How to enhance a headstone photo

CarolineGenners

I have a 2 photos of a tombstones which is decent but I need to be able to read everything on it and I am hoping it can be enhanced. Is there anyone who can help me with that?

David A Wilson

@CarolineGenners You might try running them through an AI tool such as ChatGPT and ask it to clean them up. It can do amazing things.

ShelleWells

Hi @CarolineGenners I've found that it can help to convert the photo into black and white. Removing color lets you push the light/dark range harder without odd tints. Try using a free Canva account to do this.

Please share the picture and we can offer some other suggestions.

MTWilson

@CarolineGenners - Here are a couple of ideas that might help you:

MyHeritage Photo Enhancer

• myheritage.com/photo-enhancer
• Designed for old photos, might help with clarity.

 Or

• Convert to black and white to reduce distractions.
• Zoom in and work in sections of the image.
• If the stone is weathered, try inverting the image (negative effect) to see if the text pops.

sc woz

@CarolineGenners

I would recommend using one of the many free photo enhancing programs like Piscart, or Google A.I., ChatGPT A.I. ect.

AnneLoForteWillson

I would definitely try using one of these suggested AI/enhancement tools. I plopped a tombstone picture into CoPilot and came out with this. The photo with the black frame is the original, and you can see what CoPilot has done to make it very legible.

I would add something in your details or description of the picture that says you used whatever tool to enhance the legibility of the image. It helps immensely with provenance. In my example, you can see from the original picture that the letters are just carved, however with the AI enhanced version, the letters have actually been darkened so they are more legible.

For the future, you might search online for suggestions on how to take good photos of tombstones. There are a number of blog posts out there that can help you take the best pictures possible (so you don't need to enhance!)

MaureenE123

For the future, you might search online for suggestions on how to take good photos of tombstones. 

May be of interest

YouTube videos by Pumpkintown Primitives, David Gillespie

• "Best trick EVER to read old Gravestones given by a stone carver!" Part 1, Part 2 The "mirror trick" which requires sunny conditions.
• MUST watch before cleaning Gravestones, by a Stone Carver What not to do.