Great detail + no Jaggies upsampling

[Jade14]

Below is the link to a A3 print test I just did between one shot upsampling and 16-bit 110% steps upsampling with triple USM. It is not for every shot, but for those times when you need to extract every bit of detail in the image, I think it does a good job.

Try it on a large print (not just looking at the screen) and tell me what you think...

Jorge AD
Costa Rica

http://public.fotki.com/JorgeAD/jorge_alban_tests/1shot360_vs_1102musm.html

[Roger_Cavanagh]

Jorge,

It's clear from the crop that you're right about the advantages of incremental upsampling. I ran some tests with D30 images comparing incremental, one-step and Genuine Fractals and came to the same conclusion. It seems reasonable that D60 images would behave similarly.

One argument seems to be about the best increment. I tend to use 110% as you did and as Fred Miranda does in his Stair Interpolation action, but 120% seems to have several fans. Also Spline is occasionally mentioned. Have you looked at these?

One problem I always found working with upsized images was getting optimum USM/sharpening settings. It was clear that a more aggressive was needed, but I confess I never spent sufficient time testing variations. Partly, because I think you would need different parameters for different levels of upsize. How did you arrive at your method?

I know how long this stuff takes. Thanks for spending the time and sharing your results.

Regards,

[Jade14]

Thanks for your kind words Roger. Here is a test you might enjoy:
Spline 36 (Panorama Tools) Versus 110% SI in 16-bit mode.

http://public.fotki.com/JorgeAD/jorge_alban_tests/paisalosplin36_1102.html

Spline does pretty good but it shows it is working with less image info (8-bit mode). A couple of moths ago I ran several tests with a Raw D30 file upsampled to 37 x 56 inches @ 240 ppi and found 130% steps to do the best job.

I was surpirised to find that 110% worked better with D60 files upsampled to 13 x 19 @ 360 ppi. I guess they are running different kinds of in-camera sharpening. I had to run many of the tests all over just to be sure I hadnt made a mistake!

Jorge Alban
Costa Rica