72 dpi images enlarged to 300 dpi

[MoodsR4Cattle]

Looking for suggestions on enlarging 72 dpi web sized images to 300 dpi poster sized images.

Currently when I'm stuck with a low resolution image that needs to be huge, I use PhotoZoom Pro to get it up to size (as best it can) then in Photoshop I use Filter>Blur>Smart Blur to smooth out the nasty artifacts.

This usually does a "good enough for a dark nightclub" job, but I'd like to know if anyone has other suggestions that would have better results.

I'm using a Mac, so if you have programs that are PC only ...

And no "too bad you're on a Mac" jokes ...

[supertackyman]

have you considered using the dust/scatches filter?
filter>noise>dust and scratches

I used to use this to clean up noise/artifacts (you know, those blue and red dots)when i shot in too low light of a condition on 640x480
I like it a bit more than the blur tool.

I will note that (and im sure you know this)
you cant get details back that aren't there.
if they are not allready in the pixels, you can't milk the details out.

I found a program once called Fovea.
seemed to do a-lot but it was real complicated and seemed to be forensically oriented.
(never mind... just looked it up on the web..works on mac also.. but $799.00)

[pgsmedia]

It's worth a shot to see how close Illustrator's live trace/paint can get.

One of the presets usually makes a fantastic photo with minimal retouching. And the Pseudo-Vector look works in a lot of cases.

Granted, that doesn't always work, but it just takes a minute to check it out.

[Kenneth]

I have been using Alien skins Blow Up, for a while and it works well most of the time.
Except maybe for details. I think it works better in bigger areas, it seem to add random pixels in a median filter way, and to compensate for that you can add grain.
It´s a plug-in, so it also works fine on layers.

Ken.

[MoodsR4Cattle]

I'm forever trying to get people (mostly bands) to email a high resolution 8x10 but by the time I contact the band/management/promotions agency/bus driver/anyone to send me something, or send the password to the online promotional images, they've taken too long and I've had to use some online image.

So I'll be checking into all your suggestions (well, maybe not Fovea ).

Many Thanks!

[Kore4]

This is pasted from graphicsPUSH and is not original material, but I have found this works very well when using 72dpi images that need to be converted to higher resolutions. I use this process to capture screens shots for print materials.

Also, if you do not have CS2 Illustrator. You can use Photoshop to increase the resolution, as you know, but don't use 300 dpi. Instead, try using whole number multipliers. i.e. 72 * 4 = 288, instead of 72 * 4.16(repeating 6) = 300

*As a tip, you can usually crop or select the area from a Photoshop doc and just paste it straight into Illustrator.*

Pasted Copy
-----------------------------------
graphicPUSH: Capturing and Optimizing Screenshots for Print

Dan Blaker
wrote the following on Thursday December 14, 2006

Live Trace in Illustrator CS2 is much faster at tracing than Flash 8, and you can get the exact same results. Here’s my simplified screenshot-to-print workflow, based on the great ideas in this article:

1. Send a screenshot to the clipboard using one of many techniques. In OS X, I use Cmd + Shift + 4 and hold down the Control key (as described in the previous comment). In Windows, I use a great freeware utility called MWSnap.

2. Launch Adobe Illustrator CS2.

3. Create a new document, in CMYK mode. The artboard size should automatically match the size of the screenshot on the clipboard.

4. Paste the screenshot. (Color mode is converted automatically.)

5. From the ‘Object’ menu, choose ‘Live Trace’ > ‘Tracing Options…’. Use the following settings:

Mode: Color
Max Colors: 256
Blur: 0 px
Path Fitting: 0 px
Minimum Area: 1 px
Corner Area: 90

Because Live Trace doesn’t have the pixel-level ‘Curve Fit’ setting, the resulting vector ‘pixels’ will not be uniformly square. So we have to fix that.

6. From ‘Object’ menu, choose ‘Expand…’ and use the defaults settings. This converts the Live Trace to standard Illustrator paths so you can edit them.

(optional)
7. From ‘Object’ menu, choose ‘Paths’ > ‘Simplify’. Check the ‘Straight Lines’ checkbox and set the Angle Threshold to 0. Click ‘OK’ and you’re done!

[MoodsR4Cattle]

Thanks Kore4 - I rarely use Illustrator, but I'll give that a try as well!

... And welcome to BioRust!

[imtiyaz]

thats gud and i am lookin forward to cuch things

[Jacorre]

Try the following: 110% Image Resample Macro.

[denmuel]

agree with you,
I did the same method my self
I even had a video tutorial for it :

thx
daniel

[Kore4]

Originally Posted by MoodsR4Cattle

Thanks Kore4 - I rarely use Illustrator, but I'll give that a try as well!

... And welcome to BioRust!

Thanks for the welcoming words. I hope that you have solved your poster dilemma.

[shaunes001]

Heres a video tutorial I found quite handy for this kind of work

Photoshop Free Tutorials: Enlarge image to anysize you want

Hope it helps!