HELP! How to conceal lo-res images at large sizes? 2

[junglist]

Unfortunatley, due to a client with unrealistic expectations, I'm in the situation of having to use a lo-res image at A3 poster size.

The image is 72dpi @ 360mm x 450mm, and therefore aboput 100mm when at 300 dpi.

Fortunately, I can stylise the image quite a bit, so as to conceal the poor, quality of the image. As such, the final image does not have to be realistic colours and can therfore be a more illustrative approach.

My plan of attack was to scale the 300dpi image up to the poster size, and then use the unsharp mask, paint brush, to hide the jagged edges.

So, does any one have any secret tricks for getting away with using lo-res images???

Grain, to make it look intentionally "raw"??? Any ideas on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

 

[viol8ion]

I hope you are charging the hell out of them. Personally, I would tell them thatthe image supplied is of too low a quality to be used, and refuse the job. If their expectations are as unrealistic as you say, they will probably not be happy with the results.

Anyway, that's just my unsolicited opinion.

To increase the size of the image that much on a low rez original, I usually begin by increasing by 10%, then again, then again... I find it doesn't leave some of the visible degradation that results from just increasing the size by 300% at once... everything else you are doing is what I would do. I also use the smudge tool to smooth out some areas and to blend the pixelated edges. Have fun!

When in doubt, deny all terms and defnitions.

http://www.wuli.com

 

[thombathe]

Hi
There is a trick I use in my Digital photos.
I have a 3.2 camera and shoot at the highest setting.
I reduce the image with resample unchecked to boost the resolution.
Then I scale the image at 110 % and keep scaling at 110% until I get
to the sizeI need.
Not sure why this works but it does.
I had output an 20 X 30 image from my digital and it looked great.

Thom


The longest jounney starts with the first step.

http://www.thombathe.com

 

[junglist]

Wow, I am yet to try either of your techniques, but they sound great!

I wasn't aware of the "10% at a time" technique. I wouldn't have thought that would make much of a difference unless some one had told me.

I guess it works by Photoshop not having to make such large guesses re. pixels??

Thanks again guys, I think this is a valuable tip I wil unfortunately have to use in the future!

Stars all round!

 

[MarcusStringer]

There is also a program called "spline" which will enlarge an image 1000% and "without quality loss".

I've have mixed results using this....

I've have it work wounders on 72dpi tiny web pics enlarged to A4 size 300dpi.

I must look into those other methods though, they sound promising

Marcus

http://www.midlandtypesetters.com.au

 

[junglist]

With regards to the image I described, would it be preferable to:

a.) up the res, from 72 dpi to 300, with resample on

b.) increase the res with resample off, and then enlarge using the "10%" method as described

Will either method yeild a superior result?

Thanks again.

 

[aikodude]

try both as all images are different, but I suspect you'll get the best results with the 10% method.

 

[viol8ion]

Also, you don't state what sort of image you are beginning with, but I suspect that at 72DPI it is a JPG, a very poor choice if the end product is to end up in print. Save as a TIF, and then with the original TIF, save as a different name for each version and experiment, leaving the original intact.

If you continue playing with the JPG, every time you save the file will degrade further.

When in doubt, deny all terms and defnitions.

http://www.wuli.com