# MS Paint Resolution Increase - Reliable?? **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [February 16, 2015, 5:31pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ms-paint-resolution-increase-reliable/271705 "2015-02-16T17:31:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ubengineering](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ubengineering/32/5171_2.png) [@ubengineering](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ubengineering)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 5:31pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ms-paint-resolution-increase-reliable/271705/1 "2015-02-16T17:31:32Z")
I don’t know anything about photo shop, cameras, that stuff in general. So I’m trying to make one of those three piece canvas photos from shutterfly. Here is the photo: [![](http://cdn.assets.insomniac.com/__festivals/edc-vegas-2015/EDCLV2014_InsomniacWallpaper-3/EDCLV2014_InsomniacWallpaper-Image03-widescreen.jpg) ](http://cdn.assets.insomniac.com/__festivals/edc-vegas-2015/EDCLV2014_InsomniacWallpaper-3/EDCLV2014_InsomniacWallpaper-Image03-widescreen.jpg) So the resolution is 1900x1200 I wanted to make a center of 20x30" and two outer edges of 16x20", I went to go upload it and shutterfly said the resolution was too low and the quality would be poor. So I googled how to increase resolution and I found it on paint. I easily jacked it up 3x the original amount and on my computer it looks fine. I uploaded the new image to shutterfly and it said it was good to go. My concern is that when I get the photos it’s gonna look like shit. Can MS paint really turn up the resolution with the click of a mouse? How does it just add pixels, etc. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![ProgRocker](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/progrocker/32/5434_2.png) [@ProgRocker](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ProgRocker)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 6:05pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ms-paint-resolution-increase-reliable/271705/2 "2015-02-16T18:05:35Z")
I honestly don’t know, but I would say from experience…no. Think about as a kid, pressing silly putty on a newspaper. When you stretch it out, it becomes blurry. You can certainly subtract size but you can’t really add to it. ---
**Author:** ![TradersBASE](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tradersbase/32/5321_2.png) [@TradersBASE](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TradersBASE)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 6:23pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ms-paint-resolution-increase-reliable/271705/3 "2015-02-16T18:23:26Z")
You can’t fabricate a higher resolution and expect to retain quality. You either took pics at the required rez to get your desired print size or you print a small (or blurry) image. ![http://www.jigsaw2order.com/images/share/image-resizing-3.gif](http://www.jigsaw2order.com/images/share/image-resizing-3.gif) ---
**Author:** ![ubengineering](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ubengineering/32/5171_2.png) [@ubengineering](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ubengineering)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 3:11am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ms-paint-resolution-increase-reliable/271705/4 "2015-02-17T03:11:51Z")
I see what you’re saying fellas. I’ve never used photoshop but I may get it and use this link: > **[3 Simple Ways to Improve Low Resolution Images (and Typography)](https://www.howtogeek.com/105952/3-simple-ways-to-improve-low-resolution-images-and-typography/)** > > It’s not a miracle, but these helpful tips can improve the quality of an image when enlarging from a low-resolution sample. It’s surprisingly simple and quite easy. Fire up Photoshop and check it out for yourself! No idea what bicubic smoother is but looks simple enough. ---
**Author:** ![ProgRocker](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/progrocker/32/5434_2.png) [@ProgRocker](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ProgRocker)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 4:20am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ms-paint-resolution-increase-reliable/271705/5 "2015-02-17T04:20:46Z")
It is simple, but it still isn’t going to help you. The examples are small samples sizes and text is fairly easy since it has hard edges. ---
**Author:** ![lorge1989](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lorge1989/32/6153_2.png) [@lorge1989](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/lorge1989)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 4:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ms-paint-resolution-increase-reliable/271705/6 "2015-02-17T04:49:33Z")
---
**Author:** ![ubengineering](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ubengineering/32/5171_2.png) [@ubengineering](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ubengineering)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 5:03am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ms-paint-resolution-increase-reliable/271705/7 "2015-02-17T05:03:14Z")
Nice^ So basically if the original resolution of a picture you like isn’t enough to get the picture to the size you want there’s no possible way to ever make a picture bigger? ---
**Author:** ![ProgRocker](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/progrocker/32/5434_2.png) [@ProgRocker](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ProgRocker)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 5:23am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ms-paint-resolution-increase-reliable/271705/8 "2015-02-17T05:23:49Z")
It’s possible but it ain’t going to be pretty. If I only have enough paint for a 5x5 square and I need to paint a 10x10 square…it probably isn’t going to look that good. If I need to paint a 3x3 square however, I’m ok. ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 5:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ms-paint-resolution-increase-reliable/271705/9 "2015-02-17T05:27:34Z")
you can make any image bigger, but as you do the quality quickly decreases because the printer has to invent information using math to fill in what doesn’t exist. depending on the content and how picky you are it may or may not be an issue at the end. I suspect letting the printer pre-press people do what they think is best and not trying to trick the system by just doubling the size. For a complex low detail photo like this one I think you’ll be fine. If it was a photo of a baby or something it would be horrible. ---
**Author:** ![ubengineering](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ubengineering/32/5171_2.png) [@ubengineering](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ubengineering)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 5:56am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ms-paint-resolution-increase-reliable/271705/10 "2015-02-17T05:56:41Z")
Well when I think of increasing the size I figured a computer would just make an intelligent estimate not just botch it the fuck up. I’m going to make a big ass print cause it’s like 10$, if it comes out shitty oh well. ---
**Author:** ![Haenszel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e68b1a/32.png) [@Haenszel](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Haenszel)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 6:15am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ms-paint-resolution-increase-reliable/271705/11 "2015-02-17T06:15:57Z")
They do have the capability, and they do do that but it’s not the same as taking the initial pic in hi-res. They’re just guessing where to add new information in the pic and it ends up in blocky/blurry photos that look terrible up close. The farther away you get the less you notice. ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 6:57am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ms-paint-resolution-increase-reliable/271705/12 "2015-02-17T06:57:57Z")
Why not just contact the photographer and ask for the original image or for the specific resolution you need? ---
**Author:** ![ubengineering](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ubengineering/32/5171_2.png) [@ubengineering](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ubengineering)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 7:26am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ms-paint-resolution-increase-reliable/271705/13 "2015-02-17T07:26:32Z")
I didn’t think of it because it’s such a large corporation but I suppose I can email them. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![LZ1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LZ1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LZ1)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 7:31am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ms-paint-resolution-increase-reliable/271705/14 "2015-02-17T07:31:31Z")
Engineering :lol: ---
**Author:** ![ProgRocker](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/progrocker/32/5434_2.png) [@ProgRocker](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ProgRocker)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 8:15am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ms-paint-resolution-increase-reliable/271705/15 "2015-02-17T08:15:54Z")
What @boardjnky4 said. 1920x1200 is a Wallpaper resolution, I don’t think cameras natively take photos in the specific resolution. I could be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![ubengineering](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ubengineering/32/5171_2.png) [@ubengineering](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ubengineering)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 8:28am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ms-paint-resolution-increase-reliable/271705/16 "2015-02-17T08:28:34Z")
> [@LZ](#): > > Engineering :lol: I don’t get how that’s funny. You know there’s more than one type. EDIT: I’m going to head over to Kinkos today and see what I can come up with, do a little experimenting I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 9:50am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ms-paint-resolution-increase-reliable/271705/17 "2015-02-17T09:50:17Z")
you have to think about this the same way as when you watch a movie and the security camera zooms in a million times over and somehow doesn’t lose any quality. we all know that’s impossible and you can’t “enhance” to make it look good again. This is the exact same thing. here is an easier chart to help you be realistic: [http://www.bhphotovideo.com/FrameWork/charts/resolutionChartPopup.html](http://www.bhphotovideo.com/FrameWork/charts/resolutionChartPopup.html) my job at Xerox (production color analyst / remote solutions engineer) is basically to work between designers and operators of production level digital print presses to get the best consistent results. ---
**Author:** ![ubengineering](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ubengineering/32/5171_2.png) [@ubengineering](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ubengineering)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 10:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ms-paint-resolution-increase-reliable/271705/18 "2015-02-17T10:00:10Z")
That chart does explain things much easier. That’s why I found it so strange I could just take that 1900x1200 photo in paint and alter it to 3800x1875 for a 20 to 30", it didn’t seem logical for it to be that easy. I’ll mess around a bit see how it goes. EDIT: I was using Walmart’s photo editor, and you can clearly see how shitty the photos come out. ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 10:51am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ms-paint-resolution-increase-reliable/271705/19 "2015-02-17T10:51:20Z")
you are better off just giving them the best version of the photo without messing with it unless you’re a graphic designer. Let the software that their server runs upscale it as it will likely do the best job for whatever they are printing with. ---
**Author:** ![ubengineering](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ubengineering/32/5171_2.png) [@ubengineering](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ubengineering)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 12:32pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ms-paint-resolution-increase-reliable/271705/20 "2015-02-17T12:32:39Z")
That’s my plan. Thanks for the help fellas. Of course if there’s someone on here who can work some magic, I’m willing to pay to see what you can come up with. [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ms-paint-resolution-increase-reliable/271705.md?page=2)