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BMP vs. GIF/JPG

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    #1

    BMP vs. GIF/JPG

    I'm looking for some help with image formats. BMPs are not working well for a particular app I'm trying to write. I'm using A5v4.03 build 230. We run an entire Sheriff's Dept using A4v6 and are now upgrading to A5. The particular app involves printing a WANTED Poster. Using a BMP of the photograph results in a blocky image when enlarged to a size suitable for an 8.5" x 11" poster. (approx 4.8" x 5.8") Also I've found that I must use STRETCH in image properties, or the image quality is unacceptable. Any help would be appreciated.

    John Doherty
    Barnstable County Sheriff's Dept.
    Tags: None
    #2
    RE: BMP vs. GIF/JPG

    John,

    Recently there was a thread regarding 256 color bit maps. You might check it out. The blockiness you refer to I assume means noticeable square, stairstep edges in your images. This is a problem with bitmap images since they are made up of pixels. As you enlarge an image beyond its original size, these pixels become noticeable. The image contains the same number of pixels, determined by its resolution, no matter what size you make it. If you have a high-resolution image, which will be made up of a correspondingly high number of pixels, you can enlarge the image to a greater extent before you start seeing these "jaggies" as they are called. The down side of the high resolution image is that the file will be much bigger.

    I guess you are using a scanner to create your .BMP files and are probably using low resolution for economy. Existing images can probably be converted to a higher resolution using a freeware or shareware graphics conversion program (there was a thread on that at one time, as well). The conversion would interpolate the additional pixels for the higher resolution image; you would have to experiment to see whether the quality would be acceptable to you or not.

    I would try scanning at successively higher resolutions to see if you can achieve a happy medium between your output in printing and the size of the .BMP file. The new version of Alpha 5 supposedly will allow an alternative bitmap file format or two, which may help solve your problem, but that doesn't help right now.

    Comment

      #3
      RE: BMP vs. GIF/JPG

      I agree with Richard. You would run into the same problem with the GIF or JPG files, assuming you used the same starting resolution.

      Assuming you will be printing black and white, make sure the BMP is either 256 color or 8 bit gray scale. Also, you should either use ABSOLUTE or BEST FIT, so the image proportions don't change.

      I tried it just now, and got a very good result blowing up a small picture. Again, the key is starting with a bitmap that has enough pixels.

      Comment

        #4
        RE: BMP vs. GIF/JPG

        What is the color depth of the system on which you are testing?

        I still haven't figured out how to display colored or grey bitmaps through A5 on a 256 color system. The same graphics are fine through Paint on the same system or through A5 on a system with more colors.

        Comment

          #5
          RE: BMP vs. GIF/JPG

          Had seen your problem and wondered if you were able to resolve it. To help you understanding the problem is how the original photo is scanned. Was the original photo 8x10 or was it smaller? What was the original DPI used? Makes a BIG difference if the original photo was small or large. Whether you save as BMP, PCX, TGA, TIF, JPG or GIF there is a DPI ratio that is important to consider. ie: If the photo was small to begin with then you MUST use a high DPI to retain the quality. If the photo was large to start with then a lower DPI could be used. Remember using a 3 x 5 photo @ 300 DPI and enlaging it to 8 x 10 is roughly 150 DPI equivalent. You may want to consider GIF since it stores high resolution DPI photos slightly smaller than JPG. Although saving in TIF is probably the best quality the fact is that it uses a LOT of space and I routinely use JPG or GIF since they are compressed formats. Whatever ratio you are using in the final print MUST be the same ratio when you scan. ie: scan @ 2 x 3 = 4 x 6 = 6 x 9. This way you could use the stretch mode to fill the entire field when printing since the aspect ratio is preserved. Remember 300 DPI @ 2 x 3 = 100 DPI @ 6 x 9. Be sure to set your scanner high, for DPI.

          Hope that helps

          Warren Horton
          Riv Co Coroner

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