Family Tree Maker 2024 has added some great new features to help you keep your family history safe and easy to share with others. One of the best new tools is the Photo Darkroom. This excellent tool allows you to repair and enhance old black-and-white photos in a few easy steps.
Even if you have no experience in editing a photo, you can easily make your family photos new and clear. In this blog, we’ll guide you how to use the Photo Darkroom tool in Family Tree Maker 2024 and bring those faded photos back to life!
What is the Photo Darkroom?
Old photographs in family pictures can become yellowed, blurry, or fade with time. The Photo Darkroom tool in FTM 2024 allows you to correct those issues and brighten your photos so they look sharp again. It’s easy to use and doesn’t need any special photo editing skills.
With just a few clicks, you can improve the brightness, contrast, and clarity of black-and-white photos to bring out the details and keep those memories alive.
Steps to Use the Photo Darkroom Tool in FTM 2024
Here’s how you can restore your black-and-white photographs step by step:
1. Open the Media Workspace:-
Click on the Media workspace in Family Tree Maker 2024. Choose the image you wish to restore from your collection.
2. Open Photo Darkroom:-
Click the Detail tab or simply double-click on the photo. Next, click the Photo Darkroom button on the toolbar. Your photo will open in the Photo Darkroom interface, ready for editing.
3. Choose Your View:-
Below the photo, you’ll see two view buttons:
- The right button shows a split view: the Result (your edited version) and the Original.
- The left button shows only the Result in a larger view.
4. Select the Right Repair Tool:-
To fix a faded photo, identify the level of fading and select the corresponding tool:
- Light Repair: For slightly faded photos (or multiple clicks for stronger repairs).
- Moderate Repair: For moderately faded photos (or a few clicks for stronger effects).
- Intensive Repair: Best for severely faded photos, often with just one click.
Each repair tool can be clicked multiple times to achieve the desired level of restoration.
5. Use Advanced Settings for Fine-Tuning:-
Click the arrow next to Advanced Settings to access additional sliders:
- Brightness: Drag left to darken, right to brighten.
- Contrast: Adjust contrast levels to bring out details.
- Yellowing: Reduce yellowing for a cleaner black-and-white image.
- Sharpness: Drag left to soften, right to sharpen.
These sliders let you adjust each aspect in increments of 0.1, giving you precise control.
6. Undo and Restore:-
If you don’t like a change, click the Undo button to reverse your latest adjustment. To revert the entire photo back to its original state, click the Restore to Original button.
7. Save Your Changes:-
Once you’re satisfied with the restored photo, click the Done button. Photo Darkroom will close, and your edited photo will appear in the Detail tab of the Media workspace.
Final Thoughts
The Photo Darkroom tool is an incredible resource for anyone serious about preserving family history. With its user-friendly interface and powerful restoration features, you can bring faded memories back to life in just a few clicks. So, take some time to explore this feature and watch your family’s past shine through clearer, sharper, and more vivid than ever before!
If you need any assistance or run into issues while using the Photo Darkroom, don’t hesitate to reach out to our FTM Support team.
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