Scaling Bitmaps - RIP vs PS

[Custom_Grafx]

When you scale a bitmap (up or down), do you do it in photoshop/corel, or do you do it in your RIP?

Do you find any quality benefits or downfalls with either method?

 

[artbot]

depends. if it's scaling down, there's nothing to lose. just let the rip do it. but scaling up i'd always want to get a look at the print file. there maybe some median and unsharp filters that can improve on the file's upsampling.

 

[Custom_Grafx]

Yes I've wondered how the RIP actually does it. In PS, you have a choice of different upsampling methods available. In Versaworks, there are no options.

Do more advanced RIPs let you set these options if you wanted to upscale from within the RIP itself?

 

[jasonx]

Depends on how much I have to scale. If its a big increase say over 2-300% I do it in photoshop using my on one plugin. It basically increase the file like a few % each time to get a more blurred increase in size as opposed to the pixelated look you get at trying to do it in one go.

 

[Custom_Grafx]

Depends on how much I have to scale. If its a big increase say over 2-300% I do it in photoshop using my on one plugin. It basically increase the file like a few % each time to get a more blurred increase in size as opposed to the pixelated look you get at trying to do it in one go.

I had never heard of that so I just looked it up. Very good looking software. The whole suite for only $300 apparently - you think it's worth getting the whole lot?

 

[jasonx]

Not sure what the whole suite is I just use the scale plugin. Don't use it heaps but its a god send on large jobs for wall graphics etc. Beats having large squares everywhere.

 

[Custom_Grafx]

http://www.ononesoftware.com/products/suite/

Has around 7 components - all of which look quite tempting, as I do some DSLR photography as a hobby - it could be fun, and a good excuse to get some new software to play with.

Thanks for the tip! I'm gonna research it a little more and possibly buy.

 

[Bly]

Photoshop then view at print size.
I only tried resampling in Onyx once and it was way slower than PS.

 

[Mike F]

Yes I've wondered how the RIP actually does it. In PS, you have a choice of different upsampling methods available. In Versaworks, there are no options.

Do more advanced RIPs let you set these options if you wanted to upscale from within the RIP itself?

Actually Versaworks does have a setting, under "Quality" > "Interpolation".

 

[signswi]

Always upscale in Perfect Photo instead of the RIP. Downscaling meh, RIP is fine, though I still prefer to do it manually in photoshop so I can preview the results if it's something critical like a photo print.

 

[njshorts]

A few here have it the same as what I do- downscale in RIP (Flexi in my case) or upsize in PerfectResize, then import into the graphics program of your choice.

 

[Custom_Grafx]

Actually Versaworks does have a setting, under "Quality" > "Interpolation".

Thanks Mike I hadn't thought of that being applied to upscaling, always just thought it was for how it rendered the file regardless of upscaling or downscaling ie at 100%.

I usually do in Photoshop at the moment but this perfect resize thing is sounding good - thanks again all.

 

[SightLine]

Yep - there are a couple of excellent Photoshop plugins that do enlargements orders of magnatude better than anything else. Perfect Resize, Photo Zoom Pro, and Alien Skin's Blow Up are the main 3 that I know of. I've tried all 3 at different times and all 3 work great. Here at the shop we have bought Perfect Resize and Blow Up. Sometimes one will work better than the other on certain images.

 

[signswi]

Thanks Mike I hadn't thought of that being applied to upscaling, always just thought it was for how it rendered the file regardless of upscaling or downscaling ie at 100%.

I usually do in Photoshop at the moment but this perfect resize thing is sounding good - thanks again all.

Until you get Perfect Resize (which you should do immediately) you can mimic it's effect by scaling up in photoshop in steps. I.E. to scale up 600% first scale 150% then 200% then 200% (or in even smaller steps).