Interpolation for large format printing...

shiato storm

shiato storm

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Just wondering what people might be using to up-scale images as I've got some large scale format printing to do in the near future I just want to be sure I have sufficient control over the image to get the best out of it. Short of forking out for a 1dsmkII or one of those fancy Leaf medium format backs was wondering about available software(s). I use CS2 but will, no doubt pretty soon, be getting CS3 (edu. license! :D) - would interpolation through PS be good or third-party plugin/full program be better?
 
There is a technique you can use in CS2 which is outlined in Scott Kelby's book, if I remember correctly. Open the image size window, type the size you want e.g. 36", change the resolution to 360 and go into the resample image box and choose Bicubic Sharper. I tried this on some large prints for a client last year, the results were excellent and I didn't need to but any extra software.

Hope this helps.
 
I agree with Colin about using CS..... you could use GenuineFractals to upsize but that's pretty expensive for what you want to achieve. The improvement over CS is marginal in my opinion. The biggest consideration to be made ~ whatis the finale print size and viewing distance?

I would actually use Bicubic Smoother when upsizing... you want to reduce the jaggies, not get them sharper! But I could be wrong :shrug:

When I was using PS7 to resize I made an action to increase by 5% and made repeated use of this action to get to the required size. It worked a lot better than the "one hit" procedure.
 
These days CS is just as good as genuine fractals at upsizing. But make sure you use the bicubic smoother option. Have a bit of a google and it'll tell you why somewhere (there are some threads on here about it too!)

Before CS stair interpolation was the best way (increases of 5% until size reached) but now it's a bit redundant!
 
What size are you getting them printed at?

I have just printed a 30" x 20" canvas for a customer, the picture was taken using his D200 and the quality on the canvas is superb.
 
Just yesterday I sent a client 2 upscaled images. They were 2 hdr photos taken on my 6.4mp 10D. Now I've printed them without issue to 30x20''. This client wanted to print them to 1 x 1.5 meters. I had to upscale them by 577%! I offered them the use of these images for free, as part of the license. They're already paying enough and I can't guarantee the image quality. So if they're happy and use them I know I can offer it to others, so its a plus for me. If they're not happy, no worries as it was free so they can't complain. I used Genuine Fractals to do them.
 
was that with photoshop pete? sounds impressive, at the end of the day it tends to be the strength of the image before the upsizing that determines end satisfaction...as yes the viewing distance on a big image isn't exactly going to be close-up scrutiny is it?! ;)

I'll give it a shot with cs2 and see what I get...is it best done on 16 bit tiff or not much difference if its 8 bit or high quality jpeg?
 
I've just found the book and Kelby reckons to go with Bicubic Sharper and not Smoother as others have stated, it does give good results as I've used this method in the past.
 
I use CS2 and Bicubic Smoother when upsizing. (Sharper for downsizing)

I created an action to upsize this way by 10% - I just run it repeatedly until I get near the size I need then finalise with a manual upsize to the exact size, then a final sharpen. I've gone up to 30x20" like this with great results.

Going up in 10% increments definately improves the end result.
 
-Oy- said:
I use CS2 and Bicubic Smoother when upsizing. (Sharper for downsizing)

I created an action to upsize this way by 10% - I just run it repeatedly until I get near the size I need then finalise with a manual upsize to the exact size, then a final sharpen. I've gone up to 30x20" like this with great results.

Going up in 10% increments definately improves the end result.
Click to expand...

Thanks for re-iterating what I said many posts back...... :shrug: But really this staged upsizing was only necessary in PS 7 ~ one stage is all you need in CS(2).

From the CS2 help pages on resampling.....

Bicubic A slower but more precise method based on an examination of the values of surrounding pixels. Using more complex calculations, Bicubic produces smoother tonal gradations than Nearest Neighbor or Bilinear.

Bicubic Smoother A good method for enlarging images based on Bicubic interpolation but designed to produce smoother results.

Bicubic Sharper A good method for reducing the size of an image based on Bicubic interpolation with enhanced sharpening. This method maintains the detail in a resampled image. If Bicubic Sharper oversharpens some areas of an image, try using Bicubic.
 
Alamy recommend Genuine Fractals, although they acknowledge CS2 and other programmes are capable of doing the job. I've tried everything and I find the differences extremely minimal. :shrug:

Alamy specifically say now that you shouldn't upsize incrementally.
 
Alamy's recommendation was what made me use GF. Its what they do. I'm really looking forward to seeing if this client uses them or not. 577%!!!
 
yes thats quite a percentage hike...by my rough calcs thats about 37mpix upsized from 6-ish :nuts: :bonk: still, if it works: :woot:
 
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