grayscale bitmaps

[myxpykalix]

Has anyone figured out how to make grayscale bitmaps be good enough to machine?
All the ones i've seen when you load them up and try to make them into a 3d object always have no sharp edges and suffer from loss of detail. When i try to smooth them out either manually or by blanket overall smoothing it just makes the detail even lousier because of the pixelization of the original image to begin with.
Didn't know if anyone had any secret techniques to fix this?:confused:

[CNYDWW]

Jack,

I use paint.net to increase the resolution then apply a gaussian blur that will smooth out the pixels. From there I apply a grayscale filter and adjust the sharpness and contrast to my liking to improve the image for better detail.

Regards
Randy

[myxpykalix]

Thats where you start to kill the sharpness is by applying blurring then trying to sharpen back. You might sharpen some of your surfaces but any sharp angles get rounded over and the results make the object look a bit "melted"...:(

[Chuck Keysor]

Jack, how about posting a couple of images that you have tried in the past to fix, but were not able to improve? That would be pretty helpful. I have fixed images in Photoshop using contrast adjustments and the "sharpening" filter set. There have been other times where I had so little to work with, that I had to redraw the image in Illustrator. But without seeing what you are trying to fix, I can't say. Thanks, Chuck

[myxpykalix]

here is one i found via google that i'd like to make into a accent piece on top of the cabinets i'm making

(I wanted to post one i'm trying to work on but but the deminsion and size restrictions here:mad: won't let me upload anything usable 19k:()

[Chuck Keysor]

Jack, I have your email address from communications going back a couple of years. I will send you an email, to see if that is still a valid address. If so, you can reply, and attach whatever file you like. Chuck

[myxpykalix]

youdaman:D

[ssflyer]

Jack,

You can post the link to it, so we can all see! :)

[CNYDWW]

Jack,

THat's why i increase the size of the graphic exponentially. If you apply a blur to an image that's 600x400 compared to 3600x2400 the effect is vastly different.

Regards

[gerryv]

Good advise Randy. Thanks.

[Chuck Keysor]

Hello Jack. I just now sent the sharpened file to you by email. In Photoshop CS6, I adjusted the brightness and contrast, then applied the "smart sharpening filter", adjusting to maximize the clarity and distinctness of the lines. This was very easy to do, and maybe took 5 minutes. I am not a super Photoshop hotshot by any means. I am a basic user. But I can not imagine that the image could be made any clearer, without actually redrawing it as a vector image.


Now, if this is good enough for your needs, that is another question. But based upon images I have had to work with, what you had was already an exceptionally clean drawing, and it would have been fine for making a 3D relief model in Aspire.


I have attached an image I am currently pulling my hair out on. This is from an old photo of a Victorian house, where this applique was removed 50 years ago. The owners want a replacement. The bottom half of the design is clearly acanthus leafs. So that I was able to redraw, by looking at good drawings of acanthus leafs and modeling based on those. But the upper half, what is it????? Because I can't figure out what it is, I can't draw it. This is from a very fancy 1880s Victorian house, so the top is not an egg cup with an egg in it, and a the angled arms below it are not from the Pillsbury Dough Boy................... If any of you architectural historians can offer a guess, I'd appreciate it.

The reason I mention my Victorian house applique Jack, is that it makes your image look super sharp in comparison. You have enough I think to model with, that is if I can work with my fuzzy blur of an image for this house project. But it was easy for me to sharpen your image, and if it helped you, I can, or anybody with Photoshop can do this for you with minimal effort.

Good luck, Chuck

[myxpykalix]

Hi Chuck i got your image but the problem still exists. The issue i see is that greyscale bitmaps because they are made up of pixels will never be able to be just converted without alot of jaggies in there, especially when you try to blow up and image you magnify the problems also.
If i was to start off with a large image and make it smaller that would be better.
I will continue to work on it to try to get better results. I do appreciate your efforts greatly.:D

On the other hand your image you posted is a challenge. It is almost easier to tell details when you look at it small rather then large.
I would do some investigating in some Dover clipart books to see if you can find something similar:
http://store.doverpublications.com/by-subject-clip-art-historical-design.html
http://store.doverpublications.com/0486402657.html

[Chuck Keysor]

Hello Jack. No problem, I'm sorry this revised image didn't help. :( But in the Aspire modeling I have done, I have traced basic shapes such as shown in your image (drawing IN Aspire), and then used their "Modeling Tools" to turn the traced images into relief images. I feel that there really is plenty of information in your image to allow someone to draw the required vector art.

I am not sure if you tried to use automated raster to vector conversion or not. Maybe that is the difficulty. I simply would trace your image "by hand" using Aspire's drawing tools. (Though I have used the Aspire auto-trace on some really complicated line drawings.) But my preference in drawing your vector image "by hand", is that it would allow me to edit and adjust the image as I went along, as this image is really a bit quirky, at least to someone who likes more historically accurate architecture.

I did attach a sharpened JPEG copy of the image you sent to me. Maybe someone else has a comment that can help you.

As to my image, yes, I have gone through all of my Dover books, and I have a good collection, both of Victorian architecture and graphic designs. I just can't find anything that is even close. I have spent at least 10 times more time scratching my head over this top bit and searching the Internet, and asking people, than I did to draw and create the lower portion of this relief.

Well, I hope someone can provide some recommendations for you. Good luck, Chuck

[CNYDWW]

Jack, i fixed the bitmap
unfortunately it's too large to attach here.

[CNYDWW]

The final bitmap is a .tif exported from my paint software at over 2100 x 468 pixels and 1.9 MB. I increased the resolution to 89 pixels per inch to maintain the approximate size of 24 x 5.25 Inches.

[myxpykalix]

I appreciate all who have helped me with this. While it is way better then what i was able to do i do think there is (in some instances) an inherint problem with some greyscale bitmaps. Maybe it is the size. Ones that are less then 1 meg seem to be more pixilized then the ones that are like 2+ megs or more.

I am going to take what i got from you and carve one and see how it comes out
thanks again all for your efforts i appreciate it.:D

[Chuck Keysor]

Thanks Jack. My experience in creating a relief model is limited to doing it the way that I have done with but a few cases. And that is based largely upon my understanding of the Aspire training videos. But your comments have made it clear that you do this type of work differently than I do. So I would be very glad to see your results and learn your methods. Thanks, Chuck