While the results from A.I. Gigapixel 1.0.2 are being considered as very impressive by end users on the various photo forums, Topaz has been working on further improvements to the application which are now included in the new A.I. Gigapixel 1.1.1, just released.
(Note: Topaz is not promoting a coupon code or discount for A.I. Gigapixel but we are! Use coupon “plugsnpixels” here to save 15% off the $99.99 retail price (this discount also applies to ALL Topaz products). This update is FREE for existing users, as per Topaz’s longstanding policy for all of its software.
Here is a list of the latest improvements:
•Expanded system compatibility with a CPU mode, which allows more users without a robust GPU to run A.I. Gigapixel on their machine.
•12 new Artificial Intelligence models for different scaling (200%, 400%, 600%) across three settings for input image quality:
-None: For high-quality images without noise, results in much better detail retention
-Medium: Improved versions of the included enhancement models
-High: For images with lots of noise and artifacts, produces a smoother artifact free enlargement while retaining and enhancing perceived details in the image.
•Resolved issue with sometimes not retaining DPI
•Resolved sizing issue with size sometimes not passing through correctly
•Bug Fixes:
-CPU processing was not working in Windows
-CPU processing not updating the progress bar
-When “inches” was selected to display the size of the image, the Start button was not clickable
-Would always save as 72PPI always instead of original image PPI
Let’s take look at the latest interface and options, then we’ll do a new round of tests with more pixel-challenged images!
First, the latest interface. You’ll notice the overall look is basically unchanged from the initial release. But notice especially the new quality choices to expand the capability and fine-tuning of the former single-option “Enhance image” checkbox (None/Moderate/Strong). There is an option to pause the render and, of great interest to users with older computer hardware, an option to fall back to the CPU for rendering if the video card is not on Topaz’s approved list. (Note: CPU processing will be between two and five times slower than GPU processing, but it might save you an expensive computer upgrade.)
Today we will begin our adventure in photo detail recovery by seeing what the new A.I. Gigapixel 1.1.0 can do with lower-res iPad (yes, iPad) images (taken in 2014). This new version of Gigapixel happened to be released when I was in proximity to my 2011 build i7 “Hackintosh” (PC parts, Apple G5 case) running OS X El Capitan, with a similarly-ancient Zotac GeForce GT430, 1024MB dedicated graphics card, so I put it to good use. All of today’s results were obtained with this setup. The point being, even though Gigapixel is demanding in terms of processing power, you don’t need a computer built yesterday to get great results with it (I did my previous blog post examples with a 2013 MacBook Air).
Hint: Right-click and open these images in a new browser tab to see them at actual size, where the results are more accurate.
Let’s hit the beach with the iPad and see what we get:
Original full-frame image for context (reduced):
See the little boy at left of center enjoying his day in the sun? Let’s see what he’s up to. Before-and-after screenshot inside Photoshop with 100% views of original at left and Gigapixel 600% upsize at right, with Levels manually adjusted on both for brightness:
Meanwhile, a little girl in this photo at the same beach (right of center) looks ready to do some exploring of the tide pool. Original full-frame image for context (reduced):
Before-and-after screenshot inside Photoshop with 100% views of original at left and Gigapixel 600% upsize at right:
Amazing results, and we’re just getting started! Gigapixel is actually a lot of fun to use, besides being very practical. Once you see the possibilities, it’s hard to stop making more enlargements…
(Note: Topaz is not promoting a coupon code or discount for A.I. Gigapixel but we are! Use coupon “plugsnpixels” here to save 15% off the $99.99 retail price (this discount also applies to ALL Topaz products). This update is FREE for existing users, as per Topaz’s longstanding policy for all of its software.
In California you can go from the beach to the mountains in a single day, so let’s do that. Here’s our original full-frame image for context (reduced):
What’s the speed limit up here? Let’s check it out, before-and-after screenshot inside Photoshop with 100% views of original at left and Gigapixel 600% upsize at right:
Now let’s travel from the Left Coast to the East Coast with a Sony DHC-H2 (6-megapixel non-DSLR) with these shots of New York City taken in 2008. We’ll start with a shot of Lady Liberty from the Circle Line cruise ship, original full-frame image for context (reduced):
Before-and-after screenshot inside Photoshop with 100% views of original at left and Gigapixel 600% upsize at right. Unless you have a drone or a super-long lens, you’re not getting this close!
Still on the water, we look across the island of Manhattan toward the Empire State Building poking up in the distance. Original full-frame image for context (reduced):
Before-and-after screenshot inside Photoshop with 100% views of original at left and Gigapixel 600% upsize at right. Are we *almost* seeing individual bricks on the apartment buildings?!
Then we get high above the city, looking north across Central Park with a wide view. Original full-frame image for context (reduced):
Now we focus on the upper stories of the tall condo building at left of center. Before-and-after screenshot inside Photoshop with 100% views of original at left and Gigapixel 600% upsize at right. At first I thought some fringing around the building was occurring (Gigapixel is good at not doing this), but it wasn’t – it’s present in the original:
We conclude with a nature/wildlife shot taken with a 16-megapixel Nikon Coolpix L810 (non-DSLR) in 2013. This camera is higher res than the others thus far, but at the extreme focal length needed to capture this hawk safely (safely for the photographer, not the hawk!), quality can get dicey, especially handheld. Original full-frame image for context (reduced):
And again, before-and-after screenshot inside Photoshop with 100% views of original at left and Gigapixel 600% upsize at right. Look at the restored detail, especially in the spots on the side of the beak and the feathers on the forehead! Gigapixel is the best option yet for pulling usable data out of digital mush.
Be sure to grab a free trial of A.I. Gigapixel and try it out on your toughest images.
(Note: Topaz is not promoting a coupon code or discount for A.I. Gigapixel but we are! Use coupon “plugsnpixels” here to save 15% off the $99.99 retail price (this discount also applies to ALL Topaz products). This update is FREE for existing users, as per Topaz’s longstanding policy for all of its software.
Your purchase of any software through the Plugs ‘n Pixels website or this blog gets you the best deal available and also helps generate a small commission to help keep these resources online. Thanks again!