[davekenyon]

Hi

I'm a bit of a fraud actually - I've no experience at all with Photoshop!

I'm tracing my family tree and have found an old photo/postcard but can't read what's on the reverse. It has a name and what looks like may have had an inscription below it.

Would anybody be able to have a fiddle with my image to see if they can reveal the message underneath?

I've taken a fairly good phot which I could send.

Thanks

Dave

[Johnathan]

Post the pic.

[davekenyon]

Struggling really - tried copy & paste but no joy!

Out of my depth after that.

[Johnathan]

Make a free account with http://photobucket.com and upload the pic, then goto your album and under the image click the code in the BB Code box and paste it in here.

[davekenyon]

Hope this has worked.

I can try taking another photo if need be


Click on the image to view it at its original size

[Medley]

I've not had much luck reading the writing on the postcard, but I WAS able to make out the photographer's name: Munirathnam Rajoo. Doing a Google search of the name got exactly one hit, and that one hit led to exactly one image- a postcard. I'll not post the image itself without the photographer's permission, but here's a link to the site:

http://www.culturalmodes.norfolk.gov.uk/projects/nmaspub5.asp?page=item&itemId=NWHRM%20:%205560

I'd be interested in knowing if the image on the site matches the image on the front of the postcard. According to the site, the image is of an unknown soldier, Norfolk regiment, Bangalore (written on the postcard as "Baugalore" , an old-world variation of the name) India.

Due to this, I consider it possible that the writing on the postcard isn't English, and may contain at least one symbol from the Kannada language- one of the "official" languages of the Karnataka region which includes Bangalore.

If, indeed the language is not English, my next best guess would be German, but that really is just a guess. The main text does not seem to be Kannada, as that language resembles Hindu or Arabic writing. But trying to decipher the writing as English didn't get me anywhere either.

Anyway, I hope this helps you some, and tells you more than you already knew.

- Joe U.

[davekenyon]

Hi Joe

Thanks for your help! I've attached the front of the postcard for your interest; it's a similar portrait shot. Guess that's how Mr Rajoo made his money!

Dave

Click on the image to view it at its original size[/img]

[zipykido]

There are certainly filters that will make it easier to read but only up to a point. I can see that there's text in the middle but I don't think that can be enhanced to the point of reading. Also since it's not english the cursive is harder to read. You could try some other forensic techniques like using UV light (depending on ink type).

[davekenyon]

Thanks zipy - will look into it this week.

Dave