Upscaling Retro 8-Bit Pixel Art To Vector Graphics

An anonymous reader writes "Two researchers — Johannes Kopf from Microsoft, and Dani Lischinski from The Hebrew University — have successfully created an algorithm that depixelizes and upscales low-resolution 8-bit 'pixel art' into lush vector graphics. The algorithm identifies pixel-level details (original paper — PDF) to accurately shade the new image — but more importantly, the algorithm can create smooth, curved contour lines from only-connected-on-the-diagonal single pixels. At long last, we might be able to play Super Mario Bros. on a big screen without stretching our beloved plumber's pixels to breaking point. You really must look at the sample images." Scroll down in the paper to see how their technique stacks up against some others, including Adobe's Live Trace.

Comments

Paper mirror

[SheeEttin]

EvilHom3r over on Reddit seems to have mirrored the paper (as images) here.

My verdict: Yeah, it looks all nice and smooth, but with all upscaling, it's basically interpolating data. The original just didn't have that much detail, so you can only get so much out of it. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
(Oh, and it makes all text look pretty bad. Kinda Comic Sans-y, if I can say that without invoking instant hate.)

Yes, a regular expression joke

[gman003]

I'm going to steal it. Next time I see something I'm both apprehensive, and tired of, I shall be /we?ary/ of it.

Re:Yawn

[DigiShaman]

Those are all post-processing up-scaling effects. But they do have limitations in that even the pixels themselves can still be made out. Obfuscating them only goes so far. But with this new technique, they're pure vectors. They will scale infinitely with splines to match your screen resolution, much like fonts.