Simple tehnique for restoring a faded image. The following image was exposed to sunlight while it was framed and hung on the wall. To restore it, we’re going to use some color correction techniques

The original image was faded from exposure to the sun.

1. Let’s start by fixing the faded area in the center of the image. To isolate that area, choose the Elliptical Marquee tool and click and drag across the center area. If you need to reposition the selection before you release the mouse button, then hold the Spacebar and drag around your image. If you need to continue changing the size of the selection, then release the spacebar, but keep the mouse button pressed. Only release the mouse button when your selection closely matches the boundary of the faded area.

Select the center faded area with the Elliptical Marquee tool.

2. Once you have that area isolated, choose Curves from the Adjustment Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers palette (fourth from the right). Now click the Options button to access the Auto Color dialog box and use the settings shown in the image below. Then click OK in both the Auto Color and Curves dialog boxes.

Apply the Auto Color settings shown here.

3. That should transform the faded center of the image into a much better looking image, but the adjustment doesn’t yet blend into the surrounding image. With the newly created adjustment layer active, choose Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur, and experiment with the Amount setting until the adjustment blends with the surrounding image (I used 4).

After applying Auto Color, the center of the image should no longer be faded.

Blur the Layer Mask attached to the adjustment layer to blend in the adjustment blend.

4. Now that the center of the image has more contrast, the outer area is looking a little faded in comparison. To target that area, hold the Command key (Mac) or Ctrl key (Windows) and click on the Layer Mask that is attached to the adjustment layer created a few minutes ago. That should produce a selection of the central area of the image. To get the outer area, choose Select > Inverse.

Command- or Ctrl-click on the Layer Mask that’s attached to the adjustment layer.

5. Now create another Curves adjustment layer, click the Auto button to apply the same Auto Color settings that we used on the middle of the image, and then click OK. That should add a bit of contrast to the outer area of the image.

After applying Auto Color to the surrounding image, the contrast on both sides should be similar.