Enhancing Scan of Faded Handwritten Notes

dear forum,

 

i received documentation contained 3 sheets of handwritten medical notes. unfortunatley handwriting extremely faded (and poor).

 

i had pages scanned @ local printers (pdf @ time. not sure if good, have work with) , suggested due quality of scanned images (even though extremely close original papers) use ps elements create brightness/contrast layer, duly did. has helped bring out notes (that faded scribbles contrast better white page (speckled) background), handwriting poor can barely make out words, let alone sentences.

 

however, enlarging images 66+% (in order try , make sense of these scribbles word word) handwriting becomes grainy (please excuse lack of ps imagery related vocabulary), renders task of translating virtually impossible. (the catch 22 need higher magnification attempt make sense of each word.)

 

so in light of above, there way of cleaning or restoring (i not asking miracles) such scans maybe sharpening or smoothing pen lines or getting rid of artefacts in task?

 

i tried inverting image, clumsy in use of ps elements, did not help. , duplicating brightness/contrast layer, while effective in creating greater contrast causes greater grain @ higher magnification.

 

i seem remember trick smooth skin tones, in vain hope principle same no matter content of image is, while if has had experince enhancing faded handwriting, or indeed has ideas try, kind enough let me know; great help.

it if upload scans forum (click on camera icon) or free service http://pixentral.com

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