Removing My Signature From Photo

I thought this would be easy but I'm finding out otherwise. (Probably my fault though) I have Elements 12 and edited a photo and then added my signature to it. Well now I want to remove the signature so that I can enlarge the photo and print it. I thought I could highlight the text and delete it but no go. I think how I messed up was that I saved the file as is and not rename it to something else and keep the original. Any easy way out of this problem or did I just learn a valuable lesson?

a way out yes. Easy no.

You could use PhotoShop and carefully rebuild what was behind the signature using content aware fill and the clone stamp.
Short of that you learn a valuable lesson. Never save over your original. Always use "Save as"

Always save originals, if you take such care of your photos. No matter are they jpgs straight out of camera or RAWs. It occupies lots of space (on your HDDs) but saves you lots of nerves, nevertheless.

I always ingest two copies of all my images. One into my regular workflow. I can edit raws as much as I want because the editing is always reversible with Capture NX2. The other raw is on a dedicated 1Tb drive who's sole purpose is for backing up all original, untouched files.

Another reason to shoot RAW

WhiteLight said:

Another reason to shoot RAW

Click to expand...

It only works in this case if you have a non-destructive editor.

Depending on how large is the signature, it will be more or less difficult. Use Elements, make a copy layer of your picture and work with the heal brush with content aware fill to brush over the signature. Depending on what's behind, it will take you more or less time. But it's not rocket science.

I always keep a photoshop PSD file of my pictures with layers so if I ever want to go back and change something I don't have to start from scratch.

Show us your before and after shot.

True

480sparky said:

It only works in this case if you have a non-destructive editor.

Click to expand...

Capture NX-D beta is non destructive. All the edits are saved in a separate file.

Even then I always back up the images coming out of the camera in a separate drive (as well as all important data and reports). I have been in IT for over 40 years and have learnt the hard way that what ever is not backed up will mysteriously get lost, whether deleted or corrupted.

Storage is cheap today, so there is no reason to skimp on back ups. In fact if you are traveling keeping multiple copies of your data is the norm. You may be able to rewrite reports, but what about those once in a life time images?

Lightroom edits are non-destructive as well. I use their Export feature to add copyright information when I create a version for uploading and never physically add it to my image files. Layers are saved in PSD files until I've settled on a final version and then flattened (though occasionally I'll preserve key layers).

You learn the hard way - always keep a backup of your original, if only as a preserved background layer. In PSE or Photoshop, the first thing I do is hit Ctrl/Cmd-J to replicate the background layer and I apply all edits to that. Save and maintain the PSD/Tiff file for your edits and generate your JPEGs from that.

If you feel like uploading a full res version of your file, I'm sure there are folks here who might like a challenge in helping you get rid of it.

Yep. I always use LR to export a *.jpg copy with a watermark when/if I want one. Always have a way back to the original without a watermark.

If you want to send me the best version you have I'd be willing to take a look and see what I can do with it. I'm no expert with Photoshop but, depending on what's required, I might be willing to take a crack at cleaning it up for you.

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