Replace Paper Dial

[PyrusBoy]

Hi all, I have a set with a paper dial attached to a metal former, the paper is intact but grubby, I have tried to photocopy with limited success by lightening the copy. Does anyone know of a PC program where I can enhance the black writing and decrease the grey dirt. I have tried the one I have but without much success. Preferably a freeby program as I prefer to spend the limited cash on sets.
I have tried to add a picture as an attachment, don't know if I've been correct.
All the best

[Radio Fixer]

Most progs could do it: I use Corel Paint myself. But what ever you use, and a common 'freebie' but I'm told good is Gimp, it may take you a lot of time unless luck is on your side. You could start with increasing the brightness and contrast and then increasing sharp a little. I'm assuming you have a decent scanner to scan it at say 400 dpi and that the PC is up to manipulating a big file depending on the image size and detail and the amount of Jpeg compression used. Its normal to start with this at a minimal setting.

If that doesnt work the easy way then it could be going over all the background and cloning new pixels in there at pretty much pixel resolution. This can take hours!!

A picture in the thread would assist in giving further advice.

Gary

[PyrusBoy]

I have drawn a blank at inserting a picture, one method I visited suggesting using a Photo Hosting site. I don't see the point in that, I simply want to insert a picture as I would in an email. Simple, uncomplicated and safe.
Thanks for your advice, will try Gimp.

[AlanBeckett]

Start a new Post.
Click on 'Preview Post' button.
Scroll down to where it says 'New Attachment'.
Either click in the box or hit the 'Browse' Button.
Select a picture - there's a 1MB limit I think.
Click on 'Add Attachment' and wait for it to complete.
Put the Curser in your Post where you want the picture (Thumbnail) to appear.
Click on Insert into Post.
Click on 'Post Reply'.

Works for me.

Alan

   

[Joe]

If you're stuck e-mail it to ThePillenwerfer (at) GolborneVintageRadio.Org

- Joe

[Yorkie]

I use an old copy of Photoshop 'Elements 4' (current edition id Elements 11), and even with my limited skills, have fount it quite useful for tidying up dial scans and PCB artwork. Whether you use that or a similar program, firstly, if you scan in the dial, you can then change the background to white, which will no doubt leave various marks which will need to be cleaned up. You can then use the 'eraser' tool - the width of which you can select to either erase large smudgy areas, or right down to one pixel for precision. Similarly, to repair or fill in missing areas (on text for example) you can use the paintbrush tool, selecting the colour that you want - black or whatever.

The other tool that often comes in handy is the 'clone stamp tool' which enables you to copy part of a dial and replicate it elsewhere - if part of the dial background is missing for example.

This sort of software is primarily intended to clean up photos or to repair scans of damaged photos, but is fine for what we want to do.

I tend to do a bit at a time as it can be hard on the eyes peering into the screen for hours on end. You can either overwrite your first scan, or save the amended version with a new name and save your first scan

As Gary says, whatever program you use - freebie or not, there are no magic shortcuts, but the end results can be rewarding.

Sometimes such software comes free bundled with printers or digital cameras. Often, older obsolete versions can be found free or cheap on internet.

As to posting pics on the forum, it's much easier to do than to explain but it literally takes only a minute or so once you've got the hang of it. I usually reduce the size of mine to about 15cams to get the files size down to about 250kB, but as has been said, this forum isn't too restrictive on file size. The only slight downside is that when you review your post to make sure that the pics have been attached, you can't actually see the pics - just a little box with a red x in it.

Hope you'll be able to post a copy of the dial - no-one will get shirty with you if you mess up a post - it's just not the style of this forum to try to boss people around.


Best of luck, and enjoy the forum!

[PyrusBoy]

Hi all, Firstly many thanks for all the help, I used Gimp, cleaned up the image with a white air brush, now the new one looks perfect. My biggest problem was getting the printer to print exactly the size I wanted, but managed it in the end. I now have a Osram Music Magnet, made as a kit by GEC in perfect working order and looking the bees knees. I took the cabinet back to basics, gave it a good smoothing and dark antique oak stain and clear lacquer polish.
Both wavebands pull in a few stations after temporarily fitting an O/P transformer and 5 x 3 speaker laying on the bench, although the first valve, the S215 was a bit down on my Sussex valve tester I was very pleased with the results. New S215 on order.
My collection seems to out growing my display area, a friend suggested I approach a large local attraction to see if they would be interested in providing a room to show my gear, but I don't want to loose control, anyone had any experience of doing such a thing?
All the best..

[Yorkie]

Well done on your success in using GIMP to tidy up your dial, and also in completing the Sussex Valve tester.

I suspect that many of that hugely popular tester have been started in an impulsive burst of enthusiasm, but not so many will have been finished!

[Joe]

Well done on the dial. One of the problems is that how something looks on screen isn't nescesarily the same as it looks on paper. Sometimes it's better, sometimes it's worse.

That kit radio sounds interesting. Any chance of a picture? If you still have problems posting it then just e-mail it and I'll do it.

Cheers

Joe

[PyrusBoy]

Hi Joe,
There is a picture on http://radiomuseum.org/r/general_el_osra...agnet.html.

Hope you can find it if not I will email it to you. Will email you picture of mine when I get round to taking a photo..

All the best