Magic Image Software?

[SAR.Summerlin]

So I wasn't sure which thread to post this under. My manager/owner keeps asking me isn't there a software program that can improve the quality of an image. We keep getting tiny/low resolution images that need to be blown up to large size for signs. Which needless to say is aggravating our customers when we keep having to ask for better files and they don't have them.

I can do some improvement with Photoshop but if they are too small and low rez there is only so much I can do. Someone recommended a program called PhotoZoom but I downloaded the trial and have been unimpressed. It makes images look like oil paintings more often than not instead of sharpening them when enlarging.

What I am asking is basically does anyone know of a program that can take a small photo or logo and allow us to scale it up without looking blurry or pixlated? I have never heard of such a program but I promised the boss I would ask the brilliant folks here on the forums.

 

[J Hill Designs]

short asnwer: no.
long answer: huh-uh

 

[JBusch260]

short asnwer: no.
long answer: huh-uh

+1. If you are using a small image and you want to expand it, any and every program you find is going to have to try and artificially come up with pixels to substitute in the space that is being created.

There are programs that are better than other programs, but you can't make anything out of nothing... anything that looks professional anyways. I believe that Butto recommended Perfect Resize in another thread. It looks better than Photoshop. Regardless, the higher the DPI, the better it's going to look.

Best option is to buy stock photography at high DPI, or take your own photos.

 

[SAR.Summerlin]

I agree with you all but I have tried to explain this a number of times and he doesn't seem to grasp it. All I get is "I can't believe there isn't a program out there that can do this". Maybe I am just explaining it wrong does anyone have a laymen explanation I can give my boss.

 

[WildWestDesigns]

You can always try to say the he has been watching too much TV.

 

[JBusch260]

I agree with you all but I have tried to explain this a number of times and he doesn't seem to grasp it. All I get is "I can't believe there isn't a program out there that can do this". Maybe I am just explaining it wrong does anyone have a laymen explanation I can give my boss.

Have him imagine he's going to move into a bigger office, with the exact same objects as he has in his current office. He'll notice the extra space and realize that he can only stretch tangible objects so far before they break and/or look like crap.

 

[WildWestDesigns]

Have him imagine he's going to move into a bigger office, with the exact same objects as he has in his current office. He'll notice the extra space and realize that he can only stretch tangible objects so far before they break and/or look like crap.

That'll probable get a better response back then mine. Never really thought of it that way, but that is a good way to explain it.

 

[JBusch260]

And if he still can't wrap his head around the non-existent idea of "magic image software" that miraculously takes a small, low DPI image and expands it into the beautiful hi-res picture it was destined to be... Explain to him that such a program, much like magic, doesn't exist and isn't real. If it does, it's exclusive to dragons, gnomes, orcs, and Santa Claus.

 

[CanuckSigns]

sound like your boss is looking for this
http://www.staples.com/office/suppl...fier=2&langId=-1&ddkey=http:StaplesZipCodeAdd

 

[bikecomedy]

The best science/technology we have to accomplish this is fractal geometry. Prefect Resize is the best product for doing this but nothing has been made to advance this request into a reality in all circumstances. As for what to tell you supervisor. After checking knowledgeable sources on the subject there is no solution for this sir, other than a better image to start with.

 

[rfulford]

Perfect Resize (formerly Genuine Fractiles) and Alien Skin Blow Up are probably the programs your boss is thinking of. They definitely are not magic however. We use them to enlarge high resolution images for use on wall murals or building wraps. The images you start out with need to be high quality though. They both have options for removing JPEG artifacts, enlarging and sharpening images but you will never go from garbage to great or even good for that matter.

 

[omgsideburns]

Perfect Resize is cool tool, great for tweaking an image enough to get by.. but honestly it's just a turd polisher. Nothing will come close to what they do on TV shows... "Can you enhance this?"

[video=youtube;Vxq9yj2pVWk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxq9yj2pVWk[/video]

 

[bikecomedy]

@omgsideburns roflmao

 

[Kevin-shopVOX]

ctrl + alt + a-la-ka-zam

That's pretty much what people think we do.

Garbage in = garbage out Perfect Resize and other plugins like this can only do so much but if it is crap to start with then when resized its just a large file of crap.

 

[rjssigns]

We use Perfect Resize. It works amazing, but it is still GIGO. Garbage In Garbage Out. On really crummy scans or digital files I push as far as I can then added a taste of noise which actually cleans up the print.

Short of spending hours in Photoshop rebuilding and cleaning the entire file your out of luck.