The first task of the photographer in post-processing is to download the images from the camera. There are many tools that do it well. For some you have to pay, some are free. Initially I was using DownloaderPro (from Breeze Systems), but recently I more and more use Mac and mannually copy the files. But from now on I am going to use Abobe Bridge for such task. How? There is the script "ImportCamera", which will add this functionality to your application.
The installation is quite simple, if you know where your scripts are being executed from.
For Windows:
"C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\StartupScripts".
For Mac:
"~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/StartupScripts/"
or "~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/StartupScripts/bridge/version/".
You can find more details on scripting in the "Bridge JavaScript Reference" (PDF).
I recommend you to look at other scripts as well.

Note: To easily and for sure find the directory with the scripts (where to place your new scripts) you have to open Preferences of the application and on the first tab click button "Reveal" [Scripts in Finder/Explorer].

I'll piggy back on my last post and remind you that you can look deeper in the websites I post links about. For instance, on Adobe.com there is some other stuff to look through:

• Actions - An action is a series of commands that you play back on a single file or a batch of files.
• Brushes - Photoshop brushes allow you to add paint strokes that simulate different painting and drawing techniques. They can be organized into brush libraries and shared among users.
• Custom Shapes - Custom shapes are shapes that can be used over and over again, and shared with others. Photoshop stores custom shapes in a shape library that’s available from the options bar when you select the custom shape tool.
• Displacement Maps - To produce their effects, some filters load and use other images, such as textures and displacement maps. These filters include the Conté Crayon, Displace, Glass, Lighting Effects, Rough Pastels, and some Custom filters.
• Filters - Filters let you apply special effects to your images, such as impressionistic or mosaic effects, lighting effects, and distortions.
• Gradients - Gradients create a gradual blend between multiple colors. Photoshop can store gradients in a gradient library that is available from the options bar when you select the gradient tool.
• ImageReady Actions - An action is a series of commands that you play back on a single file or a batch of files.
• ImageReady Droplets - A droplet is a small application that applies an action to one or more images that you drag onto the droplet icon.
• Patterns - Patterns are images that can be stored in libraries and reused, often with the pattern stamp tool.
• Plug-ins - Plug-in modules are software programs developed by Adobe Systems and by other software developers to add features to Photoshop and ImageReady.
• Scripts - Special instructions to the software (i.e. JavaScript) to perform automation of various operations.
• Styles - Styles can be any of a variety of effects—such as shadows, glows, bevels, overlays, and strokes—that let you quickly change appearance of a layer’s contents.
• Templates - Templates are normal Photoshop documents designated for a specific use. For example, a CD-cover template may contain the outlines of a booklet that is properly sized for a CD jewel case.
• Tutorials - Tutorials on Adobe Studio Exchange come in a wide variety of formats. Please note that tutorials are created by private users and not by Adobe Systems, Inc. Adobe has not reviewed the contents for accuracy or bugs.

If you are looking for ways to speed up your digital photography workflow or for some interesting (sometimes even weird) effects then you have to check ou the Photoshop Actions. These actions are placed in several cattegoires:

• Actlets
• Buttons
• Command Shortcuts
• Frames/Borders
• Image Effects
• Other
• Patterns
• Production Shortcuts
• Text Effects
• Textures

There is a tutorial on ePhotoZine website - "Black & white high key effects in Photoshop technique". In this article you will find out about two ways to create high key black and white photographs using Channel Mixer, Gradient Map and Dodge/Burn tools.

In this tutorial ShutterTalk discussed the approach to give color to black and white photographs. The effect is based on the Color blending mode, where you hand-color the photograph. This could be a basic step in one of your restoration techniques.