Question about image quality for CPO.

[Arc Kalocal]

I have an image I want to use for my CP, its 2667 x 1500 pixels. My CP is 2' 4" at its widest and 1' 2" at its longest. Will this do? If it does not, what should I be looking for at a minimum for the size of my CP?

[JDFan]

For best results you will want to create the art at 300PPI (Pixels per inch) since that is what most higher quality printers will print at ( most internet graphics default to 72PPI which is why they look grainy when enlarged for printing) So the image you have is most likely 72 PPI and thus a 2667 x 1500 would be created to be a 37x20 inch image @72 PPI or 17 3\4 x 10 inch image if they used 150 PPI, and if printed at 300 PPI the result would be 8.9 x 5 inches. (so a bit small if you print it at a decent resolution)

Ideally for a 28x14 inch CPO you would want it at 300PPI or 8400x4200 pixels -- though some printers do use 150 PPI (4200x2100 pixels) with decent results depending on the content of the image.

[Arc Kalocal]

Thanks for your help! I suppose my next question would be, if I'm deadset on using this image, is there any magical way I can touch up the image through photoshop or the like to make it appear less grainy or pixelated when blown up?

I opened up the image, increased the size to 28 inches, and increased the DPI to 300 to see what it might look like and I wasn't particularly happy with the results. I am 99% new to photoshop and I'm definitely in way over my head. Honestly I probably shouldn't even be trying to do this as it's way over my skill level but like I said, I'm pretty deadset on this image.

[Vigo]

Photoshop can do limited things to help lessen the impact, but enhancing a low resolution image to a higher one is straight outta hollywood.

What kind of image is it? If it is something with clean lines and not too many levels of colors, Adobe Premiere or other vector program can be used to vectorize an image.

Something like this could easily be vectored and scaled to any size.

[JDFan]

Not really any magic method but there are some filters etc. that can help improve the results but it really depends on the image you are working on and can be fairly time consuming to get the desired result -- without seeing the image it is difficult to really provide any suggestions.

[Arc Kalocal]

Here's the original file. I like it because, with my CP, it places either character over either player's controls and just looks cool as hell. MvC2 is also going to be the primary game played here. Also worth noting its a modular CP, not attached to any cabinet. More like a double sized fight stick.

[Vigo]

IMO, that isn't horrible. When I zoom in, I do see some flaws and pixelation, but given that it is a painted style, I bet some lightly applied artistic filters might clean that up. The MvC2 logo will need to be replaced completely, but I would be shocked if a better quality logo isn't already available. I would start by just playing with the filters in Adobe, find something you like, combine a few filters, then go out and find a better MvC2 logo, or something else you can paste over it.

[JDFan]

IMO, that isn't horrible. When I zoom in, I do see some flaws and pixelation, but given that it is a painted style, I bet some lightly applied artistic filters might clean that up. The MvC2 logo will need to be replaced completely, but I would be shocked if a better quality logo isn't already available. I would start by just playing with the filters in Adobe, find something you like, combine a few filters, then go out and find a better MvC2 logo, or something else you can paste over it.

+1 -- Here is a better copy of the logo you could use :

[Arc Kalocal]

Wow you guys are awesome! I thought that same thing, that the brush strokes might hide the low resolution, but now I'm really excited that someone who knows what they're talking about agrees with me! Also JDFan you are awesome for doing that legwork for me. I love this forum.

[Arc Kalocal]

So I got time to play with Photoshop like you guys suggested. I applied a dry brush filter and played around a lot with the mixer brush and I'm really happy with my first-try-at-Photoshop-results. The pixelation, especially around Strider's face and chest now look more deliberate.

I also really liked some of the black(brown) and white filters and I might play with those as well for a really classy look.

I replaced the logo with the higher res one that JDFan found for me, as well as moved it about two inches to the left. My CP angles out in the front and part of the logo would have been cut off had I not.

Now is where you guys dissect my work, make fun of my naivete, and what-have-you.

Also, had to shrink the image for the forum, not sure if there's a way to paste the full-quality image here.