FOCUS

[Guest]

Is there no program that can focus the image better? I'm mainly looking for a
freebie program that focus' the pictures. I have IrfanView right now but it
doesnt really do what I want. And, just for conformation, I've read that the
higher resolution of the picture, the more you can zoom in and not lose
quality? Is this true?

 

[John Inzer]

If you are running .NET Framework 1.1
you may find the following free program
to be useful:

Paint.NET
http://www.eecs.wsu.edu/paint.net/

Also, you may find other useful choices
at the following link:
http://www.softpedia.com/catList/75,1,1,1.html

Yes, higher resolution images can be
cropped to smaller sizes and still be
visually acceptable.

There are samples of images from many
different cameras at the following site.
I suggest that you download an assortment
and experiment with them.
http://www.steves-digicams.com

For example...the two following links are
images of the same building but the first
was taken with a 1MP Canon PowerShot
A30 (1280x960) and the second was taken
with a 5MP Canon PowerShot S50
(2592x1944).

Canon A30
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2002_reviews/a30/samples/IMG_0023.JPG

Canon S50
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/s50/samples/IMG_0999.JPG

 

[Guest]

Ok, paint.net seems like a great program! I'm downloading it as I type this.
But one question so that I can get right to work... What can I click on in
the program to focus the image?

 

[John Inzer]

Effects / Sharpen.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the site John.

If you are running .NET Framework 1.1
you may find the following free program
to be useful:

Paint.NET
http://www.eecs.wsu.edu/paint.net/

Also, you may find other useful choices
at the following link:
http://www.softpedia.com/catList/75,1,1,1.html

Yes, higher resolution images can be
cropped to smaller sizes and still be
visually acceptable.

There are samples of images from many
different cameras at the following site.
I suggest that you download an assortment
and experiment with them.
http://www.steves-digicams.com

For example...the two following links are
images of the same building but the first
was taken with a 1MP Canon PowerShot
A30 (1280x960) and the second was taken
with a 5MP Canon PowerShot S50
(2592x1944).

Canon A30
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2002_reviews/a30/samples/IMG_0023.JPG

Canon S50
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/s50/samples/IMG_0999.JPG

 

[John Inzer]

Thanks for the site John.

=====================
You're welcome.

 

[Marshall Harrison]

Technically you can't "focus" an image after the fact. The out of focus
image is what was recorded by the sensor in the camera and that is all you
get.

You can as John pointed out "sharpen" the image. This works by sharpening
the line borders between contrasting colors. In affect it changes the data
that was captured but does not change the focus. This does make the image
look more in focus (unless you sharpen too much) but in reality you are
loosing some of the data recorded by the camera.

Marshall

 

[Guest]

Lol! so... you mean all those crime dramas I've been watching are fake! All
that focusing and bouncing an image off 36 walls and viewing it from a camera
30 miles away won't work?! That sucks! LOL!