#image scaling

[axvwriter]

When you're looking over you own shoulder

I'm losing it trying to grab better quality reference images. If I take screenshots of what the game offers, well for one I think it's only the school uniforms, and two, the freaking background. He's just looking over his own shoulder.

If I try to group images together from a wiki then it doesn't work as the image files are different sizes so it's not exactly as nice as I'd like it to be. I can't scale anything down because my programs suck at that. I don't want even the slightest blur. Also I found out that my art program doesn't do a good job at keeping the reference image's proportions.

I put an image in to try to figure out if I even really need to scale things down, forgetting that I want to change sizes so the characters are about the same size, just to find it doing something wonky. It was squishing the image by the x-axis and I did the only option I can find, resetting it. Which almost got it right, now the image is slightly stretched by the y-axis.

It is an older version of the art program so hopefully the most current version of the art program doesn't have that issue. I would certainly hope so as I have to buy the newer version. Which I'm going to try waiting on for as long as I can, partly because I'm on a computer so old that I worry for the possibility that it wont handle a newer art program.

This computer also gave me a scare that it was dying so I have no idea how much life it has left in it. Could just be a loose wire. Could just be that it's too freaking old. Doesn't help that I have no knowledge to help me here, but at least I have a dad and brother I can rely on for some assistance.

Anyway I'm getting so fed up and all I wanted to do was blur the boys so I could see if my oc/yuu could tell them apart from a distance or not since she's nearsighted and refuses to think she may need glasses.

[elevatorupcompany]

How to use Image Scaling properly

I’ve worked with many designers and developers over the years and found that only of few understood a topic we all share, Image Scaling.

What is Image Scaling?

Image Scaling is the ratio an image should be to appear crisp and clean on a computer screen based on the screens Pixel Density. (<- Nifty video with more info)

Here is a table that shows what a properly scaled image should be. (Detailed explanation below)

More - Material Design Units and Measurements

What does all this mean?

Screen resolution: The number of pixels in a screen that can be shown. Associates a category that a given screen falls in.

dpi (dots per inch): How dense pixels are packed in an inch of the screen (Important if you are a developer).

m = medium, h = high, x = extra. (l or low dpi was a thing, but almost no screens fall in that category now)

Pixel ratio: The multiple of the size image you need to be using (Important for designers)

Image size (pixels): Example dimensions an image should be exported. (These dimensions should be the sizes you need for your project, and will probably be different than these)

For a real world reference, most computer monitors still fall in the mdpi screen resolution category, while most iPhones and Android Phones fall in the xhdpi to xxxhpdi screen resolution categories.

How do I use Image Scaling correctly?

As a designer:

1. Start by designing at mdpi as your base size.

Notice the pixel ratio is equal to 1.0. That means that this is your 1x image asset, and the math is easier to scale your image up (x2, x3 etc), compared to scaling your image down. (/0.5, /1.5, etc).

If you are using Sketch, check out the “Make Exportable” feature! This does most of the work for you ;)

2. Design in Vector (if possible).

Vector assets allow for an unlimited number of pixel densities and are very easily able to scale up or down.

3. Know where your image will be in the user interface and set the size accordingly.

As a general rule of thumb, avoid using images that are odd sizes (i.e. 23x23) instead use even size images (i.e. 24x24), and if you are designing vector icons, align the anchor points to a specific x / y position. This will prevent your image from blurring.

4. Know what file type to use and when to use it.

PNG: Small to large sized images with any number of colors. PNG are nearly uncompressed images and have the highest quality.

JPG: Large to massive images. JPGs are compressed and do not have the highest quality and will keep file size down when exporting.

SVG: Use these for icons or images with very few colors. These are special because they will automatically scale and do the equations for you. Just make sure you are designing them at mdpi.

GIF: Avoid using these if possible. If you need an animation, consider using 1 PNG and animating it in code, or making an animated SVG.

As a developer:

1. Allow your code to handle images of multiple densities.

Web devs: use src-sets and media queries.

Android devs: use all the drawable folder

iOS devs: use the asset folder

2. Use Vector Assets if possible.

Web devs: SVGs are supported

Android devs: Vector Drawables are supported

iOS devs: PDFs are supported

3. Set the images to the correct size for your views.

Allow your views to either resize themselves automatically based on the size of the images, hard-code the view size to the exact size of the image asset, or using set the image scaling to show the image at the proper quality. This will ensure you are not stretching or squishing the image to a size it is not supposed to be.

4. Consider compressing your PNGs and JPGs for performance.

Check out https://tinypng.com/. This will increase load times of the images in your apps and cut back on overall size of your apps.

Bonus:

As mentioned in some tips above, you can avoid having to deal with density all together and use a vector based solution like SVGs (scalable vector graphics), Vector Drawables and PDFs. These are only usable for icon-like designs with very limited color. Some added benefits of using vector images is that you only need to maintain 1 asset, and the file size is very small!

Final thoughts:

Work together!

Image Scaling is a topic that designers and developers both need to understand. And if you can bridge the gap from design to development, together we can save the world from pixelated images!

~ Mike, Product Designer & Front-end Developer

[procedural-generation]

XBRZPXL.EXE

If you’re familiar with retro gaming, you might have seen some of the pixel scaling algorithms that have been invented over the past few years. It’s usually been used as a post-process effect, to upscale old images. But now Ben Porter has created a small paint program that lets you directly paint with the XBRZ algorithm, making a new kind of pixel art much easier to create.

It’s called XBRZPXL.EXE, and there’s already a lot of incredible artwork that’s been made with the program.

The controls are rudimentary, but there’s a few tricks. Pressing ESC fills the canvas with the current color. Right clicking on an antialiased pixel will pick up that color. Pressing S saves the current image to ‘image.png’ (and overwrites your previous saved image! Make sure you copy it if you want to keep it!) 

XBRZPXL is a good example of how something that was previously an impersonal algorithm can eventually transition into being a controllable tool for artists to work with. Artificial intelligence doesn’t need to replace artists, it can give us new procedurally generated paint guns to use. Eventually, even complex algorithms like neural-doodle will be a part of many artists workflow.

The tools change, but the fundamentals don’t.

http://bp.io/post/1732

Have an image you’ve made with XBRZPXL, or some other procgen artistic tool? I’d like to see it!

[shobhitjain]

This is a open-source Python implemented code which helps in resizing , scaling , face detection ,applying filters for images . it works very well .

[sizzlepig]

sizzlepig™ for the Enterprise

When we created sizzlepig™  for our own internal needs, we didn’t dream that in the first months users from over 99 countries would visit the site.  We knew it solved our challenges, and we now know it's not just us.  We’ve had lots of inquiries and questions around how sizzlepig™ can be used at an Enterprise level for Global offices.  We thought we’d try to address a few below.

Why Dropbox?  Only Dropbox?  

Enterprise solutions do not require the use of Dropbox.  We started out with Dropbox integration to get the ball rolling and to share files with our Clients.   sizzlepig™ is a cloud tool.  Images come in through 'input' folders and are retrieved through 'output' folders.  We know that many Clients have security needs and contracts that require other file share methods outside of Dropbox.  sizzlepig™ itself fits in the middle of the file input and the file output.  How a file is fed to sizzlepig™ is actually not as relevant.  

Ideally, the folders with the assets, regardless of where they pulled from, should have the ability to be monitored to track any updates.  One major benefit of sizzlepig™ is the re-touch component - where a folder is constantly monitored and any new images or edits to existing images are automatically processed with the saved crops, compressions, etc.  

Some Clients like to use “hot folders” that are fed through a VPN.  Some Clients would like integration with their Digital Asset Management (DAM) system, such as Xinet, or their CMS tools, such as Adobe CQ5.  

Only web and responsive?  Can I use for all my production?

We know that Agencies and in-house teams need to align operational elements as much as possible to gain efficiencies.  Brands need to be represented in an optimized and consistent manner, regardless of delivery channel. Shared assets and shared production practices by aligning as many operational elements as possible is now a necessity.  Images for web, mobile / tablet (responsive), apps, direct mail, email, social media, direct mail, online media, print, and more need to be repurposed and we are working on enhancements to offer this type of true produciton bliss.  sizzlepig™ is now able to support all digital asset needs and is being extended to other production areas.

How much does it cost for an Enterprise?

Well, what are your needs?  Here’s a simple general answer:  the use by many on a team, regarless of location, producing tens of thousands of image outputs, the investment may be a fraction of one FTE per year.  The savings could range from 65-85% in fee.  Those allocated hours could be applied to do more work.  To think strategically.  To focus on creative.  For image edits, savings extend into 85-95%.  

We can do a quick analysis on potential time and cost savings by understanding how you would use this tool and how it would tie into your workflow.  Please reach out to us. Enterprise packages start at $500 / month.  Factors such as input and output integration, customized requests such as administrative components and image hosting needs can play a role.  

So, what’s next?

We are adding many new features to sizzlepig™ to support our Clients’ requests.  They want to not only show innovation, they need to prove value each and every day.

If you have any specific requests on how sizzlepig™ could benefit your team or process, please reach out.  We are prioritizing all requests to best meet the needs of our Enterprise users.  We will be posting more as we continue to add features to create true value to those who strive to represent each pixel as it was intended.  

[sizzlepig]