Dial up warning, LARGE files.

[AndyS]

Evaluating a new software app, Gigapixel AI. It resizes images from small Megapixels to much larger and works some other magic doing so, ie contrast, sharpness etc.

What do you think? Is it worth $80


Original image 3888x5184 pixels


Original crop, no resizing 291x314 pixels


PSP resized to 5024x6355 pixels


Gigapixel resized to 5025x5422 pixels (trial version has water mark)

I never crop this tight but extreme examples illustrate the point.

[LakeArenal]

1. Looks like a painting.

[drray23]

2. I am sure you know its not possible to create information where there is none.

Its called the Nyquist criterion in signal processing theory. Basically, what this software is doing is a clever use of smoothing and antialiasing methods to make the resized picture look good by adding pixels. All of that, you can do with photoshop or gimp or the like.

[AndyS]

5. Well, yes and no. The beauty of having the software to it is that the result

comes as a one step process and it's consistent. I've done the same with PaintShopPro; crop, resize, change contrast, enhance the edge definition etc. My results are inconsistent and it's a PIA to do that much post. In fact my OMD cameras do it in-camera using the electronic 2X (take a 5 meg image, resize it to 20 and work various magic). The results are not really discernable at reasonable viewing distances and quite pleasing.

This is almost a 100% crop and I seldom do more than a 25% for composition. If this app does all that 'magic' in one step and improves the appearance of the image without artifact, why not be lazy?

[3Hotdogs]

3. I won't buy it.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. My dear Andy--I prefer your original, first photo.

The other photos don't touch me.

I don't think it's worth $80.

[AndyS]

6. I also like the original. However this exercise was to see if

some level of image quality could be preserved after cropping the original to improve composition.

I have a few fixed prime tele lenses that don't let me crop unless I do it with my feet and between shooting from a kayak and my age and subject matter that's not always possible.

This example is close to a 100% crop and I seldom crop closer than 25%. The question I'm trying to answer is can I bring the IQ back to original in one step. Publishing to the web it's a moot point but making large prints minor losses are a bigger deal.

I think the answer is yes but is the loss in a small crop worth the extra step and investment? I'm tending to no at this point but it's in the eye of the beholder.

[Pobeka]

7. I suspect there are cases where it will work fine, others where it won't.

Looks like it is trying to mimic textures (possibly with wavelets?) as it enlarges. I'd say it did an okay job looking at the 100% crop, probably looks much better at a 50% crop, which as you say is closer to what you'd see as a print.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

8. Yes, it's worth it!

I use Topaz Sharpen and DeNoise quite a bit. I've only used Gigapixel once, but it delivered excellent results, which I posted here.

You might remember that I posted a slew of critter pics about a month ago. One of the most popular was a shot of a mother and baby wood duck. It was a tiny file that I ran through Gigapixel to enlarge. I was able to print a very nice 8 1/2 x 11 with the Gigapixel file.

I was skeptical of Topaz software at first, but it delivers as promised. Plus, you pay for it once and get free updates just about every month.

Here is the photo and a link to that thread. I also used Topaz Sharpen on the shots of the moose and the antelopes, which were shot with a bridge camera. Also on the woodpeckers, the spider and the black phoebe.

By the way, I still love looking at this pic.



https://www.democraticunderground.com/103686836

[AndyS]

9. Thanks for the input. I don't think anyone here would quibble over the quality or content of

your work so your input is valuable.

Out of curiosity can you remember the original file size and how far you resized it?

Obviously it's best to shoot it right in-camera but sometimes ya' just can't and it nice to be able to get a useable image with a little help from technology.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

10. Here is the info.

The original image was shot with a Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary zoom, mounted on a crop sensor Canon EOS t6s. It was a vertical crop of a horizontal image, so the crop factor was significant. Furthermore, I'm not even sure that I was working with the original file. It might have been a screen grab from Instagram. LOL! The file size that I started working with was 1.3 mb.

I processed the file with Gigapixel and SharpenAI and produced two or three versions. The image that I finally used was 23.5 mb. I was very happy with the inkjet print that I produced from it. Keep in mind that the image of the duck that I posted here was reduced way down in size for the benefit of DU image limitations.

Another point about Topaz products. I've been able to adjust my shooting techniques because of them. For example, if I'm taking a neighborhood walk, which can be a little sketchy in these days of Covid, I don't feel comfortable taking my most expensive gear with me. Instead I grab my older cameras with their kit lenses, knowing that I can make up for their lack of resolution or reach with Topaz SharpenAI and DeNoiseAI. You can make a crop sensor image look like a full frame image, and a medium size zoom look like a superzoom! It has breathed new life into my older cameras. I sometimes leave a camera and a few lenses in my truck for the unexpected photo opportunity. Again, I'm ok using the older cameras, even a bridge camera, for that.

I hope this helps.

Ross

[HAB911]

11. I also use the entire suite

Sharpen, Denoise, Giga, and even Mask

Each have their own pros and cons for me. I liken Sharpen to a sledge hammer, Denoise to a scalpel. I cannot count the old slides that suite has saved, and more than enough new photos to justify the price. Giga, I have used only once and found it did have a slight edge on PS for resizing one particular photo, so would have to say I am glad to have it.