I have some images I would like to enlarge significantly, but they were shot with the Nikon D700, which is only 12 megapixels. I'm looking to enlarge the images to about 20x50 inches, which is way beyond what a 12 megapixel camera could typically handle. Does anyone know of a way to do this without the image becoming pixelated and soft? I know there are software programs out there, but not sure which is the best.
Hi, Natalie - I've had a fair degree of success with Perfect Resize - formerly Genuine Fractals. I think it does better with landscape-type shots than with things like birds, where sharpeness is critical.
I'm sure others will weight in shortly.
Good luck with your project-
Sandy
Posted by Jim Bullard on December 10, 2012 at 12:25 PM
Another option is Alien Skin's Blow Up. I've used Genuine Fractals but haven't upgraded to Resize, the new and renamed version. It was okay. Any time you upsize an image you are asking the software to stretch out the image and fill in the resulting spaces by guessing what should be in between. The best algorithms will do a decent job but no software can accurately fill in detail that isn't in the original image.
There is a Megapixel-to-Print Size chart at West Coast Imaging. Go to this page and then click on the Megapixel-to-Print Size link on the left side of the page.
An example: A 12.7 Mpx file will make a fairly decent 30x45 at 97 dpi print resolution, according to chart. So, at your print size the resolution would be somewhere between 72 and 97 dpi. To my mind, this is stretching things a bit thin, even with a high end program that does the resizing for you. Careful sharpening and a smooth paper are called for, too.
--P
Posted by David Chauvin on December 10, 2012 at 1:01 PM
I usually let my local print shop handle both resizing and sharpening for larger prints. They have the software and RIP that work best with their particular printers. If in doubt you can have the lab run a test print of a section of the image at the enlarged size to judge sharpness.
Posted by Jim DeWitt on December 10, 2012 at 1:33 PM
Natalie -
I've done a lot of blow-ups; some were antique postcards blown up to 84 inches x 48 inches. It can be done, but you have to have realistic expectations.
As Preston notes, you could just print the image. Viewed from a distance, it would look okay; not good, but okay. Or you can use one of the tools like Resize/Genuine Fractals, Blowup or Photoshop's built-in tools to interpolate additional pixels into the photo to improve blown up image quality. Obviously, the interpolation algorithm is the critical bit. For black and white photos, Photoshop's native tools are very good. For color, or high detail, you may want to spring for Resize.
Interpolation is a difficult business. An algorithm that works well with solid stretches of color may look terrible applied to a detailed bird wing, for example. And all of them are disappointing at human faces.
For the modest expansion you have in mind, I'd start with Photoshop. Use the Bicubic Sampling checkbox. If that doesn't work, Perfect Resize has a free trial you can test.
Thank you all for your help! Much appreciated. I think I may purchase the Perfect Resize software. Sounds like a good investment.
Best,
Natalie
Posted by John Mumaw on December 10, 2012 at 6:24 PM
" I think I may purchase the Perfect Resize software. Sounds like a good investment."
I'm not so sure of that, especially if you use Photoshop. PS's own Bicubic resizing method has been compared many times to third party software and has been found comparable until you get to extremely large enlargements, where the other software is marginally better.
If you own PS, you owe it to yourself to try it first. You certainly paid enough for its capabilities.
On the other hand, David C. is correct in that many quality commercial imaging printers can do a far better job resizing images using printer RIP software than any other application out there, and as an added bonus it would be included in the cost of the print.
Posted by David Bostedo on December 10, 2012 at 8:55 PM
Agreed with John Mumaw - On what little I've tried to use any of the 3rd party (i.e. non Photoshop) software, I've not seen any improvement over Photoshop; Differences, yes, but not any real improvement.
One thing you might want to do if you do any resizing yourself, is make a couple of test prints. Cut a small - maybe 5x7 or 8x10 - area or two out of your large re-sized photo, and print that first to give you an idea of what to expect.
I am in agreement with John's comment, as well. The bicuibic resize in PS is quite good. I looked at prices on a couple of 3rd. party programs, and, if you already have PS, I think you'd not get that good a return on the investment unless you're doing extreme enlargements of small files.
David's suggestion to make test/ proof prints is an excellent idea.
--P
Posted by Stan Wojtaszek on December 11, 2012 at 6:00 PM
No expert, here.
Check out thus link: http://www.outbackphoto.com/workflow/wf_60/essay.html
Posted by Dan Roberts on December 14, 2012 at 7:11 PM
One caution on prior comments. If you do print a partial sample of the image you plan on blowing up, make sure that you view the sample from the same distance that you plan on the final print being viewed from. We all perceive differently but genarally speaking, a print made at 100ppi looks very pixelated at arms length but looks just fine from 10 ft away.
If you do print a partial sample of the image you plan on blowing up, make sure that you view the sample from the same distance that you plan on the final print being viewed from.
Great point, Dan. Of course, a photographer will put their nose up to the print--we can't seem to help it.
Just as an FYI, but unless you made a typo, you're asking for a 20x50, which is a lot longer than a standard 20x30, which is what you would get with no cropping. For the 20x50, which will be quite a panoramic image (1:2.5 proportions), it means you will be cropping significantly from that original 12 mp, making it even more difficult to achieve the large size you're after. Good luck.
Discussion
13 repliesI have some images I would like to enlarge significantly, but they were shot with the Nikon D700, which is only 12 megapixels. I'm looking to enlarge the images to about 20x50 inches, which is way beyond what a 12 megapixel camera could typically handle. Does anyone know of a way to do this without the image becoming pixelated and soft? I know there are software programs out there, but not sure which is the best.
Thank you!
Natalie
I'm sure others will weight in shortly.
Good luck with your project-
Sandy
There is a Megapixel-to-Print Size chart at West Coast Imaging. Go to this page and then click on the Megapixel-to-Print Size link on the left side of the page.
An example: A 12.7 Mpx file will make a fairly decent 30x45 at 97 dpi print resolution, according to chart. So, at your print size the resolution would be somewhere between 72 and 97 dpi. To my mind, this is stretching things a bit thin, even with a high end program that does the resizing for you. Careful sharpening and a smooth paper are called for, too.
--P
I've done a lot of blow-ups; some were antique postcards blown up to 84 inches x 48 inches. It can be done, but you have to have realistic expectations.
As Preston notes, you could just print the image. Viewed from a distance, it would look okay; not good, but okay. Or you can use one of the tools like Resize/Genuine Fractals, Blowup or Photoshop's built-in tools to interpolate additional pixels into the photo to improve blown up image quality. Obviously, the interpolation algorithm is the critical bit. For black and white photos, Photoshop's native tools are very good. For color, or high detail, you may want to spring for Resize.
Interpolation is a difficult business. An algorithm that works well with solid stretches of color may look terrible applied to a detailed bird wing, for example. And all of them are disappointing at human faces.
For the modest expansion you have in mind, I'd start with Photoshop. Use the Bicubic Sampling checkbox. If that doesn't work, Perfect Resize has a free trial you can test.
Hope this helps.
Jim
Best,
Natalie
If you own PS, you owe it to yourself to try it first. You certainly paid enough for its capabilities.
On the other hand, David C. is correct in that many quality commercial imaging printers can do a far better job resizing images using printer RIP software than any other application out there, and as an added bonus it would be included in the cost of the print.
One thing you might want to do if you do any resizing yourself, is make a couple of test prints. Cut a small - maybe 5x7 or 8x10 - area or two out of your large re-sized photo, and print that first to give you an idea of what to expect.
David's suggestion to make test/ proof prints is an excellent idea.
--P
Check out thus link: http://www.outbackphoto.com/workflow/wf_60/essay.html
Great point, Dan. Of course, a photographer will put their nose up to the print--we can't seem to help it.
--P