nothing else! lol

I_L_S,

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. And I hope it works for you!

After reading this post, I went out and bought an Epson V330. WOW! For easy watermarks (German) I do not have to do any 'Photoshopping', sometimes I do not have to open the file, just look at the Windows 'thumbnail'. I can put 4 stamps in and 30 seconds later there they are.

Thanks, PostmasterGS