Photo restorers: Auto dust/scratch removal or done by hand?

[Deja Q]

I'll use auto for a 4 or 5 pixel range, but anything more and it becomes all too easy to see a (slight) blur effect throughout the pic. By then it's better to manually brush them out, chore as it is...

Even using the highest possible scan and using the effect, it's possible to see the blur (which is admittedly faint, but I'm a quality freak...)

[MojoKrunch]

1. Both.

//I'll use auto for a 4 or 5 pixel range, but anything more and it becomes all too easy to see a (slight) blur effect throughout the pic. By then it's better to manually brush them out, chore as it is...

Even using the highest possible scan and using the effect, it's possible to see the blur (which is admittedly faint, but I'm a quality freak...)//
Hit it with Unsharp Mask and then go in with the "healing brush" tool(kinda like "clone" but easier to use, looks like a bandaid).

Extensis Intellihance Pro 4 helps too.

Mojo

[bleedingheart]

2. how much do you charge to restore a photo?

I had a photo of my great-grandmother and her daughters restored from a torn and worn out photo...it was costly but worth it. It was their passport picture from 1922.

[MojoKrunch]

3. Depends on the damage.

And how much rebuilding has to happen.
And then how you'd want it reprinted.

Mojo

[eleny]

4. By hand - always

I use cloning or brush. Depends on how much damage, where it is and the colors.

I'd like to see what folks have accomplished. I love restoring images from antique glass negatives. Anything digital is up my alley.