New graphics depixelization algorithm

Microsoft Research Fellow Johannes Kopf (Johannes Kopf) in collaboration with Professor Dani Lischinski scientific publications ( dropbox , narod.ru , depositfiles.com ) describing the new algorithm depikselizatsii, which far exceeds all existing methods. The difference in quality is really colossal.

From the illustration above, you can roughly estimate how much better the new method works (average image) compared to the best of the competitors (the right image in each trinity). A more thorough comparison on dozens of different images is here .

Apparently, the algorithm is best suited for depixelization of hand-drawn graphics of old computer games. At least all the examples belong to this class. In this case, it can be used to "reanimate" these cult games, that is, to create emulators with much better graphics quality, up to HD. For example, here is a video emulator of an old Mario game translated into high resolution using this algorithm. It looks very modern. Probably, old games could again become hits on the iPad and Android devices.



Now authors are working on code optimization so that the algorithm can be used in real-time emulators.

Researchers are going to present their work at the SIGGRAPH conference in August 2011.