Editing Image work needed.

[Cohen]

I want to create a map .. I've the TGA file, but it's resolution is too small, and I want a bigger map, of at least 200 provinces.

There's someone that would be so glad to modify the map resoltion without lessening its beauty for me?

[Gandalf Parker]

Hmmm enlarging an image means that where there was a green dot, you now have a green box. There are various tools that will scatter the pixels abit and then smooth them out but you might lose some of the clarity of the map.

[Norfleet]

You could just edit the #defaultmapzoom directive: Dominions II will then automatically magnify the map for you so that the castle icons are bigger or smaller, depending on your tastes. It's impossible to "enlarge" really anyway, since that would involve having to create fictitious data to fill in the problem of "large pixels"...which will just make the map look more like mud instead. This is not really an improvement.

[Maltrease]

You could enlarge the map, and then go in by hand to restore (recreate) the detail that was lost.

Not where my skills happen to lie, but many others have talents such as these.

[PvK]

Actually there is some remarkably good software for enlarging low-res images to higher res with often very good results, which I happen to have access to. I'd be happy to see what it can do with your map.

PvK

[Cohen]

The file is too big to be sent via email.
Have you any PtP software like IRC or Icq where we can meet and I can send you the file?

[Maltrease]

I haven't deleted the file off of my site yet Cohen. If you haven't modified PvK could grab it from here http://home.earthlink.net/~adamschroeder/magnamund2.tga


Also PvK, I would be interested in the software you talking about. What is the name of it? What types of images does it do a good job of enlarging? Thanks!

[Cohen]

I'ven't but there're still 6 white pixels concentrated in the left bottom corner ... so I've 6 sea provinces massed in the corner!!!
Well at least six! Dunno if they're more.

[PvK]

Ok, I'll give it a try tonight when I get home.

It's a Photoshop plugin (actually, a series of products) by LizardTech called Genuine Fractals (or PrintPro).

It uses a fractal algorithm to extrapolate what an image should look like when enlarged. In some cases the results are quite amazing. Other times less so. I think it would do very well for most maps.

I've used it to create larger Versions of very small sprites and thumbnails with good success.

It's main intended application though is for very large image files, such as for large high-quality prints and posters and so on, where it offers a very high-fidelity yet compressed format which is easily scalable to any size.

PvK

[PvK]

Ok, I made an enormous Version, which you'll probably want to shrink down, and maybe apply some Photoshop sharpening to.

Unfortunately, your original image was not only low-res, but apparently came from a lowish-fidelty JPEG of a scan.

But I don't think it reduced the fidelity in increasing the pixel size. I think it actually looks a little better, but ideally, a higher-res scan would be the best way.

Anyway, there is a 50-meg zipped Version here.

Let me know when you're done with it, and I'll probably take it down.

I could also make another size, if that would help.

PvK