Photo software?

[Hawkmoon]

A few weeks ago I saw an advertisement (on-line) for a software program that allows the user to enlarge digital photos multiple times while retaining (or creating) sharpness and avoiding pixelation. It looked interesting but the program cost over $100 and I can't afford that at the moment.

But -- the first photo I have of my late wife is small and not really clear. I would like to be able to enlarge it and print it, but it needs to be done with a program such as the one I saw. Does anyone have or use such a program? If so, could I send you a copy of my photo and get it blown up to a couple of larger sizes?

[Ben]

There is, unfortunately, no magic solution to this. I would be a little wary of a program that makes any great claims, as the only real way to get a sharp, big image is to start with one. That said, you can certainly make some enhancements, as long as you are good with "just okay".

For a free program, you might try GIMP and add the G'mic extension, using G'mic's enhancement tools to play around with no more than 25% enlargement to see if you can get something acceptable. There is a bit of a learning curve with GIMP, but it is every bit as powerful as Photoshop.

Otherwise, I'd bet Mr Tuttle has a few good suggestions.

[Brad Johnson]

What Ben said.  You can't enlarge what isn't there.  I've seen some enlargements made with "magic" photo enhancement software.  None were worth printing.  No pixilation, sure, but the remainder of the elements inserted to fix the photo combined to make them look obviously doctored.

How small is the photo, and how big did you want to go?  Step one is to get a really, really, really good hi-res scan of the original.  Something on the order of 1200 dpi or better.  Given that start it may be possible to enlarge it slightly without appreciable degradation of the image.

I would gladly try and PShop the image to enlarge and clean it up a little for you.  I won't make any promises but I'll do what I can.

Brad

[Brad Johnson]

Hawk, check your email.

Brad

[Harold Tuttle]

There are ways as long as what you start with as a meg or more of content

Theres no way to take a thumbnail and make an 8x10 with out reinterpreting the data as "art"