I love using vintage illustrations in my collages, pattern and designs, but I often find it annoying that I cannot simply cut something out and start using it as it is, because some elements are missing!

In the past, I usually tried to avoid illustrations that required massive restoration, but since the introduction of the generative tools, I started exploring some of the materials which have missing or incomplete details and restoring them. Generative tools have been a game-changer that allowed me both to use some vintage materials that I previously didn't want to get bothered with, and also simply to quickly restore images that I'd try to use in any case!

Here is a little example of how I have extended and restored this vintage print (from Berthe Hoola van Nooten's Fleurs, Fruits et Feuillages Choisis de l'Ile de Java book), for use in a surface pattern.

 

Before & After: Original vs Restored Image

 

Stages of Development

To create the final restored image, I have used elements from two different generated extensions: one for the leaves, and another one for the stem (that has also been retouched further manually to make it look more realistic).

When restoring different elements in your images, you might find yourself needing to combine results of multiple different generations to get the best possible result overall — but it is not that hard with a bit of masking (using the techniques I share in the class).

 

Surface pattern created using this illustration:

 

Thanks for watching! Cannot wait to see your project in this class!

—Evgeniya