Expert: LizaL - 12/20/2005

Question
Hi Liza,
I have a photo here and I need to zoom in to see the details. It's a "for sale" sign. The phone number on the sign is just small enough that you can't tell what it is. So, I'm trying to zoom in on it using standard software and it can't do the job.Do you know of any way to enhance the photo, increase the resolution, anything like that so I can tell what the number is on the sign? May be you know someone who can...
You know, like they do it on TV--zoom in on anything and clearify the picture so they can see anything.
Thanks in advance?
Gene

Answer
Hi Gene,

Hmmm... this is tough to call, since I can't see the picture. If you like, you can send it to me at lizal@little-works.com and I'll see what I can do... but in the meantime, here are some things to try:

1. Increase the resolution.
Go to the Image pulldown menu and select Image Size from the submenu. This is not, however, going to guarantee that the type in the picture will be clear -- what this will do is increase the number of pixels in the picture so that overall, the picture is larger. But it might help. Then you could...

2. Sharpen the picture.
I'd use the Unsharp Mask filter for this. With the image open, go to the Filter pulldown menu and select the submenu Sharpen, and then Unsharp Mask, and from there you can adjust the controls.

Unsharp Mask gives you more controls than the regular Sharpen filter, or the Sharpen Edges, which looks for edges within the image. Unsharp Mask doesn't just sharpen based on detecting edges, but it locates pixels that differ in value from surrounding pixels, using the threshold amount you specify. So for example, depending on what you enter as a threshold value, the lighter pixels get even lighter and the darker pixels get even darker -- based on that specified amount.

Sound confusing? Play with the controls some, and keep in mind that you can overdo it, so work on a copy of your picture instead of the real thing.


Those are the two best methods I know for an overall enhancement, in terms of zooming in on a picture (aside, of course, from just zooming in visually with the magnifying glass tool!). But remember, you can only take pixels so far. If you have a lousy picture to begin with, not even Photoshop can perfect it.

Anyway, try those two things and if they don't help, send me the picture and maybe I can tell you if the number can be read.

Lisa

P.S. Don't believe the stuff you see them do on TV! That's something that really drives me crazy -- the way somebody will zoom in on an image, or "enhance" it in order to see the finest details. If what they're doing is to believed, and I don't think it always is, they're not using Photoshop, but some kind of software not available to the general public  :-)